Wilmington, DE, December 2 • 3 min read
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PapersOwl survey investigated Gen Z buying gifts with Black Friday deals and comparing their holidays to celebrities’.
Christmas is what brings people happiness, joy, and a festive mood. However, it can also cause stress because of extra spending or social media pressure for a “perfect” holiday. PapersOwl surveyed 2000 representatives aged 18-34 across the U.S. to get their opinions on how their generation gets ready for Christmas and the obstacles/expectations it faces. This review is about what they’ve learned by asking different questions concerning Christmas preparation time.
The Christmascore Chronicles: How Gen Z Redefines Holiday Spirit in the Social Media Age
59% of Gen Z strongly agree that Christmas is the most important holiday.
33% of Gen Z have gone into debt because of Christmas spending.
Gift exchange is the most cherished Christmas tradition for young Americans.
Social media influences the perception of Christmas for 46% of Gen Z.
Well, statistics are quite two-sided. While some go into debt to buy everyone a gift, others cherish gift exchange.
The Meaning of Christmas: Stress or Gifts Unless
Many Gen Z members still cherish Christmas, but its significance varies. While 59% consider it the most important holiday of the year, 22% are less enthusiastic. Yet, traditions like gift exchanges remain beloved, with 75% favoring this festive activity above others. With 55% of respondents agreeing that they feel pressured to buy gifts, it is no surprise that every third has gone into debt at least once for Christmas spending.
Family Ties and Obligations
Spending Christmas with family is both a joy and a source of pressure for Gen Z:
73% feel obligated to celebrate with family.
51% can’t say that the holiday season is not stressful, with many attributing this stress to the pressure of creating the “perfect” Christmas.
Oryna Shestakova, Head of Communications at PapersOwl, comments on this:
”The burden of “perfect Christmas” seems to derive from social media. Almost half of Gen Z believe social media influences their perception of Christmas.
In the meantime, 71% agree Christmas has become too commercialized by social media, creating unrealistic expectations or encouraging excessive shopping.
Moreover, one-third of Gen Z often compare their Christmas celebration to that of celebrities, further amplifying the pressure to live up to idealized standards. No wonder 8 of 10 Gen Z don’t broadcast their Christmas celebration online.”
Holiday Spending Habits: A Double-Edged Sword
For 8 out of 10 Gen Z, gifts dominate Christmas expenses.
46% feel pressured to spend more than they can afford, and 33% have gone into debt at least once due to Christmas-related spending.
PapersOwl also discovered that 72% keep their total gift spending under $500, but Black Friday and Cyber Monday remain peak shopping periods, with 63% participating in these sales. Despite these challenges, Gen Z still cherishes traditional elements like baking (59%), decorating (60%), and watching Christmas movies (62%).
For the full research results, visit here.
A Few Words About PapersOwl
PapersOwl is a platform dedicated to empowering students with a variety of academic resources. It offers tools such as plagiarism checkers, thesis statement generators, personalized support, and professional writing and proofreading. PapersOwl is committed to helping students navigate their academic challenges with quality, originality, and timely delivery.
