Tomorrow, the nation will be in the full spirited swing as according to new research by Sonos*, two-thirds of Brits declared 1st December the ‘perfect Christmassy-feeling date’, with putting up the Christmas tree (52%) the moment which makes us start feeling most Christmassy. Other key festive feeling moments include seeing Christmas lights begin to decorate local villages (42%), Christmas songs blasting through the radio (32%), and when the ‘big’ well-known Christmas adverts come on the TV (27%).

When it comes to hearing or playing Christmas songs, over two thirds (69%) said that listening to Christmas music was a key part of getting into the festive spirit. Three-quarters (76%) of Christmas-loving Brits said December was the most acceptable month to start, with almost half (47%) landing on the 1st of December as the specific date. A fifth (18%) however said that November was also an acceptable time to hear those festive jingles, and a quarter (25%) said that they listen to Christmas songs and watch Christmas films earlier in the year for the feel-good factor.

Sonos recently launched its S.A.N.T.A. Index, an algorithm developed to settle the debate of when the festive season starts once and for all. Alongside a bunch of metrics, the Index analyses the frequency that users search and play the five most popular Christmas songs and movies on the Sonos app in each participating country.

According to the S.A.N.T.A. Index, the five most streamed Christmas tracks are:

All I Want for Christmas Is You – Mariah Carey
It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas – Michael Bublé
Last Christmas – Wham!
The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You) – Nat King Cole
I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday – Wizzard

Snuggling down to watch a Christmas film is a key festive feeling moment for over half of Brits (56%), with two-thirds (67%) agreeing that the final month of the year was the right time, with a third (34%) landing on the 1st of December specifically. Over three quarters (79%) of Brits prefer chilling with family at home to watch a film, versus heading to the cinema, as they find it cosier (59%) and can eat and drink whatever they like. However, Brits are a bunch of scrooges deep down, with 12% (the highest proportion) saying the Christmas movie character they relate the most to is Ebenezer Scrooge from A Christmas Carol.

According to Sonos’ S.A.N.T.A. Index, the five most popular Christmassy films are:

Love Actually
Home Alone 1&2
Elf
It’s a Wonderful Life
The Snowman

Mutya Buena, Original Sugababes member and singer of ‘Too Lost in You’, a track featured on the Love Actually soundtrack said: “Christmas is the perfect time of year to celebrate togetherness with all of our loved ones with the help of some Christmassy tunes and films to fill the home, with Love Actually being a particular favourite and no.1 for a lot of other people too! I’m looking forward to the month of December, for those precious moments of winding down and enjoying time with family and friends with no real place to be”

Shakira Payne, UK Senior Communications and Advocacy Manager from Sonos commented: “We may not all agree on the official start of the holiday season, but there’s one thing we can agree on, that the start of holidays make us feel more – more joyful, more connected, more nostalgic. Whether it’s putting up your Christmas decorations, wrapping presents early or getting ready for the party season, Sonos is helping people feel more festive by effortlessly connecting them to the songs and movies they love with great sound. And nothing says holiday cheer like our Christmas favourites from Mariah Carey or Michael Bublé; they conjure vivid memories and feelings, including strong opinions about when we believe the holiday season officially starts. It’s been a tumultuous few years, and 2022 has seen quite a lot of challenges in the UK, so I think we should allow ourselves to have fun and get into the festive mood…even if there is a little grinch in us. It’s important to create quality time with family and friends, especially where music can play a role in helping us create more memorable moments”

To help ignite the festive feeling whilst putting up the tree, or hosting a Christmas party, Sonos has launched a host of new Sonos Radio holiday stations which include ‘Holidaze’, Mistletoe & Wine, Winterwärme and more…offering the perfect soundtracks to liven up the festivities with deep seasonal cuts, rare gems and instant classics from vintage soul, new country, and modern pop. Sonos Radio is available for Sonos users across its range of smart home speakers, including the Sonos One (the compact and versatile smart speaker which adds joy to every room) and Sonos Beam (the powerful soundbar which offers a cinematic experience from the comfort of your couch).