It is estimated that 93% of the UK celebrates Christmas in some form each year. Across the UK, that equates to 63.5 million Christmas day celebrations in 2021. But while most of us are together in celebrating the festive holiday, how we spend it is often up for debate.

While some stay cosy in loungewear on the 25th of December, others get dressed up in sparkly occasion wear or even novelty Christmas outfits. Likewise, some turn the Christmas tree lights on and open presents before 6am while others wait until after the big Christmas dinner.

Our own Christmas traditions are often deeply personal to our families and our traditions that we’ve grown up with or even had passed down through generations. In fact, 27% admitted to not being willing to change or try new Christmas traditions and a further 39% of people couldn’t decide whether they would be willing to change what they do on Christmas day.

But while there is no right or wrong when it comes to Christmas, there are certainly some Christmas traditions that are more common than others. Next surveyed 2000 UK respondents to find out how they celebrate Christmas – from when you should put your Christmas decorations up, right through to how much to spend on your partner and what to wear on Christmas day.

The ultimate Christmas dinner menu
A big part of Christmas day is dedicated to eating and drinking like a king or queen. With nothing off-limits, it’s no wonder there are so many debates over the best part of the Christmas meal.

For 61% of respondents, roast potatoes are essential to their Christmas dinner with four being the optimum number of spuds.

Another 43% believe that their Christmas meal isn’t complete unless it contains brussels sprouts. But this iconic winter vegetable isn’t always well-liked with 31% preferring sprouts to not be on their plate.

Next also counted on average, how many portions of each Christmas dinner component the UK opts for. The result was shocking – eight slices of meat, three pigs in blankets, three stuffing balls, four roast potatoes, three Yorkshire puddings, three spoonfuls of gravy, and 17 portions of vegetables. We don’t know about you but we can’t even think of 17 types of vegetables, and we certainly wouldn’t be able to fit all of that on our plates. Luckily, most of us are in our ‘eating clothes’ on the big day, with 33% in casual wear and another 23% in loungewear/pyjamas.

Before, during, and after our Christmas dinner, many of us drink alcohol to mark the occasion too. The most common alcoholic beverage to be consumed on Christmas day is wine (white, red, or rose) with 57% drinking at least one glass. Within this, 23% admitted to drinking three glasses or more which equates to nearly one full bottle.

Perhaps surprisingly, it’s soft drinks like lemonade and cola that take the crown with an average of 2.5 being consumed on Christmas day. Close behind is tea (2.3 cups) and coffee (2.3 cups). After all, if 30% of us are opening our presents first thing in the morning, we must have some caffeine to keep us going.

The most spoilt friends and family
Christmas shoppers are estimated to spend up to £1380 on their nearest and dearest in the run-up to Christmas each year. Parents often feel under pressure to spend more and more each year, even if it means breaking the bank. There are, of course, awesome things that cost 30 dollars or less (£23) on sites like Amazon and novelty street, so it is still possible to budget for the big day. However, it’s the UK’s children that cost us the most.

Sons take the top spot as the most spoilt members of the family with £128 being spent on them, this is followed closely by daughters with £127. Luckily, Santa also picks up some of the expenses when it comes to spoiling the children at Christmas.

Next on the expensive Christmas shopping list are our partners/spouses, who have on average £125 spent on them each year. But a gender breakdown of this data shows that men spoil their other half more than women do – spending £150 versus the £101 spent by women on their partners.