7 in 10 consumers are bored of the same old festive traditions – and want to 'shake things up'

Seven in 10 consumers want to ‘shake things up’ this Christmas – because they’re bored of the same old festive traditions.

A survey of 2,000 Yuletide-loving adults found that they are open to changing their holiday. They also support introducing new party games and spending Yuletide abroad.

Year after year, 58% eat the same food, 66% celebrate with the same people, 50% decorate their homes the exact same way every year.

Other ‘tweaks’ include listening to more festive music than usual, freshening up their selection decorations, and dressing more casually – including spending all day in their PJs if they want to.

Tenderstem’s research found that 60% feel obliged to follow tradition, and are therefore apprehensive about changing – despite their strong desire to do something new this year.

Exactly a quarter admit they adhere to old ways to appease certain relatives, while 54 per cent feel breaking from the norm is somehow ‘wrong’.

However, 46% of respondents believe Christmas Day should be the day they can indulge in what they really want.

This festive season, embrace change

Mel Schilling, a relationship expert is seen giving tips to the nation in a new video.

Likening the dilemma to common life struggle, relationships, Mel’s advice aims to give Brits the confidence and tools to ditch choices we’re no longer content with.

The Married At First Sight star said: “We can all spot when something isn’t right for someone else, but we find it harder to spot when something isn’t right for ourselves.

“Just because something is familiar and comfortable, it doesn’t mean that it makes us happy.

“I am encouraging Brits to follow their hearts and embrace change this festive season.

“Be it by banning Brussels from your Christmas plate and opting for other vegetables instead, or sitting in your PJ’s all day on Christmas Day – after all, it’s special day meant for indulging.”

In-line with Mel’s comments, ditching sprouts is one of the traditions many of those polled are keen to break free from.

And with approximately 115 million uneaten and wasted every year – the equivalent of 1.15 billion grams – it’s perhaps easy to see why.

Other changes that respondents are eager to see this year include the introduction of Secret Santa gifting and eating at different times throughout the day.

But while there might be certain aspects of the holidays many adults might like to do away with or have a break from, there are also aspects they’re happy to keep the same.

jQuery(document).ready(function($) {

// Only when javascript has been enabled, do we want these styles?
$(‘.gal_content’).css(‘display’, ‘block’);

// Initialize Advanced Galleriffic Gallery
var gallery = $(‘#thumbs_67679_3’).galleriffic({
delay: 0,
numThumbs: 0,
preloadAhead: 0,
enableTopPager: false,
enableBottomPager: false,
imageContainerSel: ‘#slideshow_67679_3’,
controlsContainerSel: ‘#controls_67679_3’,
captionContainerSel: ‘#caption_67679_3’,
loadingContainerSel: ‘#loading_67679_3’,
renderSSControls: true,
renderNavControls: false,
playLinkText: ”,
pauseLinkText: ”,
enableHistory: false,
autoStart: false,
enableKeyboardNavigation: true,
syncTransitions: false,
defaultTransitionDuration: 300,

onTransitionOut: function(slide, caption, isSync, callback) {
slide.fadeTo(this.getDefaultTransitionDuration(isSync), 0.0, callback);
caption.fadeTo(this.getDefaultTransitionDuration(isSync), 0.0);
},
onTransitionIn: function(slide, caption, isSync) {
var duration = this.getDefaultTransitionDuration(isSync);
slide.fadeTo(duration, 1.0);

// Position the caption at bottom of the image, and adjust its opacity
var slideImage = slide.find();
caption.fadeTo(duration, 1.0);

},
onPageTransitionOut: function(callback) {
//this.hide();
setTimeout(callback 100); // wait a while
},
onPageTransitionIn function() {
var prevPageLink = this.find(‘a.prev’).css({‘opacity’: ‘0.3’ , ‘display’ : ‘inline-block’, ‘cursor’ : ‘default’});
var nextPageLink = this.find(‘a.next’).css({‘opacity’: ‘0.3’ , ‘display’ : ‘inline-block’, ‘cursor’ : ‘default’});

// Show appropriate next/prev page links
if (this.displayedPage > 0)
prevPageLink.css({‘opacity’ : ‘1’ , ‘display’ : ‘inline-block’, ‘cursor’ : ‘pointer’});

var lastPage = this.getNumPages() – 1;
if (this.displayedPage < lastPage)
nextPageLink.css({'opacity' : '1' , 'display' : 'inline-block', 'cursor' : 'pointer'});

this.fadeTo('fast', 1.0);
}

});

/**************** Event handlers for custom next / prev page links **********************/

gallery.find('a.prev').click(function(e) {
gallery.previousPage();
e.preventDefault();
});

gallery.find('a.next').click(function(e) {
gallery.nextPage();
e.preventDefault();
});

});

Revitalizing traditions

OnePoll conducted the research and found that 55% of respondents love spending time with friends and family.

54% love to give to their loved ones, while 46% enjoy eating as much as they please.

People love Christmas because they have time to relax (42%), take time off from work (32%), and just enjoy the day. (31%).

Dave Samuels, brand manager at Tenderstem, said: “While we all love the Christmas period, we are repeatedly sleepwalking into traditions because we’re putting others’ expectations above our own.

‘’Mel is a fantastic advocate for ironing out the kinks to make things work for you, so hopefully her tips can give you the courage to take the leap.

“We want to empower the great British public this year, bidding goodbye to bitter bedfellows and swapping Brussels for something they actually enjoy on their Christmas plates – perhaps a sweet and slightly nutty alternative.”

To see Mel’s tips on how to break free from traditions for a more fulfilling Christmas click here.

Top 20 Christmas wishes people would like to make

1.    More Christmas movies

2.    Make new decorations

3.    You can watch different Christmas movies than the ones you normally watch

4.    Christmas in another country

5.    Different foods than what I normally eat

6.    Try new party games

7.    Play more Christmas music throughout the Christmas season

8.    This Christmas, don’t travel anywhere

9.    You can’t eat turkey at Christmas dinner

10.   Spend Christmas at home and not at someone’s house

11.   Buy a real Christmas tree

12.   Christmas Day: Dress casually

13.   Not having your entire family present and having a quieter, smaller Christmas

14.   Enjoy dinner at a time that is different from your usual

15.   Different people around

16.   Open presents at an alternative time to the usual

17.   You can have other vegetables instead of Brussels sprouts.

18.   Have guests bring different dishes

19.   Incorporate a Secret Santa gifting system

20.   Not watch the King’s Speech