Christmas may not have escaped the clutches of the coronavirus pandemic this year but that hasn’t stopped swathes of people from getting in the holiday spirit. As this month’s infographic shows, one in two people confess to looking forward to Christmas just as much as usual – despite the numerous restrictions preventing customary celebrations.
For many people, the focus is on spending time with family – even if this means new potential for conflict. 24% have first-hand experience of (pre-)Christmas family squabbles. Partners and parents represent particularly acute points of friction, while mealtimes can also lead to heated discussions.
In much of both the UK and Germany, many households keep things traditional: 45% of Germans simply serve sausages and potato salad, while an impressive 64% of Britons take on the daunting task of preparing turkey. What both countries have in common, however, is plenty of alcohol! While others are feasting, the Finns choose to relax with a Christmas sauna.
Despite Christmas being the season of love, togetherness is often neglected during the holidays. Part of this could be because the atmosphere is often somewhat unsexy. One in five people reported that sleeping in their old childhood bedroom was a mood-killer, while a third admitted that overeating makes them feel too sluggish to get “in the mood”.
