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

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2024/dec/24/sharp-rise-young-people-spending-christmas-day-alone-uk-study-finds

Von Thomasinarina

20 Comments

  1. AnotherKTa on

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

  2. I’ve done it once as my sister was a nurse at the time and had to work on the day so we did Christmas a few days earlier and I got to spend the day doing bugger all at home. Kind of enjoyed it.

  3. bobblebob100 on

    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

  4. cornishpirate32 on

    Probably because young people don’t have any actual space to entertain these days, they rent rooms in shared houses with shared facilities

    But only 1 in 11? And how are people 30+ young?

  5. ConsistentOcelot2851 on

    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

  6. Penguin1707 on

    Iv spent some Christmas days alone when I was away for working, and honestly… it’s quite nice.

  7. Ill-Pomegranate9016 on

    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 🙂.

  8. heppyheppykat on

    I know some people my age who have estranged themselves from their families due to toxicity. It sucks.

  9. eruditezero on

    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.

  10. Gdawwwwggy on

    Obviously if it’s by choice then fair play, but it’s depressing that a lot of people don’t feel they have friends they can turn to and ask if they can join them for Christmas Day.

  11. Chief_of_Flames on

    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.

  12. movetotherhythm on

    Third Christmas Day in a row where I’ll be at least partly alone. Parents are visiting grandparents for dinner and dropping in afterwards to me. Last two Christmas days I spent them completely alone. I know a good few people who are spending the day alone, so this doesn’t shock me at all

  13. everyonesayhitoellie on

    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. 

  14. suffolkbobby65 on

    In my younger days aged 20 onwards it was expected to attend family gatherings on both my family and the wife’s, always felt uncomfortable and so I chose to work. Now at 70 with diminished relatives, I choose to ignore the festivities altogether.

  15. Unlikely-Ad3659 on

    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.

  16. If this is true then this is quite sad and shocking. It seems since the late 1990’s the entire community spirit and fabric has been torn to shreds by successive so called ‘Liberal’ governments. There’s nothing ‘Liberal ‘about it at all watching your historic community cohesion up and down the UK being destroyed.

    And they wonder why likes of Farage are gaining traction…especially with the young.

  17. Ok_Hunt4267 on

    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.

  18. Jammy bastards. I did Christmas alone once and it was, hands down, my best one for years.

  19. 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. 

  20. That’ll be me tomorrow, as I’m currently nursing a food coma from Christmas dinner at my dad’s house, and my housemates are travelling.

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