Christmas Day is here and the UK’s most popular traditions on December 25 have been revealed.
Every family tends to have a long-established routine for the big day, but conventions can vary greatly between households.
According to research from thortful, in a survey of 1,000 people, the majority of Brits start off the festivities with opening presents after they get up (39 per cent), eat Christmas dinner at 2pm (26 per cent) with lashings of gravy (91 per cent), then watch the King’s speech (89 per cent) and finish with entertainment.
Wham!’s Last Christmas is the nation’s favourite song, while Home Alone rated as the most popular Christmas film to watch.
But not everyone follows the set tradition, with some being unable to wait until today to unwrap their gifts and instead opening them all on Christmas Eve (5 per cent).
Others resell their unwanted presents online (2 per cent), brave the cold with a wild swim (3 per cent) or head down to the local pub (12 per cent), while some even go carol singing (11 per cent).
GB News went along to York Christmas market to ask people how they will be spending Christmas Day.
“It’s just presents, presents, presents,” said mum-of-two Leanne.
“Scarlett [her youngest daughter] wakes up first in the morning and dad runs down to check that Santa’s been.
‘It’s just presents, presents, presents, said mum-of-two Leanne
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GB NEWS
“We set wrapping paper up for them to burst through and then it’s all about opening the presents.”
Michael and his wife Penny, told GB News that they eat their breakfast and unwrap gifts at the same time.
He said: “Normally we get up early, have some breakfast, open presents while we’re eating, probably, and then go and meet some friends at lunchtime for a couple of drinks, and then back and have Christmas dinner.”
Teenager Gracie said: “On Christmas Eve, my parents get us all Christmas pyjamas, new ones, and then we wear them down on Christmas Day.”
Her friend Erin told us that she does not have a traditional festive meal and said: “I go for my dinner – I have a curry, so I’ll go to an Indian and it’s lovely.”
Ryan and his partner come back to the UK for Christmas and he said: “We open presents first, and then we’ll go for a walk around our village and then we’ll go to the pub.”
Some 39 per cent of Britons open their presents first
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GB NEWS/THORTFUL
Former prison officer Kevin said: “I like watching the King’s Speech when we can, when my wife’s not working. It’s a nice, good old tradition.”
Marion looks after her spouse on Christmas Day and said: “Well, my husband’s from the Caribbean, so they traditionally have ham, cheese and crackers for breakfast. I can’t face it myself, but that’s what I have to get in, otherwise, divorce proceedings will occur.”
It’s also been one of the busiest months for retailers, with Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showing that consumer spending in December can leap to over £50billion, a 50 per cent increase compared to the average monthly spend of around £34 billion.
Workers at York Christmas Market told GB News that they are ready to put their feet up for the day after a busy trading period.
Rupert Harrison owns Black Yak and sells Fair-Trade clothing and crafts from around the world. With UK designers and production facilities in Nepal, the business produces summer cotton and winter wool ranges.
Mr Harrison is an independent York retailer and wholesaler and has been trading at York market and St Nicholas Christmas fair for the more than 25 years.
Speaking to GB News, he said: “Well, now I work on the Christmas markets, we get home and we just collapse into an armchair on Christmas Day.
“I sit there with a glass of port, the telly on, and it does me.”
Rupert Harrison says his tradition is to ‘sit there with a glass of port, the telly on’
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GB NEWS
Claire runs the Printing London Stamps stall on the other side of York Christmas market. It is a family-run business of 50 years and they handcraft bronze metallic printing stamps and wax seals.
She told us her Christmas traditions and said: “My son and I open the presents, have a bit of a posh breakfast with some Buck’s Fizz with the neighbours actually, we all stand out on the street and have a bit of a get together.
“Then it’s Christmas dinner and just watch some films and just have a real chill, actually.
“Especially after a long few weeks doing the Christmas markets, we all need a nice chill after that.”
Pete Sutton is the Business Development Officer for York City Football Club and has a stall selling club merchandise at York Christmas Market.
He said: “We have a daughter and we get up as soon as she gets up, open the presents, have a bacon roll for breakfast and some champagne and then go to my dad’s for tea.
“Because we work in football, we’ve always got a game on Boxing Day, so it’s always an early bed for me I’m afraid.”
What are your Christmas Day traditions? Let us know in the comments below!