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Best Practices and up to the minute news on Customer Experience Management and Service Excellence
It’s easy to get stuck in a holiday rut. We reuse the same decorations, repeat the same events, and remake the same recipes. Holidays are considered a time we spend doing things we’ve always done in the way we’ve always done them.
It’s time to shake things up by looking at customs from around the world.
Different cultures celebrate the holidays so diversely – sometimes in ways you’d never expect. By learning from others around the world, you can serve fun surprises with your hot cocoa this year, giving guests a holiday experience they’ll be talking about for years to come.
Get a fresh take on the holidays from these five eccentric international traditions:
How It Works: In Mexico, the city of Oaxaca celebrates La Noche de Rabanos, or, the Night of the Radishes. It’s an eccentric celebration of art and – you guessed it – radishes that takes place on December 23rd. Artists carve beautiful designs into radishes, similar to pumpkin carving at Halloween. These scenes depict all aspects of local life and bring business to the markets.
Bright Idea: Take arts and crafts to a whole new level. Hold events that bring out the inner artisans in guests, from candle making to painting to carving odd fruits and vegetables, crafting doesn’t have to be what it always is. Ask staff to judge for an interactive element. A prize for the winner can include a gift card to the restaurant or a free one-night stay for the family.
How It Works: This Welsh winter tradition involves decorating a dead horse’s skull with sheets and ribbons, attaching it to a pole, and parading it around town. For real. It then arrives at families’ homes and those controlling it sing insults, the goal being to enter. The family inside sings insults back, and the playful battle continues until Mari, or Grey Mare, enters the home bringing in good fortune for the year.
Bright Idea: Although the dead horse thing is kind of morbid, it’s a good reminder to include animals in the holidays. Guests with pets will feel special when these family members are included in the festivities. Holiday pet costume contests or even outdoor dining specials with canine treats can bring a whole new level of togetherness for the season.
How It Works: This Venezuelan event involves toes, churches and rollerskates. People in Caracas transform transportation by skating to Christmas mass. As they skate, commuters tug on the ends of strings, alerting children tied to the other end through their bedroom windows that Christmas Day has arrived. Streets are closed so the skaters can travel safely.
Bright Idea: Involve a physical activity in holiday plans. Exercise, like swimming in warmer climates, brings people together while doing something to balance out the sweets and treats (Santas in bathing suits create the best photo ops). Clear out space for a dance-off and give a trophy to the last ones standing, or organize a run for charity. Help remind everyone what the holidays are really about while making a mark in your local community.
How It Works: Speaking of swimming Santas, beach parties provide relief from winter drudgery, even in colder climates. Australia takes advantage of their sandy shores and summery winter weather with water sports and oceanside events. And of course, surfing Santas. Other climates also utilize their access to the ocean and put on similar events that locals and tourists alike look forward to year after year.
Bright Idea: If you’re near the sea, then you already have a leg up on the competition. It’s easy to accent the landscape around and host activities outside. Decorate for a beach-themed party and serve island-inspired cuisine to give guests a break from the cold. Tropical climates should also be utilized in every way possible. They’re often ignored during the holiday season.
How It Works: La Befana works her magic in Italy, giving gifts to children as she eats up the plates of sausage and broccoli left for her in lieu of the traditional milk and cookies. Folklore tells us she visits on January 5th, the eve of the Epiphany. Her origin story also reveals she was invited to join the three wise men on their legendary journey, but La Befana declined. Filled with regret about the decision, she now flies around visiting children to compensate.
Bright Idea: This Italian custom, along with Three Kings Day and other holidays that extend the winter celebrations, remind us to keep the feeling going. January smacks people in the face with discipline and a sense of making up for our December fun. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Keep the holiday spirit flowing and highlight January traditions from around the world that keep guests in the holiday mindset.
Trying something new can entice guests to go on an unforgettable adventure.
It’s time to take a break from the snowmen and ugly sweaters. Take a page from these amazingly creative cultural customs to kickstart a holiday season that builds excitement and buzz. It will undoubtedly create extraordinary memories that will keep guests guessing what you’ll be up to next year.
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