In the United States, December is a time when Christmas is ever-present. It begins immediately after Halloween, and sometimes before. The candy starts showing up in stores, followed quickly by decorations, Christmas trees, Christmas Music, greeting cards, Christmas lights, and Christmas-themed food and drinks. For anyone who is not a practicing Christian, or for those with complicated or difficult family histories related to the holidays, it can feel overwhelming.

As a child, I always felt left out during the holiday season. I grew up Jewish in a majority Christian community and my family did not belong to a local synagogue. Even though we had a large Jewish population I didn't understand why Santa would not visit our house. I was in the school choir and know all the words to every carol and chorus imaginable. And even now as I celebrate Christmas with my chosen family, celebrating Hanukkah feels like a chore against the mountain of Christmas activities and events.

Did you know there are 6 diverse holidays believers celebrate in December?

December 8: Rohatsu (Bodhi Day) -- Buddhist
December 18-26: Hanukkah -- Judaism
December 21: Winter Solstice -- Wicca/Neo Pagan
December 25: Christmas -- Christian
December 26: Zarathosht Diso (Death of Prohet Zarathustra) Zoroastrian
December 26 - January 1: Kwaanza -- African American

It’s often a difficult time of year for organizations as they navigate laws and regulations while managing their own organizational policies and practices. Building a welcoming environment isn’t about slapping on a menorah to the festivities or erasing the word “Christmas” from your public vocabulary. It begins with awareness. To build belonging, we must hold space for ongoing conversations to co-create the holiday season with our community. Holding conversations with employees, clients, and the community about preferred practices and interests is the first step. Consult with organizational advisory boards and local religious leaders. It will take time for you to develop a culture that respects all practices, and there will surely be bumps along the way. Making an honest and authentic effort will help you create the best policies, practices, and events throughout the year that celebrate the diversity of your community.

Here are some helpful resources to help you and your organization navigate this time of year:

SHRM: How to Make Holiday Celebrations More Inclusive

Workforce Opportunity Services: Four Ways to Be Inclusive Of All Religions This Holiday Season

Harvard Business Review: Are Non-Christian Employees Represented in Your Holiday Policies?