Celebrate International Men's Day with swag

We celebrate International Men's Day, also known as IMD, annually on November 19th to recognize the positive contributions and important role that men play in society, as well as to raise awareness about issues that affect men's well-being and promote gender equality. We typically post plenty of social media coverage, hold giveaways, and organize an office party.

International Men's Day 2023 falls on our boss's birthday, and since we really love our boss, we wanted to surprise him with a birthday and happy International Men's Day party. Now, the celebration of IMD varies from country to country and from organization to organization.

International Men's Day Celebration Ideas

Holding Awareness-Raising Events

Virtual and in-person events or workshops are necessary to raise awareness about issues affecting men's mental health and well-being. We invite speakers, host discussions, or offer staff resources and information.

Providing Support for Male Employees

We take steps to support our male employees, such as offering mental health services, flexible working arrangements, or parental leave.

Celebrating Diversity

IMD is also a chance to celebrate diversity and inclusion in the workplace, including the contributions of men from different backgrounds and cultures.

Fundraising and Charity Events

Our office celebrates IMD by fundraising for or donating to charities or organizations that support men's health and wellness.

Though IMD is not a public holiday and may not be recognized by all employers or organizations, it's important for our staff to know when is International Men's Day and deliver our employees the opportunity to highlight important issues and promote positive change in the workplace and beyond.

This year, however, we were preparing to go even bigger. We had a special birthday to celebrate and decided to make it a surprise. Planning two significant events simultaneously, what could go wrong?

There are many reasons regarding why is International Men's Day important. First, it promotes positive male role models. By highlighting this aspect, IMD encourages men to be good role models and inspires young men and boys to follow in their footsteps.

Second, IMD raises awareness of men's issues, including mental health, toxic masculinity, and men's experiences of violence and discrimination. These issues are often overlooked or minimized in society, and IMD provides an opportunity to draw attention to them.

Third, IMD aims to promote gender equality by encouraging men to support women's rights and challenge gender stereotypes and discrimination. IMD seeks to create a more equitable and just society for everyone by promoting positive masculinity.

And fourth, International Men's Day celebrates men's contributions to society, including their achievements in science, technology, arts, and culture. We were so grateful to our boss that we wanted to focus on this aspect, and his contributions to our office culture, morale, and employee motivation were astounding.

He always lifted us, listened to our needs and concerns, and improved our workplace. We wanted to throw him a party he would never forget while tying in the components of IMD. However, planning a surprise party in an office is never an easy endeavor.

Our International Men's Day events included games like trivia and supplying employees with happy International Men's Day quotes. We were so excited and looking forward to adding in the birthday factor, which included brand-new swag from SwagMagic that had our brand logo and "World's Best Boss" on every piece.

We purchased many boxes of snacks from SnackMagic featuring our boss's favorite snacks. One of the women in our office who owned a home baking business as a side hustle was making him a beautiful cake. We couldn't wait to surprise him with many International Men's Day wishes.

We were on top of the world, thinking that we really knew how to celebrate International Men's Day combined with a birthday. Then, the worst thing that could ever happen to a surprise party occurred. Someone talked, and our boss found out about his party.

We were all devastated, as we were looking forward to surprising him. He did know about his party, but we didn't know about the special surprises we had planned, such as the cake or the special swag, at least as far as we knew.

To accompany our birthday party, we came up with plenty of International Men's Day celebration ideas at office! We could share these things with our boss, who was now sort of "in the know." On top of SwagMagic for our employee appreciation gifts, we also planned on the following:

• A lunch or happy hour event where employees can come together to celebrate positive male role models
• A seminar and workshop on topics such as mental health, toxic masculinity, or men's experiences of discrimination
• Encouraging employees to share stories of positive male role models in their lives on social media or within the office
• Providing resources or support for men's health and well-being, such as offering discounts on gym memberships or hosting health screenings
• Creating a "wall of fame" display that highlights famous male role models who have made significant contributions to society
• Organizing a fundraising event for a men's health charity or organization
• Hosting a film screening or book club discussion that explores themes related to men's issues and positive masculinity

Our boss was over the moon with our plans and driven to tears when we told him we couldn't do it without his leadership.

Our International Men's Day gifts were plentiful, and some of our favorite International Men's Day gift ideas to date. On top of Swag and SnackMagic, we decided to give:

• Books: Plenty of books explore topics related to masculinity and what it means to be a man. 
• Grooming Products: Men's grooming products like cologne, aftershave, and skin care products are always appreciated. We purchased from brands that support men's health causes and use natural, sustainable ingredients.
• Accessories: We picked up useful accessories like wallets, watches, sunglasses, and ties.
• Fitness Gear: Many men on our team enjoy working out, so we bought branded fitness gear like resistance bands, yoga mats, or weightlifting gloves. 

We stuck closely to the six pillars of International Men's Day and delivered everyone International Men's Day wishes. Our boss was thrilled with the IMD event and was very surprised by everything we had planned for his birthday.

He admitted that he knew something was going on but didn't have all the details, and he never did try to figure it out. He was moved by all the ways he motivated us and ate more than a couple of pieces of his cake. We were thrilled to give him such an experience, and it brought our entire office closer.

We throw a lot of celebrations in our office, and there are few that go without gifts and goodies from Swag and SnackMagic. The foods are easily curated and delicious, and the Swag is high-quality and beautifully customized.

Our boss and every one of our employees greatly appreciated everything we gifted to them, and they wear and use all of it regularly. Overall, our IMD celebration and birthday bash were a huge hit!