Category: Holiday Season
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Sharon Schweitzer’s Holiday Card Etiquette 2021
A new Shutterfly poll, conducted by Ipsos, has revealed that two in five U.S. Americans plan to send out holiday cards or give personalized gifts to connect this 2021 holiday season, a significant increase of nearly 24% from 2020. So, during this pandemic holiday season, individuals, families, and organizations will send more holiday cards. There is something about…
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7 Tips for Graciously Navigating Politics at Thanksgiving
Your brined turkey is perfectly prepared, and your sauces are expertly simmered. Your home is thoroughly sanitized. ‘Tis the night before Thanksgiving; you and your sous chef have planned an excellent celebration. The only concern is guest behavior. You break out in a cold sweat with memories of Uncle Ben and Cousin Ralph’s political brawl…
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Culture, Etiquette & Modern Manners for Holiday Gatherings 2021 in the COVID-19 Era
The holidays are just around the corner and invitations have been arriving via email and delivered in our regular mail. So, how do you make sure that you have the best and safest holiday gatherings this year? US culture: Safer ways of showing respect for each other, such as wearing masks, getting vaccinated, and exchanging…
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Thanksgiving in Canada: Customs, Origin & Tradition
Canada, oh, sweet Canada! Many people refer to this vast country as the land of Maple Syrup. This nation is famous for its stunning scenery, fabulous people, spectacular ski slopes, and frosty winters. Be careful not to let the similarity of the Canadian Hofstede cultural dimensions to the U.S. cultural dimensions mislead you as this…
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Unique Czech Christmas Traditions
The Czech Republic is recognized worldwide as Europe’s most castle-rich country, for its beautiful medieval landscapes, and also for its highest consumption of beer per capita. In addition, notable Czech-born people include Martina Navratilova and Ivan Lendl (tennis pros), Milos Forman (film director), Sigmund Freud (psychologist), and Oskar Schindler (Schindler’s List). My maternal grandmother’s homeland…
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Hanukkah or Chanukah Explained 2020
The holiday season is upon us and we are quickly approaching the first day of Hanukkah/Chanukah, to be celebrated by Jewish people around the world. The beloved and joyous holiday of Hanukkah/Chanukah, or Festival of Rededication, begins the evening of Thursday, December 10th this year. The eight-day celebration of the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem is…
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Holiday Card Etiquette 2020
Sending and addressing holiday cards during the pandemic may be a delicate balancing act this year – spreading holiday cheer while simultaneously acknowledging that 2020 has been a challenging year for many people. Typical joyful seasonal greetings may hit an exposed nerve during this nearly year-long Covid-19 experience as people have lost employment, financial stability,…
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Christian Advent Traditions Explained
Advent, in the Christian church calendar, is the preparation period for two things: the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ at Christmas, and the second coming of Christ. Christian Advent: Advent translates to ‘coming’ in Latin. It is a Christian countdown to the days until Christmas to symbolically honor the coming of Jesus Christ and his birth into the…
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Madres, Mums and Mommies: Your Global Guide to Mother’s Day
Mother’s Day is celebrated on different days, and completely different seasons, depending on which part of the globe you call home. Regardless of the country or culture, the love of mothers’ crosses international borders. As Mother’s Day approaches, on May 10, 2020, for the U.S. and a few other countries, remember to share your appreciation…
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Celebrating Japan’s Golden Week: 4 Official Holidays 2019
One of Japan’s most cherished celebrations, Golden Week spans April 29 – May 5th. This week is a special time when the entire country celebrates cultural traditions by observing four historical holidays. Companies close their doors and employees enjoy a week of paid vacation. Global business takes a pause to celebrate each of the four…