Christmasin21stcenturyAustralia

McCrindleResearchaskedAustraliansabouttheirattitudestoChristmas,howtheycelebrateorwhethertheycelebrateChristmasatall.Here’sareflectionontheresults.Acelebrationforall57%ofsurveyrespondentsidentifiedthemselvesasbelongingtoareligionthatcelebratesChristmasasareligiousholiday.87%ofthosewhoarenotreligiousstillcelebrateChristmastosomeextent.56%ofthosewhobelongtoanotherreligionstillcelebrateChristmas.Formost,thehighlightsofChristmasrevolvearoundcelebrationsandholidayswithfamilyandfriends(46%)followedbytheseculartraditions(suchasexchanginggifts,theChristmastreeandthegeneralChristmasspirit),37%.Howeverthethirdrankedhighlightswerereligiouselements(15%)whichincludedattendingservices,carolsinging,andnativityplays.Thosewhodon’tcelebrateChristmasatallcitecommercialism,familyproblemsorlackoffamilyastheirmainreasons..

“Eachyearinourcalendarwehavesomeeventsthatuniteafamilysuchasbirthdaysandanniversaries,andthereareothersportingeventsorpublicholidaysthatsomewhatuniteanationorcommunities.HoweverChristmasisuniqueontheAustraliancalendarinthatitsimultaneouslygathersfamiliesandthebroadercommunityincelebration,”writessocialresearcherMarkMcCrindle.

Thenot-so-merryaspectsThethingthatmostannoysAustraliansatChristmastimeisshopping.81%areoftheopinionthatourshopssetupforChristmasmuchearlierthannecessary.InfacthalfofAustralians(49.7%)wouldprefertheChristmasset-upbegininlateNovemberorearlyDecember.

• 3in4(74%)aremostannoyedbyover-crowdedshoppingcentres.• 7in10(69%)ratecommercialismasatop3Christmasgripe.• 4in10(39%)statethatthepressuretobuypresentsisabigirritation.

Season’sCynicism–quotesfromrespondents:

“ThecommercialismofChristmasbringsalotofsadness(suchas)highexpectationsfromchildrenforexpensivegiftswhenoftenthereisnomoneytospare.”“Thecommercialisationisinsipid,presentsareawasteofmoney,andthereligiousaspecthasnosignificancetome.”“ThetruemeaningofChristmashasbeenlost...atimeofexpenseandoftentroublewithfamilymembers...”

 

 

OurholidayhabitsExaminingthosewhodocelebrateChristmastosomedegree,1in5(19%)will“definitely”attendaChristmasservicethisyearwhile2in5(38%)ChristmascelebratorshaveneverattendedaChristmasservice.

Nearly4in5(78%)haveorwillbesendingChristmascardsthisyear.

ThemostcommonhouseholdChristmasdecorationsaretheChristmastree(86%),andChristmasstockings(81%),followedbyChristmaslights(60%),tinsel(55%)andwreaths(37%).

ThemajorityofusmostoftencelebrateChristmasDaywithourparentsorextendedfamily(61%).Weare,however,lesslikelytocelebratewithourin-laws(27%).For9%ofAustraliansChristmaswillbecelebratedwithagroupoffriends,and2%willspendChristmasalone.

AustraliansaremostlikelytositdowntoaChristmaslunchofham,turkeyandsalad,followedbyplumpudding.Otherpopulardishesofthedayareroastchicken,seafoodandroastvegetables.

For13%ofthepopulation,ChristmasEveisthehighlightoftheChristmascalendar.Forthevastmajoritythough(85%)it’sstillallaboutChristmasDay.

“Interestinglyeveninthesesecularandpluralistictimes,Christmashighlightsthereligiousrootsofournation.Farfromadeclineofreligioussentimentthereisameasurableturningofthetidetoday,fromcrassmaterialismtowardsmoretraditionalvaluesandperspectives.Fromcarolsingingtochurchattendance,theChristianaspectsofChristmasremainsignificantinAustralia”writesMarkMcCrindle.

DoyoubelieveinSanta?

• 9in10AustraliansbelievedinSantaClauswhentheywerekids• 4in5parentsgivetheirchildrenpresentsfromSanta,eitherinaChristmas stockingoraswrappedpresentsunderthetree.• 1in4(27%)parentswhohaveyoungchildrenare“uncomfortable”withthe discussionstheyhavewiththeirchildreninaffirmingSantaClaus.

WhatAussieparentssay–quotesfromrespondents:

“MychildrenbelieveinSantabuttheyalsoknowtherealreasonforChristmas(Jesus’birth).”“FatherChristmasispartofchildhood.Let’snotspoilit.”“Wedon’tdiscourageit(Santa)butwedon’tmakeitabigdealeither.”“Iwon’tbelyingtomydaughteraboutSanta.IfeelSantarepresentsthecommercialsideofChristmas,whichIhate.”

© McCrindleResearchForcommentorfurtheranalysiscontactMarkMcCrindle.m:0411500090p:+61288243422e:mark@mccrindle.com.au