Webinars

A Cross-Cultural Look at December Holidays

December is a unique month — filled with holidays rooted in different religions, cultures and regions around the world. Many of these celebrations we don’t fully recognize or understand, nor do we always see how they shape people’s behaviors, expectations or ways of celebrating.

Two complementary webinars on cultural differences

At the same time, even the tradition that feels most familiar from a European or Polish perspective — Christmas — is celebrated very differently across countries and cultures. Understanding how various communities approach this season can be valuable both for those who do not celebrate these holidays and for those who do, especially in international and cross-cultural teams.

That’s why we created two complementary webinars:

  • one exploring the December holidays observed across different religions and belief systems,
  • and the other showing how Christmas itself takes on many forms around the world.

Two perspectives that enrich each other — broadening knowledge, deepening understanding and building bridges between people working in diverse environments.
You can book one of the webinars – or combine both for a full “Holidays & Christmas Around the World” experience.

1. Holidays of December – religions, traditions, meanings

This webinar focuses on different December holidays across major religions and cultures. Together, we explore how people around the world celebrate this time beyond just Christmas.

Your team will learn about:

  • Christmas – Christianity. Celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.
  • Hanukkah – Judaism. The Festival of Lights, commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.
  • Pancha Ganapati – Hinduism. A modern festival honouring Lord Ganesha and family harmony.
  • Bodhi Day – Buddhism. The day Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment and became the Buddha.
  • Dongzhi Festival – Taoism / Chinese culture. Winter solstice celebration symbolising the return of longer days and positive energy.
  • Kwanzaa – African-American culture. A week-long celebration of African heritage, unity and community.
  • The Beginning of the Blessed Three Months – Islam. The start of the spiritually significant months of Rajab, Sha’ban and Ramadan.

Perfect if you want to:

  • show how diverse December is beyond “just Christmas”,
  • build understanding and respect for different beliefs,
  • support inclusive language (Merry Christmas vs Happy Holidays etc.).

2. Christmas Traditions Around the World – one holiday, many cultures

This webinar is a festive journey through Christmas customs across countries, cultures and denominations – from deeply spiritual traditions to joyful folklore and modern twists.

During the webinar, your team will discover:

  • Christian traditions across Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant cultures
  • How Christmas is celebrated in Ethiopia, India, Mexico, Spain, Finland, Germany, France, the U.S. and more
  • Why some countries celebrate on 25 December and others on 7 January
  • Unique customs such as:
  • Australia’s Carols by Candlelight and Christmas on the beach
  • Mexico’s Posadas and star-shaped piñatas
  • Finland’s Joulusauna
  • Russia’s Soczelnik and symbolic 12 dishes
  • Iceland’s 13 Yule Lads
  • Japan’s Christmas KFC tradition
  • China’s gifting of “peace apples”
  • The cultural meaning behind the Christmas tree, Nativity scenes, kolędy, gift-giving and the Star of Bethlehem

 

Perfect if you want to:

  • show how one holiday can look completely different across the globe,
  • spark curiosity and conversation in international teams,
  • spark curiosity and conversation in international teams,
  • use Christmas as a gateway to talk about culture and inclusion.
Don’t know which training to start with? No worries!

Schedule an expert consultation, and we will suggest the best direction for you.