NEWS COPY - By Rob Knight
Carol singing, sending Christmas cards and kissing under the mistletoe are among the traditions we miss most, a study found.
A poll of 2,000 adults found many of us also yearn to go back to the days when going for a post-Christmas walk, making homemade mince pies and going to pantomimes were the norm.
Other festive rituals we’d like to see make a comeback include making our own Christmas cake, drinking eggnog and setting the Christmas pudding alight.
Those polled would also like to see more people returning to turkey on Christmas Day rather than opting for other trendier options.
Home-made decorations also emerged on the list.
Commissioned by Costa Coffee, the research also identified our favourite Christmas traditions which include watching Christmas movies, listening to festive songs and pulling crackers.
It also found eight years old is the age that we most enjoy Christmas.
A spokesman for Costa Coffee said: "The research suggests a number of festive traditions aren’t as popular as they once were, but clearly we’d like to change that.
"Traditions such as kissing under the mistletoe and carol singing are so entwined with the imagery of Christmas that they’ll surely continue to be a festive fixture.
"For many of us, spending quality time with the people we cherish is key at Christmas – and perhaps having one mince pie too many."
It also emerged 68 per cent would like to see a return to traditional Christmas values.
We’d also like to see an increase in the number of us giving a shoebox full of useful items to charity, making Christmas pudding at home and watching the Queen’s speech.
Despite this, Christmas traditions are less important to us than being with our families, the study found.
And a greater number of us value giving gifts more than we do receiving them.
Eighty-six per cent still enjoy the festive period and 39 per cent said it’s their favourite time of the year.
The research, carried out by OnePoll.com, also found wearing Christmas jumpers, watching the Doctor Who special and leaving food out for Santa are among our most beloved traditions.
Opening the doors on our advent calendars, going to German Christmas markets and drinking mulled wine also get us in the festive spirit.
In a bid to bring back kissing under the mistletoe, ex-Saturdays singer, Rochelle Humes and husband, Marvin Humes, formerly of boyband JLS, are set to lead a record attempt for 'Most couples kissing under the mistletoe (multiple venues)’.
The Guinness World Records attempt will take place at 6.30pm on Thursday 14 December at five different shopping centre locations – participants should arrive from 6pm onwards.
The locations include Westfield Stratford City in London, which is where Rochelle and Marvin Humes will be, and The Oracle Shopping Centre in Reading, High Cross Shopping Centre in Leicester, Cabot Circus Shopping Centre in Bristol and Silverburn Shopping Centre in Glasgow.
A spokesman for Costa Coffee added: "Christmas is always a special season and this year we’ve gone one step further to encourage people to connect – literally.
"This event is not only about attempting to break a Guinness World Records title, but to help people to take a moment to connect with loved ones over the festive season.
"We look forward to seeing the turn out – fingers crossed we can claim the title!"
THINKS WE MISS MOST ABOUT CHRISTMAS – TOP 20
Carol singing
Sending Christmas cards
Going for a post-Christmas walk
Making mince pies
Listening to Christmas songs
Having crackers
Having turkey on Christmas Day
Kissing under the mistletoe
Putting up a real Christmas tree
Making your own Christmas cake
Making your own Christmas pudding
Going to the Christmas pantomime
Putting mistletoe up
Shoebox to charity (typically containing sweets, clothing items, pens etc)
Having Brussel sprouts
Making your own Christmas directions
Putting a sixpence or penny in a Christmas pudding
Watching the Queen’s Speech
Setting fire to the Christmas pudding
Drink Eggnog
OUR FAVOURITE THINGS ABOUT CHRISTMAS – TOP 20
Having turkey on Christmas Day
Watching a classic Christmas film
Listening to Christmas songs
Sending Christmas cards
Opening Christmas crackers
Playing board games/ charades
Wearing Christmas jumpers
Eating Christmas pudding
Eating Brussel sprouts
Putting stockings out on Christmas Eve
Opening an advent calendar
Drinking mulled wine
Having Christmas Dinner later in the day
Going for a post-Christmas walk
Having a real Christmas tree
Going to the German Christmas markets
Making homemade mince pies
Wearing Christmas pyjamas
Watching the Doctor Who Christmas special
Leaving food out for Father Christmas and his reindeer
ENDS
