While teams everywhere are putting up lights, wrapping gifts and planning festive meals, language professionals around the world are entering one of their busiest, and most rewarding, times of the year.
From holiday marketing to international e-commerce support, translators and interpreters play a vital role in ensuring the global holiday season runs smoothly. Here is a look behind the scenes at what Christmas really looks like inside an LSP like Business Language Services.
Why December Is So Busy for Translation Teams
Global holiday marketing goes into overdrive
Brands launch multilingual:
- campaigns
- emails
- ads
- social posts
- festive promotions
- TV and video content
These require swift, culturally sensitive translation – often with tight turnaround times.
E-commerce peaks
International customers shop more in November and December than at any other time of year.
This means that:
- product descriptions
- UX localisation
- customer service responses
- return policies
all need rapid translation.
Corporate events and interpreting
Multilingual company meetings, end-of-year announcements and holiday events create a spike in demand for live and remote interpreting.
Global teams work across time zones
Coordinating with clients and linguists worldwide becomes a logistical feat worthy of Santa’s workshop.
A Day in the Life of a Holiday-Season Translator
A typical day often includes:
- inboxes filling up faster than advent calendars
- festive campaigns requiring creativity and nuance
- urgent client requests (“Can we get this by tomorrow morning?”)
- switching between holiday tones: joyful, formal, playful, spiritual
- teamwork across borders to meet deadlines
Despite the pace, it’s a season filled with energy, collaboration and shared purpose.
The Joy of Seasonal Work
Ask the Business Language Services team what they like about December and you will hear:
- “creative holiday copy is fun to work with”
- “festive messages are warm and uplifting”
- “clients appreciate quick, reliable support”
- “it’s rewarding to see campaigns go live around the world”
Many of our linguists say it’s the time of year when they feel most connected to global audiences.
How Clients Can Make Holiday Projects Run More Smoothly
A few simple steps can make a big difference:
- Send content early when possible
- Provide brand and tone guidelines
- Clarify cultural goals (religious, secular, general holiday)
- Allow time for QA/review
This ensures that the final message is not just translated but truly resonates.
Wishing You a Multilingual, Joyful Holiday Season
Behind every global holiday greeting, ad and customer service message is a linguist working hard to bring people together across cultures. Their work makes the season brighter, more inclusive and more connected.
The Business Language Services team would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our customers and colleagues for their support this year. We wish you all a joyful holiday season.
