20 Quick Ideas to Celebrate Christmas and New Year in Office

As the year ends, employees celebrate their achievements and enjoy time with loved ones.

It's also a great time to show appreciation for their hard work. If you're short on time to plan a Christmas or New Year celebration, don’t worry!

This article offers simple, fun ideas that are easy to organize and will bring joy to everyone.

Whether you're planning a Christmas, New Year, or combined event, these ideas will help you get started!

Why Host New Year’s Events for Employees?

Christmas and New Year’s events at work are a way to show employees that they are valued.

These celebrations help build team spirit, motivate employees, and set a positive tone for the year ahead.

They allow employees to relax, bond with colleagues, and reflect on past achievements while looking forward to future goals.

Hosting such events shows your commitment to employee well-being and strengthens workplace culture.

10 Last Minute Christmas Event Ideas to Employees

1. Secret Santa Gift Exchange

Source: Freepik

Add a twist to the traditional Secret Santa with quirky themes like "DIY gifts only" or "Gifts under RM21." Employees can exchange their tokens of appreciation during a virtual or in-person gathering.

2. Ugly Sweater Contest

Source: Flint and Genesse

While Christmas is often associated with snow in four-season countries, in Malaysia, the season is known for its windy and rainy weather.

So, you can use this moment to invite employees to showcase their most outrageous holiday sweaters. Host a mini fashion show or let colleagues vote for categories like “Most Creative” or “Ugliest Sweater.”

3. Holiday Karaoke Night

Source: Freepik

Set up a karaoke session with a mix of Christmas classics, Malaysian songs, and international popular hits. This activity can uncover hidden singing talents and provide endless laughs.

4. Christmas Potluck Feast

Source: Freepik

Encourage employees to bring their favorite holiday dishes. This is especially exciting if your company has employees from diverse cultural backgrounds. Everyone gets a chance to try different foods, and it might even be the first time for some to taste something new!

5. Office Decoration Contest

Source: Freepik

Transform the workspace into a festive wonderland with a decoration contest. Departments can compete for awards like “Most Festive Decoration” or any category that you can explore more.

6. Virtual Holiday Drawing Guess

For remote teams, organize an event where the team can compete with each other by guessing other teams’ or teammates' drawing, such as Gartic.io.

It will create a funny moment and become a stress-reliever during the busy season.

7. Holiday Trivia Quiz

Create a quiz featuring fun questions about holiday traditions, movies, and songs. Offer small prizes to winners to encourage participation.

8. Photo Booth with Props

Source: Freepik

Set up a festive photo booth with holiday-themed props like Santa hats, reindeer antlers, and mistletoe. Share the photos in your company newsletter or social media channels. The employees will also get the printed photos that they can bring home as souvenirs.

9. Charity Drive or Volunteering

Source: Freepik

Christmas is also about giving. Organize charity events by encouraging employees to donate toys, food, or anything. You can also do a volunteer day, such as visiting orphanages or nursing homes. This community service can be a meaningful way to foster team spirit and give back.

10 Last Minute New Year Event Ideas to Employees

1. Year-in-Review Slideshow

Source: Freepik

Create a slideshow highlighting achievements, milestones, and memorable moments from the past year. Add some fun and humor in the slideshow to make the nuance not too serious and laid back.

2. Countdown to Midnight

Source: Freepik

Some departments in a company might need to operate in normal working arrangements on New Year’s Eve, such as Customer Service.

To keep enjoying the New Year’s moment, organize a countdown celebration with confetti and mocktails.

3. Vision Board Workshop

Source: Freepik

Encourage employees to set personal and professional goals by creating vision boards. Provide materials like magazines, markers, and glue for a creative session. It can be a fun session.

4. Resolution Bingo

Play a game where employees write down their New Year’s resolutions and mark off common ones as they are announced.

5. Office Olympics

Kickstart the year with fun to make the working vibes more positive. You can hold team-building games like chair races, paper tower building, or trivia contests.

6. Custom Awards Ceremony

Source: Freepik

Employees love to be appreciated. So, recognize them with humorous or heartfelt awards, such as “Most Likely to Brighten Your Day” or “Team Player Extraordinaire.”

7. DIY Cocktail or Mocktail Bar

If you held an early New Year celebration in the office, let employees create their signature New Year drinks with a selection of mixers and garnishes. Provide some DIY recipes for inspiration.

8. Inspirational Guest Speaker

Source: Freepik

Employees need something to inspire them for the entire year. So, invite a motivational speaker to kick off the year with a talk about goal setting, resilience, or personal growth.

9. Group Fitness Class

Source: Freepik

Start the year on a healthy note with a group yoga, Zumba, or fitness class. This can be organized virtually or in person. If the event becomes a success, you can create this into a regular event weekly and create a fitness community in the office.

10. Personalized Team Playlists

Source: Spotify

Compile a playlist of employees’ favorite songs to play during the celebration. Employees can also contribute to add their songs independently in the playlist. Then, share the playlist as a keepsake.

Tips for HR

To make your last minute Christmas and New Year event impactful and memorable, you might consider these tips below:

Personalize Events to Reflect Company Culture

Align your celebrations with your company’s ethos.

A relaxed and creative startup company might opt for casual activities like karaoke, while a more formal organization could host a keynote address or formal dinner.

Include Remote or Hybrid Teams

If your company is spreaded in some locations or the working arrangements are remote or hybrid, consider using virtual platforms to ensure all employees feel included.

Activities like virtual Bingo or trivia can bridge the gap between remote and in-office staff.

Encourage Participation with Incentives

Boost engagement by offering small rewards or recognition for activities.

For example, give prizes for the best-decorated workspace or the most creative resolution.

Communicate Clearly and Early

Send invitations and detailed event plans well in advance to make sure employees can participate.

Use email, chat tools, or physical flyers to spread the word.

You can also schedule on the online calendar that your company use, such as Google Calendar, and block their time to join the event.

By planning and executing creative Christmas and New Year activities, companies can create an environment where employees feel valued and motivated to contribute their best.

Let this festive season be a memorable one for your team!

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