Christmas Is About Spending Quality Time with Family

Christmas is all about spending quality time with family, 69% of women and 60% of men say, but the preparations can also be stressful, according to a survey by Costa Coffee and GKID in Hungary.

The survey found that people choose a variety of ways to relieve stress: one in five relax by reading a book, 16% by drinking coffee, 15% by doing chores, the same number by going on a trip, while 14% by petting their pets; 30% of respondents do not stress about anything, or have always enjoyed the holiday or learned to let go of difficulties.

According to the survey, the excitement of getting ready for Christmas is the second most important joy, with women (47%) more likely to enjoy it than men (26%), while the latter are more likely to enjoy relaxation (36%), which is less important for women (32%).

One in five respondents concentrate on recharging at the end of the year during the holidays, while others plan for the coming year (14%) and evaluate the past year (10%).

Gift giving is also a typical source of pleasure, with nearly a quarter of respondents feeling better about giving or receiving gifts. For younger age groups, the issue of gifts is even more important, and women are much more likely to look forward to Christmas for surprises, at 27%, than men, for whom the same proportion is 17%.

For many, opening presents and decorating the tree is a great festive activity, with 35% of respondents and 32% respectively, but wrapping presents is a favorite pastime for only one in five respondents. For a quarter of respondents, being at home without the obligatory time off is the best moment of the season. Overall, women find more pleasure in everything – even preparing the Christmas menu – than men, for whom the moments of the holiday seem to be less important.

Analysis by Costa Coffee and GKID reveals that 35% of respondents say that having a coffee is the best way to unwind, and one in three say it is essential to start the day well. For 18% of people, these moments also represent so-called me-time, when they don't have to meet external expectations. More female respondents drink coffee (23%), and younger respondents also tend to see it as a time for themselves, while older respondents see it as a way to start the day and wake up.

The biggest source of stress before Christmas, according to respondents, is the crowd (21%), and many also worry about spending money (15%), lack of gift ideas (14%) and prices (11%). Women are more frustrated by spending money, the crowd, gift ideas and prices, while men are less concerned about the holiday.

The release quotes psychologist Dávid Szél, who said many people feel burdened by the preparations, as a good number of people think everything will be decided in those few days and the mood has to be perfect. He added that just as there is no perfect parent, there is no perfect Christmas, but there can be a ‘good enough Christmas’. But that requires people to realize that a nice Christmas together does not necessarily require expensive presents and an eight-course dinner.

The research was commissioned by Coca-Cola HBC Hungary and conducted by GKID Research&Consulting in November 2022, interviewing more than 5,000 people.