Christmas comes early! Families are shopping earlier to spread the cost of presents with candle and pottery making kits among popular gifts – with focus on ‘style over substance’ as Brits strive to create Insta-worthy ‘Chic-mas’ scenes in their homes
Christmas is no longer considered a 12 day period for most Brits, with festivities instead stretching over 45 days, a new survey into the nation’s changing holiday habits has found.
Planning ahead for Christmas begins in November for a fifth of people, mainly women, who are either excited to get their shopping underway or hoping to spread the cost of the pricey season.
As the festive season fast approaches, more new trends are popping up, with many Brits striving to create a ‘Chic-mas’ scene, worthy of being showed off on Instagram and TikTok, choosing more subtle decorations.
As the cost-of-living crisis stretches into its third year, more Britons are expected to buy fewer and cheaper gifts, according to the John Lewis festive traditions tracker report, which analyses sales and YouGov polling.
Homemade presents are also expected to soar becoming ‘one of the biggest trends for 2023’ after an uptake in demand for candle and soap making kits, as well as at-home pottery sets.
Christmas is no longer considered a 12 day period for most Brits, with festivities instead stretching over 45 days, a new survey has found (stock image)
Consumers are also buying more unusual baubles such as oat milk cartons, as demand for these types of decoration are up 43 per cent from last year (stock image)
Food remained a central focus for most people this year, with 23 per cent expected to spend more on their grocery shopping
In another cost saving measure around 40 per cent also expected to re-gift presents this year, all feeling no guilt in passing on their unwanted presents.
For a third of families Christmas tree is no longer enough and opt to display two firs throughout their homes dressed up with baubles and bright lights.
READ MORE: Festive families to see double this Christmas as new trend for two trees per house is predicted
The idea is the second decorated tree brings a bit more festive spirit to the house – brightening up an otherwise dull office space or hallway.
The retailer estimates that the sale of trees will peak between December 1 and 5
Older traditions are also under threat, with less people sending Christmas cards as the cost of stamps left a third of people posting fewer items.
The department store said it had seen a 96 per cent increase but savvy families are keeping the cost down by using energy-efficient bulbs.
Gen Z and millennials are also ditching their best Christmas outfits, with 34 per cent dressing. A third of 18-24 said they plan to spend the whole day in pyjamas.
Kathleen Mitchell, Commercial Director for John Lewis, said: ‘While some traditions have stood the test of time, others are changing at pace and we’re seeing customers spread both the excitement and the cost.
‘We even saw a spike in Christmas tree searches immediately after the summer holidays. Following the initial excitement though, most people start shopping seriously from early November.’
Even the popularity of Christmas Day is plummeting. Less than half of Brits said that it was their favourite day of the season, while 25 per cent favoured Christmas Eve and 15 per cent preferred boxing day.
Food remained a central focus for most people this year, with 23 per cent expected to spend more on their grocery shopping.
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