Words (Core Vocabulary)
- holiday / celebration / long weekend / stat holiday
- greeting / best wishes / happy holidays / season’s greetings
- potluck / cookie exchange / Secret Santa / gift exchange
- decoration / festive / tradition / custom
- observance / cultural/religious holiday
- New Year’s / Lunar New Year / Ramadan & Eid / Passover / Easter / Vaisakhi / Diwali / Hanukkah / Christmas
- Thanksgiving (Oct, Canada) / Canada Day (July 1) / Remembrance Day (Nov 11)
Phrases (Inclusive greetings → planning → hosting)
Inclusive greetings
- Happy holidays! Wishing you a restful season.
- Best wishes for the New Year.
- If you’re celebrating, have a wonderful [holiday].
Planning events
- We’re doing a potluck on Friday—sign up for a dish if you’d like.
- Secret Santa at $20 limit—draw names on Monday.
- Any dietary needs I should plan for?
Hosting with care
- Festive attire optional; come as you are.
- We’ll wrap by 9 out of respect for quiet hours.
- Feel free to share a tradition or song from your culture.
Contextual Examples (Natural, everyday)
- Work chat: Happy holidays, everyone— thanks for a great year!
- Invite: Potluck & games night Sat 5–8; kids welcome, Secret Santa optional.
- Greeting note: If you’re observing Diwali, wishing you light and joy.
Collocations & Phrases (bold the key words)
- offer inclusive greetings
- plan a potluck
- set a gift limit
- respect quiet hours
- ask about dietary needs
- share traditions
Canadian Cultural Context (How to sound natural & polite)
- Canada is diverse; inclusive greetings like “Happy holidays” are common.
- Thanksgiving is in October; winter holidays vary—ask, don’t assume.
- Many condos/communities observe quiet hours; hosts usually mention them.
Extra Mini-Patterns (plug-and-play)
- Greeting: “Happy holidays! Wishing you a restful season and a great New Year.”
- Invite: “Potluck Friday 6–8—bring a dish if you like; Secret Santa $20.”
- Inclusive check: “If you’re celebrating this week, wishing you well! Any dietary needs for our lunch?”