Brits have revealed their best-loved Christmas traditions, including watching festive films, wearing Christmas jumpers and tucking into turkey sandwiches on Christmas Day.
A survey of 2,000 adults found that Christmas dinner was the top tradition over the festive period, while listening to Christmas carols and baking a cake for Santa on Christmas Eve also featured in the top 20.
The survey also found that 53 percent believe the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has made them value Christmas traditions more than they realized.
But going to a pantomime, shopping and going out for a drink on Christmas Eve were among the cherished traditions Brits now feel uncomfortable doing after lockdowns.
The survey also revealed that 41% believe the traditions they follow have changed over the years, with 35% adapting their traditions to try to be less materialistic, while 32% have altered their traditions to to their children
Francesca Savage, responsible for Christmas a Save The Childrenwhich commissioned the survey to mark its tenth day of the Christmas Jumper this Friday (December 10), said: “For many of us, the traditions we take part in at Christmas are what make the festive period be something we look forward to.
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“However, COVID-19 has forced us to adapt, and in doing so, people have traded materialistic traditions for ones that bring joy to their children.
The survey, commissioned through OnePoll, found that one in five have bought a second-hand Christmas jumper before, while one in eight (13%) have made their own.
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The survey also found that almost seven in ten people agree they should make more efforts to be more sustainable this Christmas, such as not using glittery wrapping paper or buying plastic toys.
And surprisingly, this year more than half (53%) plan to buy second-hand gifts to be more sustainable than ever.
However, almost three-quarters (73%) agreed that there was still a stigma around buying second-hand gifts, while three-fifths admitted that if they bought a second-hand gift, they would hide it to the recipient for fear of their reaction.
UK retail expert and founder of Mary’s Living and Giving for Save the Children stores, Mary Portas, said: “With £42m of unwanted Christmas gifts being sent to the landfill every 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 gifts for loved ones, but most importantly, it gives back to those who need life support.
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“Whether you’re shopping sustainably for Jumper’s tenth day of Christmas this year, or looking to find a hidden gem to give as a gift, remember that by shopping second-hand in a Save the Children shop, you can help protect the magic of children everywhere.”
The money raised goes towards helping underprivileged children get the food, health and education they need.
BRITISH FAVORITE CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS:
1. Christmas dinner
2. Giving and receiving gifts
3. Put up the Christmas tree
4. Eating with the whole family on Christmas Day
5. Placement of Christmas decorations
6. Watch traditional Christmas movies
7. Eat turkey on Christmas Day
8. Listen to Christmas songs on the radio
9. Send Christmas cards
10. Get an advent calendar
11. Eating turkey sandwiches on Christmas Day
12. Wearing Christmas sweaters
13. Going out for Christmas lunch with friends
14. Watching the Queen’s Speech
15. Dress up on Christmas Day
16. Hang a wreath
17. Put a cake and a glass for Santa and carrots for Santa’s reindeer
18. Drinking Bucks Fizz on Christmas morning
19. To rest in Christmas pajamas on Christmas Day
20. Go to a pantomime
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