Brits have revealed their best-loved Christmas traditions, including watching festive films, wearing Christmas jumpers—and tucking into turkey sandwiches on Boxing Day.
A survey of 2,000 adults found Christmas dinner to be the top tradition over the festive period, while listening to Christmas songs and putting a mince pie out for Santa on Christmas Eve also featured in the top 20.
The poll also found 53 percent believe the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has made them value Christmas traditions more than they’d realized.
But going to a pantomime, shopping in-store, and going out for drinks on Christmas Eve were among the loved traditions that Brits now feel uncomfortable doing following lockdowns
The survey further revealed that 41 percent believe the traditions they follow have changed over the years—with 35 percent having adapted their traditions in a bid to be less materialistic, while 32 percent have altered their traditions for their children.
Francesca Savage, Head of Christmas at Save The Children, which commissioned the poll to celebrate its tenth Christmas Jumper Day this Friday (December 10), said, “For many of us, the traditions we take part in at Christmas are what make the festive period something we look forward to.
“However, COVID-19 has meant that we’ve had to adapt, and in doing so, people have swapped materialistic traditions for ones that bring joy to their children.
The poll, commissioned via OnePoll, found that one in five have bought a second-hand Christmas sweater before, while one in eight (13 percent) have made their own.
The survey also found almost seven in ten agreed people should make more of an effort to be more sustainable this Christmas, such as not using glitter wrapping paper or buying plastic toys.
And surprisingly, this year over half (53 percent) plan to buy second-hand gifts in a bid to be more sustainable than ever before.
However, almost three-quarters (73 percent) agreed that there was still a stigma about buying second-hand presents—while three-fifths admitted that if they did buy a second-hand present, they would conceal this from the recipient in fear of their reaction.
British high-street retail expert and founder of ‘Mary’s Living and Giving for Save the Children’ shops, Mary Portas, said, “With £42m worth of unwanted Christmas presents sent to the landfill each year, there’s no better time for the nation to opt for a thoughtful, less consumerist Christmas by buying pre-loved gifts.
“Charity shopping offers savings and the chance to buy personalized presents for loved ones, but most importantly, it gives back to those who need vital support.
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“Whether you buy sustainably for this year’s tenth Christmas Jumper Day, or want to find a hidden gem to gift, please remember that by buying second-hand from a Save the Children shop, you can help protect the magic for children everywhere.”
The money raised goes toward helping disadvantaged children get the food, healthcare, and education they need.
BRITS’ FAVORITE CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS:
1. Christmas dinner
2. Giving and receiving presents
3. Putting the Christmas tree up
4. Eating with all the family on Christmas Day
5. Putting up Christmas decorations
6. Watching traditional Christmas films
7. Eating Turkey on Christmas Day
8. Listening to Christmas songs on the radio
9. Sending Christmas cards
10. Getting an advent calendar
11. Eating Turkey sandwiches on Boxing Day
12. Wearing Christmas jumpers
13. Going out for a Christmas meal with friends
14. Watching the Queen’s speech
15. Getting dressed up on Christmas Day
16. Hanging a wreath
17. Putting a mince pie and glass out for Santa, and carrots for Santa’s reindeer
18. Drinking Bucks Fizz on Christmas morning
19. Lounging around in your Christmas pyjamas on Christmas Day
20. Going to a pantomime
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