The holiday season may look magical on Instagram, but in real life, not every Christmas tradition feels like a warm mug of cocoa. A survey dug into which traditions people are still excited about, which ones they tolerate, and which ones they quietly wish would be banished to the North Pole. It gathered thousands of responses, giving us a surprisingly honest look at how people REALLY feel about holiday rituals. If you need proof that holiday burnout is a thing, well, here it is.
So, what are people still gung-ho about?
Secret Santa surprisingly takes the top spot, with 54% of respondents saying they’re still into it. Maybe it’s the thrill of trying to guess which coworker bought you a mug shaped like a reindeer. Or maybe it’s the $20 limit that keeps things from getting too awkward.
Snow came in at 42%, which makes sense. Snow is beautiful in movies and on postcards, and slightly less delightful when it’s blocking your driveway.
A solid 41% insist that all presents must be opened on Christmas Day, no exceptions. This rule is beloved by traditionalists and feared by anyone who travels between multiple households and ends up opening gifts in the back seat of a car.
Christmas entertainment holds steady. Christmas music, Christmas movies, and Christmas carols all hover in the low 40s and 30s. Apparently there are still plenty of people who will listen to Mariah Carey voluntarily and even leave the house to sing about figgy pudding.
Decorations also make the list, though only 29% are still truly enthusiastic about decking the halls. Hosting Christmas parties isn’t wildly popular either, with 27% saying they’re up for it. That number feels right, considering hosting means cleaning, cooking, and pretending not to notice when someone uses your good hand towels.
Then there’s the spicy category: 26% of respondents say they’re legitimately offended if someone doesn’t like Christmas. Not “bummed,” but offended. Good luck to the polite introverts trying to navigate that one.
Ugly Christmas sweaters still have fans at 25%, tied with baking cookies. Honestly, both traditions have the same vibe: fun, cute, and slightly messy.
Some traditions ranked much lower. Only 21% of people want the tree up before Thanksgiving. And Christmas family photos? Just 14% are really into those, which tracks considering how many of them end in tears, bribery, or matching plaid pajamas no one wanted.
Finally, only 11% of people make their own Christmas cards, which raises the question: Who ARE these people, and what kind of free time do they have?
If nothing else, this survey proves that even the most beloved holiday rituals can get a little . . . complicated. But whether you’re team “let’s do everything” or team “how about we just chill,” at least you can rest easy knowing you’re not the only one feeling that holiday fatigue creeping in.