20 Holiday Workplace Traditions That Have Disappeared
Holiday workplace traditions like office parties and Secret Santa disappear as companies adapt to modern work culture and priorities.
- Sophia Zapanta
- 5 min read
Once cherished, holiday traditions at work are becoming obsolete. From festive potlucks to elaborate gift exchanges, many activities are being replaced by virtual alternatives or skipped altogether due to shifting budgets, remote work, and evolving employee preferences. These changes reflect the modern workplace’s attempt to balance inclusivity, productivity, and holiday cheer in a rapidly changing world.
1. The Classic Office Holiday Party
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Gone are lavish holiday parties with endless food, drinks, and dancing. Budget constraints and liability concerns have made this once-anticipated event rare. Virtual gatherings or smaller lunches have taken place, but the vibe isn’t the same.
2. Secret Santa Exchanges
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While once a cornerstone of holiday bonding, Secret Santa has fallen out of favor due to awkwardness and cultural sensitivities. Some employees felt pressure to participate or struggled with what to gift. Now, companies often opt for generic group gifts or avoid gifting altogether.
3. Decorating Your Cubicle
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Decking the halls (or cubicles) used to brighten offices, but open workspaces and remote setups have dulled this tradition. Decorations are often considered distracting or not worth the effort. Employees now prefer minimalist digital celebrations like themed Zoom backgrounds.
4. Holiday Bonuses
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For many, what once felt like a generous year-end reward has disappeared. Companies have shifted to performance-based incentives or holiday thank-you emails, which, while practical, don’t quite spread the same holiday cheer.
5. Cookie Exchanges
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The once-sweet tradition of swapping cookies is nearly extinct, thanks to health-conscious workforces and remote work. Baking for colleagues feels unnecessary in a world of food delivery apps. Besides, coordinating this virtually is a logistical nightmare.
6. Ugly Sweater Contests
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Once a playful way to spread holiday joy, these contests are losing popularity. Remote workforces make showing off sweaters tricky, and some find the humor outdated. Virtual “best holiday outfit” contests don’t capture the same spirit.
7. Office Caroling
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Serenading your coworkers with holiday songs? Not anymore. Between cultural inclusivity concerns and general awkwardness, this tradition has been quietly shelved. Spotify playlists have become the go-to for festive tunes.
8. Holiday Cards for Coworkers
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Handing out physical cards used to be a heartfelt way to connect. Now, e-cards or group messages dominate as the quicker, cheaper, and less personal alternative. While practical, it lacks the charm of handwritten wishes.
9. Charity Drives and Collections
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Workplace charity events have dwindled from canned food drives to toy donations. Companies now often encourage individual giving or organize digital fundraisers, which are efficient but don’t foster the same sense of team spirit.
10. Holiday Potlucks
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Homemade feasts shared by coworkers have mostly disappeared, replaced by catered meals or none at all. Health regulations and differing dietary preferences play a part. The camaraderie of cooking for colleagues is missed.
11. White Elephant Gift Exchanges
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This quirky gift game, full of surprises and laughter, is fading fast. Concerns about inclusivity, cost, and practicality have rendered it less appealing. Virtual versions exist but lack the same chaotic fun.
12. Themed Workdays (e.g., Festive Fridays)
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Festive Fridays or holiday-themed dress-up days spice up the workweek. However, remote work makes coordinating these traditions challenging and can feel redundant. Therefore, people now prefer simple “holiday spirit” reminders, such as emails or video backgrounds.
13. Holiday Lunches or Dinners
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Team lunches or dinners to celebrate the season are becoming less common. Scheduling conflicts and budget priorities often put these events on the back burner. Virtual meals, while efficient, just aren’t as satisfying.
14. Holiday Awards or Recognitions
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Some companies used to celebrate the year’s achievements with quirky holiday-themed awards. Nowadays, these ceremonies are often reduced to generic thank-you notes or year-end emails. They are efficient but lack the personal touch.
15. Holiday-Themed Games
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Games like holiday trivia or charades once livened up slow workdays. However, they’re rarely prioritized, especially in virtual settings, where participation can feel forced. Modern workplaces focus more on efficient meetings than seasonal fun.
16. Group Photo Days
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Gathering the team for a festive group photo is a rarity. Remote workforces and fast-paced schedules make it challenging to organize. Digital collages or avatar photos are the new norm, but they’re less memorable.
17. Gift Bags from Management
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Personalized holiday gift bags from the boss used to be a thoughtful gesture. Many companies now opt for one-size-fits-all digital gift cards or skip this entirely. While practical, it doesn’t quite feel the same.
18. Holiday Happy Hours
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Grabbing drinks with coworkers at a festive happy hour has declined. Busy schedules, remote work, and changing social dynamics make this less common. Virtual happy hours don’t have the same camaraderie.
19. Holiday-Themed Desk Gifts
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Small desk gifts, such as ornaments or candy from management, were once a cheerful surprise. However, these have mostly disappeared in favor of digital gestures or generic corporate messages, and the little joys are missed.
20. Countdown Calendars or Surprise Boxes
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Advent-style calendars with treats or surprises for employees were once a fun touch. Now, they’re deemed too time-consuming or costly for many companies. Seasonal cheer has become more about efficiency than surprises.