It seems like Christmas starts earlier and earlier each year – but when do we actually start getting into the festive spirit?
In years gone by, we first started feeling the Christmas cheer upon hearing our first Christmas carollers, getting tipsy at the company Christmas party, or watching the tree lights being turned on in our towns and cities.
This year, the pandemic will change some of our experiences. According to research by Motif Photos – the app for beautiful and easy-to-make photobooks, cards and calendars – October is the time of year when many people start to get into the Christmas spirit, and Halloween is the time when many start to feel like Christmas is truly coming.
The research looked at different events and occasions that trigger those festive feelings for people, discovering when and why people start looking forward to Christmas. Christmas triggers include:
October triggers
- Halloween: is over 8 times more likely to trigger the Christmas spirit in Gen Zs (those aged 16-24-years old), compared to over 55s.
- November triggers
- Black Friday: is more than three times more likely to get 16-24-year olds in the Christmas spirit than the over 55s
- Christmas ads: Millennials are twice as likely to get into the Christmas mood as soon as they watch their first Christmas advert – specifically the Coca Cola advert and John Lewis ones
- Elf on the Shelf: the moment these arrive, 25-34-year olds start feeling festive, almost 4 times that of the older generations.
December triggers
- Christmas eve: Over 55s are the most likely to wait until Christmas eve before the festivities truly sink in, with one in 8 not feeling festive until this date, versus 1 in 12 of millennials.
- Other festive triggers: the first bite of a mince pie, hearing the first Christmas carol, after fireworks night and seeing the first Christmas stamp .
