Unlocking Holiday Nostalgia: What Sparks Cherished Memories?
The holiday season is like a time-travel ticket that takes you back to fond memories and nostalgia. With familiar music playing and twinkling lights everywhere, it’s a trip down memory lane. A recent survey conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Minted sought insights from 2,000 adults on their experiences during the holiday season.
According to the survey results, the average American dedicates six weeks to preparing for the holiday season. Within this period, approximately five weeks are spent planning gifts, meals, and the creating of an ideal holiday atmosphere. Interestingly, seven days are specifically allocated to the arrangement of decorations.
However, despite the considerable effort invested in adorning homes, 22% of respondents admit to spending more time on planning and setting up decorations than on actually enjoying them.
What ignites the most nostalgia during the holiday season?
Examining the sources of holiday nostalgia, the survey reveals that 39% of respondents find the most nostalgic moments in spending time with loved ones. Other significant contributors to festive sentiments include decorating the tree (38%), experiencing holiday lights (30%), and engaging with holiday music (29%) and movies (26%). For some, the act of baking holiday cookies or snacks (25%) takes precedence, followed by cooking holiday meals (24%), receiving a holiday card (21%), and the appeal of vintage decorations (19%).
Other findings from the survey.
In terms of festive home decor, Americans are commonly incorporating trees (47%), lights (46%), Santas (37%), stockings (35%), and candy canes (35%). Additional popular choices include wreaths (35%), candles (33%), garlands (28%), and even holiday-themed table linens (27%).
While decorating serves as the primary catalyst for festive feelings for many Americans (52%), others opt for immersing themselves in holiday music or watching seasonal movies (both at 34%).
Interestingly, more than one-third of respondents (36%) maintain the same holiday movies and music from their youth. Only a small number (16%) reported that their current holiday entertainment significantly differs from the festive joys of their childhood.
Holiday gift shopping.
The survey also revealed different approaches to holiday gift shopping. About 22% prefer to casually browsing throughout the year. Meanwhile, 19% choose early December for their shopping. About 16% finish shopping before the holiday season begins, and 15% wait for Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals.
Regarding the best gift-givers, the survey found that moms (29%), friends (22%), and children (21%) top the list, while only 10% think in-laws are good at giving gifts.
Take a look at the complete study here.
