Survey finds 1/3 people pack away baubles and tree on Boxing Day
Tradition says we take down Christmas decorations on ‘Twelfth Night’ which will fall on Monday, 5 January 5, 2026. It officially marks the end of Christmas.
But new research, carried out by Park Christmas Savings, finds families are increasingly rethinking long-held festive traditions – with one in three households taking Christmas decorations down as early as Boxing Day.
One in four will pack away their festive look on New Year’s Day to signify a ‘fresh start’ and there’s an increase in Christmas buffets as people consider a formal sit down meal to be old fashioned.
The survey consisted of more than 5,000 UK households. It found the country split between those who take decorations down immediately after Christmas and those who believe they should stay up until Twelfth Night.
The Big Christmas Survey suggests Christmas traditions are becoming more flexible as families prioritise simplicity, affordability and wellbeing. The new research suggests families are increasingly rethinking long-held festive traditions.
According to the research, around one in three households pack away the tinsel and baubles as early as Boxing Day – citing fatigue and the desire to reset the home before the New Year.
A similar proportion say decorations should remain in place until Twelfth Night, viewing early removal as bad luck or an unnecessary rush to end the festive period.
The disagreement is emblematic of wider changes in festive behaviour, the survey suggests, with many households questioning traditional Christmas rules.
‘Prioritising comfort, affordability and emotional wellbeing’
The survey found nearly half of Brits (48%) now openly question traditional festive traditions, with younger families leading a quiet revolution against Christmas conventions.
More than a third are actively simplifying Christmas habits to cut both stress and costs, while millions say they feel less guilty than ever about ditching traditions altogether.
Nearly half of UK households are skipping sending out Christmas cards and a third say they will be passing on elaborate New Year celebrations and spreads.
The survey also found a change in festive behaviour is reflected in eating habits with the rise of the Christmas buffet in favour of the sit down formal meal.
More than a third (37%) opted for a simplified Christmas dinner serving arrangement, with a ‘help yourself’ side table of options.
Younger families in particular are embracing the Christmas buffet trend with many saying the days of a sit-down Christmas dinner is seen as being ‘old fashioned.’
‘The days between Christmas and New Year are when festive fatigue hits hardest our annual survey found. We’re seeing Christmas traditions become much more flexible,’ says Katherine Scott, Director of Marketing at Park Christmas Savings.
‘With rising living costs and busy lifestyles reshaping expectations, many families say they are prioritising comfort, affordability and emotional wellbeing over perfection — even if that means breaking with tradition.’
Breaktime News recently reported on a mighty decorated Giant Redwood securing the title for the World’s Tallest Bedded Christmas Tree.
