Erheblicher Anstieg der Zahl junger Menschen, die den Weihnachtstag allein in Großbritannien verbringen | Weihnachten

Which is interesting, given the number of young people still living with their parents has been increasing for years.

If you dont have kids and/or religious, what does Christmas Day really mean anyway.

I like Christmas as its time off work and an excuse to eat and drink what you want just because its Christmas, but ultimately its just another day.

Christmas starts around October these days, by the time it actually comes around alot are burnt out with it. I know more and more people that spend it abroad or dont get the excitement from it they did as kids

There are a lot of lonely elderly people around, sad when you think their generation was all about communicating and being face-to-face

I wonder what we’ll be like when we’re elderly

Interesting. I’m in the 45-54 bracket and have spent Christmas for the last 5 years alone. Most people I know seem really surprised.

I book somewhere nice to stay, well away from anyone I know, and just chill out. No pressure, fake jollity / festivity or people forcing me to go to theirs on the day for ‘reasons’.

I AM alone, but def not lonely 🙂.

Think its important to distinguish between ‘alone’ and ‘lonely’ here. I know a few people (myself included) who go away over the christmas holiday (either fully alone or with partner) usually because its less stressful than family nonsense. That said, there are some people who are very much alone *and* lonely, and we need to be really careful to look out for these people.

These figures are always somewhat skewed and don’t really go into granular detail. Could a lot of these young people be students? I remember at university, a lot of students from the far east stayed in accommodation and didn’t go back over Christmas Day. They were to be offered Christmas lunch and grouped together on the day, then would take the time to call family.

I doubt way more young people are shunning family and choosing to go Christmas alone compared to 1969. Unless that figure also takes into account differing religions who wouldn’t typically celebrate Christmas and just see it as another day – but however, the samples don’t pick that up. Obviously, since 1969, there has been a lot of migration into the UK – and demographic figures have largely changed.

Why else would people choose to spend Christmas alone? I would imagine, death or estrangement from parents, or family members – say, a parent has died or divorced and they don’t feel welcome spending it with them; familial abuse, or siblings have grew older and moved away.

Or, could they just be young adults who live alone, but ‘come round for a bit on Christmas’? So, really, the figures could be largely misrepresentative.

Last year I decided last minute to have Christmas alone, my sister was at her partner’s and my parents only had a sofa to offer me after I would have driven 3 hours to theirs. I just really could not be bothered, and did not fancy spending several days with my parents in their space where I would have no autonomy. 

Honestly the best, so nice and peaceful. This year I’ve got a van and driven it down to Southern Spain for some sun – if I had to pick between family time where it gets dark at 4, and this? Definitely this. 

I am spending Christmas alone, it is perfect imo. Zero stress.

Genuinely I wouldn’t swop it for any other option.

I’ll be up at 6 as always,no booze as I gave up alcohol last year.

No presents to open, food is ready to go and preprepared.

And I will be wallpapering the ensuite WC.

As someone mentioned, there is a big difference between alone and lonely. I think by the time the actual day comes around, people are just so jaded as Christmas has been shoved down our throats since October and perhaps just appreciate the opportunity to keep it low key without any forced jollity. However the thought of people feeling ‘lonely’ makes me very sad and my heart does go out to people who experience this.

I was about to be one in this statistic this year as it’s been a tough year with family drama. I’m now getting the train to family for a couple of days. I actually would just prefer to be alone and do nothing and not have to deal with all the fuss and overconsumption but I will say I am still grateful and aware I have this option that many people do not.