When Chinese New Year meets Ramadan: How to celebrate mindfully at work

As Lunar New Year festivities unfold alongside Ramadan, HRO shares practical ways organisations can celebrate vibrantly – while making the season more comfortable and respectful for fasting colleagues.

This year, as Chinese New Year (CNY) festivities coincide with the holy month of Ramadan, many workplaces may find themselves navigating how to celebrate joyfully while remaining mindful of colleagues who are fasting. With a little awareness and intention, the season can become a clear example of respect in action.

As we are all aware, CNY at work usually means decorations, prosperity greetings, and the all-important lohei toss – loud, symbolic, and unapologetically food-centric.

Ramadan, on the other hand, involves fasting from dawn to sunset, alongside prayer and spiritual focus.

These aren’t competing priorities, but they do require awareness. It is often the operational details that make the difference:

• Timing: Schedule CNY celebrations earlier in the day rather than late afternoon, when fasting fatigue tends to peak.
• Optionality: Leaders can make it clear that participation in the festivities is optional – so Muslim colleagues observing Ramadan can choose whether to join, observe, or skip the celebrations.
• Communication: A simple acknowledgement of Ramadan when announcing CNY plans signals cultural awareness and inclusivity.

These may seem like small shifts, but to a fasting employee navigating a long workday, they matter.  

Rethinking the lohei – without losing its spirit

The whole point of the lohei is the energetic, vibrant tossing and exclamations that come with it. But teams can make it more inclusive without stripping away the fun.

Consider:

• Keeping the session shorter and symbolic.
• Focusing on sharing intentions or well-wishes rather than just volume and excess.
• Offering takeaway portions for colleagues who wish to enjoy the food after sunset.

Supporting employees beyond the celebration

Ramadan can be physically demanding, particularly during long meetings or back-to-back schedules. Managers can help by:

• Being thoughtful about high-energy sessions close to end-of-day.
• Offering flexibility where possible.
• Avoiding assumptions about productivity or engagement.

Equally important is creating a culture where respectful curiosity is welcome – if possible, consider doing a short internal explainer on Ramadan; a team sharing session, or just having informal conversations on the meaning behind the fasting season. After all, inclusion deepens when employees understand the 'why', not just the calendar date.

Check out our previous guide on supporting fasting employees during Ramadan, here. 

Finally, be open and willing to listen to suggestions and feedback because cultural overlaps like this are reminders that inclusion isn’t static. 

After the festivities, consider asking your teams:

• What felt inclusive?
• What could we improve next year?
• Did employees feel comfortable?

The answers will shape stronger traditions over time; because ultimately, mindful celebrations aren’t about perfection. They’re about intention.

Happy Lunar New Year and Ramadan Kareem!

ALSO READ: Pack your suitcases: 2026 travel guide by Chinese Zodiac sign