One of the joys of the festive season is to take part in various traditions, but there are some Christmas traditions that we no longer apparently want to do.
A study has found that previously much-loved Christmas traditions such as Carol singing and putting pennies in the Christmas pudding are now a thing of the past. Just one in 10 people said they are planning to partake in Christmas carolling this year.
That’s along with tipping the binmen and paperboy and watching James Bond are no longer part of our festive routine.
Researchers say one reason for this is that people fear they don’t want to look ‘old fashioned’.
Also, people are under financial pressure and don’t have the time to take part in some traditions.
Christmas traditions are now falling by the wayside
Around half of the 2,000 adults who were questioned said that they believed old Christmas traditions are now declining.
Indeed, just one in three Britons will be hanging a wreath on their door this Christmas and just 65% will be putting up a Christmas tree.
While many of us enjoy a festive roast turkey, one in four people will not be enjoying a Christmas dinner of turkey and trimmings and just seven in 10 of us are planning on giving and receiving presents.
The survey also highlights the growing differences between how older and younger Brits choose to celebrate Christmas in 2018.
Research reveals that Christmas dinner will remain the day’s focal point, but there are some key differences – for Brits who are aged between 18 and 24 they prefer to put up a Christmas tree to mark the occasion.
Take part in ‘traditional’ activities
The study from the online retailer, British Corner Shop, highlights that youngsters also prefer to watch a Christmas film, listen to Christmas songs on Christmas day rather than take part in ‘traditional’ activities.
However, for people over the age of 50, they prefer to hang a wreath on their door, celebrate by eating mince pies and going for a post-Christmas dinner walk to help burn off some calories.
A spokeswoman for the retailer, said: “The research shows that lots of classic traditions appear to be falling by the wayside and what we consider to be a traditional Christmas custom may not have a place in future Christmases.
“However, where old traditions are dying off there are new ones replacing them, and lots of old traditions are as popular as they have ever been.”
According to the researchers, these are the traditions that are waning:
- Drinking eggnog 5%
- Christingle 5%
- Write a letter to Father Christmas 5%
- Put a penny or sixpence in the Christmas pud 7%
- Going Christmas carolling 7%
- Decorating a gingerbread house 7%
- Donating a charity shoebox containing pens, sweets etc 11%
- Watching a James Bond film 11%
- Setting fire to a Christmas pud 13%
- Attending a Christmas panto 13%
- Hanging mistletoe 14%
- Tipping binmen or posties 14%
- Having a nativity scene 14%
- Putting up holly and ivy 15%
- Leaving carrots and a mince pie out for Santa 19%
- Installing a real Christmas tree 20%
- Drinking mulled wine 23%
- Watching the Queen’s speech 25%
- Putting a stocking up 29%
- Going for a post-Christmas dinner stroll 29%
Christmas traditions that have fallen out of favour
Other Christmas traditions that have fallen out of favour include roasting chestnuts, going to a Christmas Eve carol service, having chestnut stuffing with Christmas dinner and making decorations by hand.
There’s also falling interest in making a Christmas cake and lighting candles for the Christmas dinner table.
However, for 41% of respondents, they will enjoy wearing a Christmas jumper and having a Boxing Day buffet.
And one in five of us loves going to German markets in December though 82% of people say that Christmas appears to start earlier every year.
