Inclusive Winter Celebrations

When someone recently asked me, "What all-inclusive holiday activities can we do?" it made me pause. We often jump straight to Christmas because it's familiar but the truth is, not everyone celebrates Christmas. Some families observe different cultural or religious holidays, and others choose not to celebrate at all. So the real question becomes: How do we create activities that honor everyone without leaving anyone out?

The answer is simple: focus on themes everyone can enjoy, such as winter, light, and traditions in all forms. These ideas move us away from a single holiday and toward shared experiences, connection, and creativity. And with many groups meeting online, virtual activities make these celebrations even more accessible for families, classrooms, and communities.

1. Winter is a universal theme, and celebrating the season instead of a belief system opens the door for everyone to participate. Snow, cozy drinks, crisp air, and the slower pace of winter are things we can all appreciate. Some inclusive winter ideas include snowflake crafts, winter bingo with seasonal icons, hot cocoa stations, or winter STEM projects like ice experiments and "build a snow structure" challenges. Small seasonal moments like these bring big warmth.

2. Light is also a powerful symbol across the world, representing hope, renewal, guidance, and warmth. Many winter traditions, Diwali, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and the Winter Solstice center around light. A "Celebrate Light" theme honors this shared symbol without tying it to any specific holiday. Ideas might include DIY lanterns, flashlight games, shadow play activities, or learning how different cultures use light in their celebrations. This invites curiosity while honoring similarities.

3. Another option is a Tradition Party, which might be my favorite of all. Instead of focusing on a specific holiday, it centers on people, their stories, routines, and the traditions that shape their families. These traditions can be big or small, cultural or personal, seasonal or year-round. Encourage participants to share any tradition that matters to them—a favorite food, a family game, a song they love, or a bedtime routine. Families can create small displays or virtual slides that highlight their chosen tradition.

4. You can also invite everyone to submit a recipe connected to their family or culture and compile them into a digital recipe book. Create a shared playlist where participants add songs from their culture or simply music their family loves. Or explore "small traditions" through the senses: a smell that reminds them of home, a sound they always hear during winter, a comfort food they look forward to, or an object that represents a meaningful routine.

When we create spaces where everyone sees themselves, or at least feels welcome, we build stronger, more compassionate communities. Inclusive winter activities aren't about removing celebrations; they're about widening the circle so everyone feels like they belong. If your school, workplace, or community is trying to honor multiple cultures (or none at all), these small shifts can make a big difference.