Our office went hybrid recently, we were all working 2 days in the office and 3 days at home. The shift has helped boost morale, cut costs, and improve workplace productivity. However, it's been hard to keep up with my coworkers. I hardly speak with them unless it's about projects, due dates, or client updates. It has made me feel like we don't have the connection we once had. The truth is: I miss my coworkers! I miss hearing about their days, kids, and life outside of work. They are a big part of my life, and I appreciate them being there for me over the years.

So, I decided to take things into my own hands and throw a Kwanzaa party for everyone. Many of my coworkers celebrate Kwanzaa, so I think they'll love what I have planned. However, I didn't know much about the holiday. So I went straight to Google to start to learn more. I started searching for what is Kwanzaa? What religion is Kwanzaa? How can I celebrate it in the workplace? These were all questions I needed answers to if I was going to successfully throw a party and say Happy Kwanzaa to everyone. 

My plan is to have the party on a day we're all in the office, probably a Wednesday. No one expects a party when they come to work on a Wednesday! I'll arrive early, decorate the cubicles, and bring in party favors and tasty treats. Thankfully, our managers are all on board with my plan. They think it will help our team bond and help us engage now that we're hybrid - which I couldn't agree more! They also gave me a small budget to help me with the planning.

If I was going to throw a party for my coworkers, I needed to do it right. Every aspect of my Kwanzaa-themed party must be perfect. I had two weeks to successfully purchase everything, plan accordingly, and get everyone into the office that Wednesday to celebrate!

Here's how I was able to plan the perfect party for my team.

When it came to planning my Kwanzaa celebration, I knew it wasn't going to be easy. I didn't even know what countries celebrate Kwanzaa or even why is Kwanzaa celebrated! But every year when we were all in the office, most of my coworkers would come in smiling and happy, saying happy Kwanzaa to everyone. They would smile, hug each other, exchange gifts, and even have Kwanzaa decorations around their computer! 

One day, I asked my coworker in the cubicle next to me what the happy Kwanzaa meaning was, and she told me all about the seven-day celebration they have every year right after Christmas. She was passionate about sharing her African heritage and what the meaning meant to her and her family. 

Now, I want to share that same feeling by bringing the party to her and all our coworkers in the office! After some research, I felt ready to start shopping for party decorations and party favors. I even downloaded a few recipes I could try cooking at home. I also wanted to take some time to purchase personalized gifts for my coworkers and managers - something small like a custom mug or water bottle to show my appreciation to them. (and so they don't forget about me now that we all work a hybrid schedule!)

To know how to celebrate in the office, I needed to know what countries celebrate Kwanzaa and what does Kwanzaa celebrate. I learned that Kwanzaa is celebrated around the world, and is celebrated in Africa, too! I also learned the answer to is Kwanzaa a religious holiday…. to my surprise, it's not! It's a holiday celebrating African culture, community, family, friends, and values. It's a holiday that I can't wait to celebrate with my coworkers, who are technically my second family.

While planning my big office party, I went to the store and got red, green, and black decorations. I made buttermilk biscuits, candied jams, plantain fritters, and skillet cornbread. I also ordered a curated box of snacks in the office so everyone could snack and enjoy something sweet, salty, and delicious throughout the day. This way there's a variety of snacks for everyone in the office to enjoy. Plus, I'm sure we won't all finish this big box of curated treats, so there will be more to enjoy for our on-site days at work. 

Now that I have all the Kwanzaa tradition food and some extra snacks, it was time for the real fun to begin. I needed to shop for all of my Kwanzaa gifts and Kwanzaa giveaways! 

We have a somewhat small team. There are only about 10 of us in our office, so I knew I wanted to splurge and get something we all would enjoy and use in the office. I jumped on my computer and went to the company swag store we have set up for our team. There were so many options to choose from. I could get everyone matching Kwanzaa shirts with our logo, custom mug, and branded drink ware. All of my coworkers are unique and like different things. So I decided to get everyone something different. 

At the beginning of every year, our team gets allocated the number of credits to use in our swag store. I never use all of mine, so I have a ton to use on my coworkers for Kwanzaa. That's the spirit of the holiday anyways, right? To give back, show thanks, and appreciate the ones around you. So I spent all my company credits on custom gifts for my team. Once all the gifts arrived, I wrapped them in black, red, and green bags and placed them on each desk.

On the day of the big party I was planning for my team, I got to the office extra early to set everything up. While I knew I couldn't bring my team's Kwanzaa traditions to the office, I could bring the Kwanzaa principles and Kwanzaa symbols. I had the gifts (Zawadi), candles (Mishumaa Sabaa), and the candle holder (Kinara). Everything was perfect. 

Once my decorations were up and the food was placed out for everyone to enjoy, it was time to wait for everyone to arrive.

When my coworkers arrived, they walked in with big smiles and happy faces. There were hugs all around the office, and everyone loved the custom gifts on their desk. As everyone grabbed some food and opened their gifts we talked about the 7 days of Kwanzaa and what are the 7 principles of Kwanzaa. Everyone shared their family traditions and how to celebrate the 7 days of Kwanzaa in order.

Kwanzaa is a holiday that brings people together. It celebrates family, culture, and values. 

I learned a ton about Kwanzaa throughout the experience. Now that we have a hybrid team, I'm hoping we can still work to strengthen our workplace connection and celebrate the workplace family we have created over the years.