Christmas with religiously and ethnically diverse with community

[mids2019]

So I work in a trust where possibly 20% of staff are Muslim and there are plenty of other religions represented too with some Christians .

This year with the traditional Christmas parties and general Christmas build up there have been conversations about our holiday period being centred around one religion to the detriment of others. There are no bank holidays associated with Eid or Diwali and people for instance.

I think in general people do get in the general communal Christmas spirit but for instance the traditional meal and drinks which is meant to be a celebratory time for staff has maybe maybe feel staff feel excluded with many junior staff members of non Christian faith feeling uncomfortable with going so simply didnt. There were a subgroup of staff that organise a large meal with the alcohol flowing but it really is becoming obvious that there needs to be a more inclusive event of the Christmas do is partly to show gratitude to hard working staff.

Do we need to reflect at Christmas not everyone celebrates it and with the continued Christ in the name it is still a relgous festival and as such people with strong faith in other religions may be a little reluctant to embrace the festoval?

What the hell.

Culturally Christian term kind of explains itself. I don't know why you would assume only these negatives. Says a lot tbh

It would be incredibly wrong to rebrand Christmas as “the Holiday Season”. I’m also in the NHS and we thoroughly embrace and promote all major religious festivals and events, naming them for what they are, informing and celebrating all our workforce regardless of religion or background. It works really well to the benefit of all and the detriment of none. Nobody is forced to participate.

As a PP stated we need to bear in mind the history of the UK and our traditions which are based on the Christian faith. I think it’s possibly to respect this whilst embracing the religious diversity we currently enjoy.

@Dilbertian why is it my responsibility to put a banner up for something I don't celebrate? If those who celebrate it want to put a banner up then that's fine, but it's not anyone else's responsibility.

I have worked in a number of diverse workplaces and this has never been an issue anywhere that I have worked.

Christmas is enough of a secular holiday that I do not see an issue.

Id it's the alcohol that your colleagues do not like, just have a Christmas party without alcohol and let the drinkers organise their own get together in a pub afterwards.

There are lots of people who aren't really comfortable with boozy work events. Why not have an end-of-year afternoon tea event, with the speeches and thank-yous, and then those who want it can have their boozy meal separately?

Or serve alcohol (in moderation) and let folk partake or not.

In moderation = a couple of glasses of fizzy stuff or one bottle beer.

Afternoon tea? 🤣

Many people don't see it aa a religious celebration, even white bristish born people ,it's a time to eat drink and be merry
Many atheists still celebrate Xmas
I'm not sure wether you have a problem with alcohol or Christianity?

Depends whether you want to create an atmosphere where colleagues/clients/service users feel welcome, regardless of their faith or beliefs.

I have never worked with a Muslim who did not drink. The only chap I did know who refused booze on religious grounds was a Baptist.

I think you are projecting your views onto others as I have never known a Christmas celebration to cause the issues you are raising.

So if 'happy holidays' is not religious why is it only said or referred to around the Christmas holiday season which is is known as based on a religion?

Yes I am sure there will some expert who will go the origins started with worshipping Pluto or whatever but generally based on Christianity

You don't hear 'happy holidays' in February or September

Has anyone of another religion or background commented or complained or is one of those things people decide for others without having any idea what they think?

I was born in a Muslim country (Malaysia) and have many Muslim friends here in the UK. I have never come across anyone who has an issue with people celebrating Christmas. Couple of things to take into account though. Arranging a meal in a pub can be quite problematic for many Muslims and may mean they feel unable to attend. Having drink available elsewhere is fine, but attending a pub for many would be a challenge. Also important to be flexible around Eid. Many Managers are not wholly clued up around Eid and the fact that the date is flexible. So it is not always possible to pinpoint well in advance exactly when it will be. However, a little bit of leeway and it can work very well. The office gets mince pies at Christmas and samosas at Eid.

I am not a Christian and I have never been a church goer. However, I do remind my children that Christmas IS a religious festival. We choose to celebrate it and so must show some respect to the faith it originates from.
Just like in school when the kids all celebrate Eid or Diwali - they must respect the religion that the celebration comes from or opt out.

I mark the major religious festivals on my calendar so that I remember to wish colleagues Eid Mubarak etc on the correct day. Takes a few minutes in January and costs nothing.

It’s actually an advantage that some prefer to work at Christmas as those who want the time off can usually have it. We help each other.

Working with a diverse team is really not difficult if the team are nice people!

They're welcome to put up their banners as appropriate. Again, why is it my responsibility? Should we all put each other's banners up in some false show of solidarity?

Imagine trying to rebrand Eid as "Happy holidays" FFS. Everyone would rightly see that as offensive. But you want to erase a Christian holiday because it is Christian and somehow see this as the epitome of diversity and tolerance? Now that IS offensive. How do you think it would make the Christians in your team feel?

If the party is in work hours then it shouldn't include alcohol anyway. If it's after work then I don't see how you can stop people from drinking if they want to. If there are vegetarians on your team do you ban everyone else from eating meat? What about vegans? Should we make work events vegan too?

And I say this as someone who hates boozy events and drinks very little alcohol. I dont like how so many events revolve around getting drunk but that doesn't give me the right to stop other people drinking.

I worked for the NHS for years, ww had a Xmas night out every year it wasn't obligatory and it was paid for by staff themselves and was attended by staff from all ethnic backgrounds
Some staff chose not to go and that was fine.

FFS it isn't pushing a religious festival onto anyone. At my very multicultural place of work the larger number of people are not practicing Christians but they all love a Christmas do.

We also make a big deal of Ramadan (joining in on a fast day and organising a special sundown meal) and wish people Eid Mubarak (can't spell, can say it, happy Eid). We have multicultural festival where work pays for catered food organised by each person who wants to share their culture so we get traditional and unusual food from all over the world. We have faith representatives from all religions who send messages at appropriate times of year to explain major festivals. The Christians are just as likely to seem unusual as anyone else as its more typical to be atheist/agnostic etc.

Many of my team don't drink for religious reasons and they still join in on meals out and nights out. No one complains. We often do an activity so it's not all about drinking.

I expect the people declining on religious grounds just don't want to join in and know you can't insist if they use religion as an excuse. As a manager I'd say that I can't force you to come to a party but id encourage you to come. It's a team celebration not a religious occasion and no one is obliged to drink alcohol, plus those who do drink should do so in moderation as its a work do and professional standards still count.

So we all start saying 'happy holidays' instead of "Merry Christmas"... but this then needs to be applied to Eid, Diwali, Easter, Ramadan... might get confusing.

Except Christians apparently.

I suspect it's the alcohol that is the problem rather than the word 'Christmas'. Muslims will not feel like attending an event where drinking is the focus.

It's the alcohol that's the main problem I'd imagine.

Thats daft. All are invited to the christmas do. People are free to go or not as they choose. I love the diversity and enjoying other faiths celebrations

Also this