Poll shows recipe for our perfect Christmas Day 

Fizz, games, two films and four inches of snow… but make sure you’re up by 8am! Poll shows recipe for our perfect Christmas Day

  • Poll has found what perfect December 25 looks like to nation as a whole
  • The survey asked 2,000 people what they all did at Christmas 
  • Perfect day would involve waking up at 8am, sitting down to lunch at 2.30pm and four inches of snow
  • Would also feature fizz, board games, presents and mince pies 


It could be that morning glass of bubbly, reading out the terrible cracker jokes… or even having sprouts with the roast dinner.

Every family has its own traditions that make Christmas Day extra special to them.

But a poll has now found what the perfect December 25 looks like to the nation as a whole.

The survey asked 2,000 people what they all did at Christmas to work out what the ideal day would look like in a typical household (stock image)

The survey asked 2,000 people what they all did at Christmas to work out what the ideal day would look like in a typical household. 

It would involve waking up at 8am, sitting down to lunch by 2.30pm, and four inches of snow.

A glass of fizz would be served at 10.28am, with board games commencing straight after the main meal and at least two festive films watched during the day. 

There would ideally be 13 presents to open and at least two mince pies eaten, the poll found.

The perfect day would involve waking up at 8am, sitting down to lunch by 2.30pm, and four inches of snow (stock image)

The perfect day would involve waking up at 8am, sitting down to lunch by 2.30pm, and four inches of snow (stock image)

Nearly four in ten (38 per cent) adults said Christmas was their favourite time of the year (file image)

Nearly four in ten (38 per cent) adults said Christmas was their favourite time of the year (file image)

Nearly four in ten (38 per cent) adults said Christmas was their favourite time of the year.

But planning the perfect Christmas can take a lot of preparation, with us spending an average of £547 on expenses, including gifts, decorations and food shopping.

In an ideal world, we would spend two hours and 45 minutes doing our Christmas shopping for the big day.

In an ideal world, we would spend two hours and 45 minutes doing our Christmas shopping for the big day (stock image)

In an ideal world, we would spend two hours and 45 minutes doing our Christmas shopping for the big day (stock image)

A third of people (33 per cent) prefer to have a real Christmas tree in their home.

The survey, carried out by OnePoll, found a quarter of people were feeling more pressure to deliver the perfect Christmas this year. Getting the right presents, entertaining family and friends and preparing the food were the main areas of concern.

Of those feeling the pressure, nearly four in ten said expectations for Christmas were higher than in the past due to last year’s lockdown disruption.

Vivien Waterfield, from family support charity Home-Start UK, said: ‘For some families Christmas can be an especially difficult time of year. With the rise in heating and living costs, many are facing tough choices between food and fuel.

‘This can feel especially difficult during the festive season, when parents naturally want their children to experience a little Christmas magic.’

The survey, carried out by OnePoll, found a quarter of people were feeling more pressure to deliver the perfect Christmas this year (stock image)

The survey, carried out by OnePoll, found a quarter of people were feeling more pressure to deliver the perfect Christmas this year (stock image)