As we step into the festive season, December and January bring a global carousel of celebrations - Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, New Year’s, Epiphany, Orthodox Christmas, and, depending on the year, the very beginnings of Lunar New Year. It’s a time for reflection, gratitude, and… let’s be honest, quite a lot of food.
Before we all drift into various states of holiday hibernation, we want to thank our clients and partners for an incredible year. And - as is tradition - we asked our team to share the rituals that define this season for them. The results did not disappoint:
Jon spends Christmas Day surrounded by family, settling in for a festive lunch so abundant it could probably feed a small village. Christmas pudding, mince pies and classic carols all make an appearance and usually in that order.
Sandy celebrates Hanukkah by lighting the menorah and singing her grandmother’s favourite Ladino songs, bringing a cosy, nostalgic glow to the season (and occasionally to the neighbours who hear her through the walls).
Ismi gears up for a huge family dinner where the undisputed star of the evening is her grandmother’s homemade baklava - a recipe refined over decades and guarded more tightly than some national secrets.
Igal marks Hanukkah by frying an impressive number of latkes, filling the house with warmth and the unmistakable smell of oil. Guests usually leave full and slightly shiny.
Alara rings in the New Year by gathering with friends to laugh, catch up, and relive “the weirdest messages, encounters and people of the year” - a ritual that never fails to set a hilariously honest tone for the months ahead.
Across continents, cuisines and celebrations, these traditions remind us of what this season is really about: connection, gratitude and the joy of gathering (preferably around something delicious).
Wishing you a wonderful holiday season and a bright start to the new year!