Canadians look forward to Christmas every year, and the first details to nail down, are where to gather for the event. Whose turn is it to host? What are the plans for Christmas Eve? Many people make these plans long in advance because of the need to arrange travel etc. For blended and reconstituted families, making these plans requires even more flexibility and understanding and creating new traditions that include everyone.
A recent study by The Angus Reid Institute* provides some interesting data on how Canadians are choosing to keep traditions going for Christmas. The most common activity that Canadians will enjoy is a family dinner.
* The Angus Reid Institute (ARI) was founded in October 2014 by pollster and sociologist, Dr. Angus Reid. ARI is a national, not-for-profit, non-partisan public opinion research foundation established to advance education by commissioning, conducting and disseminating to the public accessible and impartial statistical data, research and policy analysis on economics, political science, philanthropy, public administration, domestic and international affairs and other socio-economic issues of importance to Canada and its world.
Not surprisingly, the study also found that traditions are changing, but there is hope that the true meaning of Christmas is not completely lost. I know it’s become less of a religious observance, but I suspect for many people, there is still a strong spiritual connection to the holiday despite the commercialisation of the season. Perhaps we are moving away from religious observances, to celebrating the love for each other and expressing gratitude for our blessings. Is that not the true meaning of Christmas?
According to the study, in 1988, only 27 per cent of Canadians said this season was primarily a religious celebration. Thirty five years later the figure has dropped to just one-in-ten (10%).
Asked about their intentions to attend a religious service for Christmas this year only one quarter of Canadians confirmed it was part of their plans, and that was a big drop of what it was in Angus Reid’s 1995 Christmas survey (26% down from 53%).
While customs related to the arrival of Santa Claus and the decoration of homes remain constant, it is the more religious aspects of Christmas that are no longer preserved in our annual celebrations.
The number of Canadians going to church on Christmas Eve or December 25th has declined by half, as have the number who arrange a nativity scene at home. (I was about to register my surprise that nativity scenes were a casualty of disappearing traditions, when it struck me that this year, I had not put one out. It occurred to me that my late husband was very much the traditionalist, and he would have made sure the manger was where it should be).
In 2023, Canadians feel the season is centered around fun and festivities, rather than faith (53%), and for 34% of us, it provides a sense of happiness, contentment, or delight that is not necessarily tied to religious beliefs or spiritual practices but more to personal relationships and positive experiences.
There is a generational split in terms of religious observances and the holidays. Older Canadians say the season is at least partially a religious one (55%), and it’s not surprising to see that view declining with younger segments (42 % among 35 to 54-year old’s and (32%) among 18 to 34-year-olds).
That said, while seven-in-ten (69%) say that Christmas has lost some of its real meaning, nearly the same number (65%) held this view nearly 70 years ago. Evidently, as time goes by, the nostalgia for a more “traditional” Christmas is one thing that doesn’t change and we evidently long for the days of old, away from the commercialization that seems to begin earlier each year.
Four-in-five Canadians (82%) say that they prefer to call this season “Christmas” while one-in-five (18%) say they would rather it be referred to as the “Holiday Season”. Interestingly, there are no generational differences on this preferences
Nine-in-ten will celebrate Christmas this year
The holiday season has evolved over the years to recognize the other cultural/religious celebrations that occur around the same time, like Chinese New Year, Hanukkah and Diwali. For most however, that holiday is still Christmas. In fact, 92% of Canadians say they will celebrate Christmas this year.
So do we wish each other Happy Holidays or Merry Christmas? While the political approach is to make the holiday as inclusive as possible, it’s not a sentiment that resonates with all Canadians and referring to this time of year as “Christmas” is still strongly preferred. This finding is relatively consistent, regardless of the age of respondents.
I am reminded of Dr, Seuss’ classic Christmas story when after taking all their gifts and decorations, the Grinch realised that the people of Who-ville did not care for presents or material trappings. For them, Christmas was in their heart. The last lines of the story leave us with that message.
Welcome, Christmas, bring your cheer.
How The Grinch Stole Christmas
Cheer to all Whos far and near.
Christmas Day is in our grasp, so long as we have hands to clasp.
Christmas Day will always be just as long as we have we.
Welcome, Christmas. While we stand.
Heart to heart… and hand in hand.
Focus on Joy
The Grinch story is a lesson in point. If you want to save Christmas from becoming a highly commercialized, marketing season, focus on gifting joy, love, and humor to your loved ones.
The Angus Reid study is telling us what we already know. We are learning to enjoy Christmas without ostentatious gifting and frivolous spending. Wanting to bring back the old Christmas spirit, really is about celebrating the joy and love in our hearts with others whether they are near or far.
