Dear Parents' Toolkit - What does a family Christmas look like in 2022?

Christmas doesn’t look the same for everyone. Some families hang up some tinsel and call it a day, some pull out all the stops, and some don’t celebrate it at all. But for those who do, there are hundreds of different traditions with elves causing mischief, unusual Christmas dinners and festive games to delight in.

It's a season of celebration and this often leads to extra spending, but with the cost-of-living and environmental crisis on the minds of many in the UK, many families are scaling down festivities this year.

Parents' Toolkit spoke to 35 parents on a UK-wide parent panel about what the holidays are going to look like for them in 2022…

Every family has their own version of the holidays…

Whether it's Adrian, who can't put up decorations without his family's pet bird tearing them down again, Neil, who organises a present treasure hunt with his kids, Laura, who needs to have pâté on toast for breakfast on Christmas Day…

Shoeb, whose job with the NHS means that she works through Christmas, Kaushika, who see Christmas as being “a ten out of ten in terms of importance,” or Ashia, who enjoys getting together with family and friends during the holidays, but, as a muslim, does not celebrate Christmas directly.

But what matters most to our panel?

What does Christmas dinner look like this year?

The classic Christmas roast dinner, Brussels sprouts and all the trimmings isn’t a priority for everyone.

Some families create their own Christmas dinner traditions. Adrian’s family use the time together to get creative with their dishes, and love to put together a barbecue…

“Being from the Caribbean, we also drink something called Sorrel - a deep ruby red drink served hot or cold, made from hibiscus leaves.”

For Caroline, mother of two, a festively decorated breakfast was on the menu for her kids.

“My kids don't eat veg or meat particularly, so there's no point in making a Christmas dinner for them.”

Laura’s family have developed an unusual tradition for Christmas morning…

“One of the things we have always done is have pâté on toast for breakfast. Not entirely sure why that started, but every year it's just become something we always have. I never seem to buy pâté any other time of the year!"

Some families have chosen to shop at budget supermarkets to buy Christmas dinner and others have been spreading the Christmas shopping out so there aren't as many expenses at once.

“Prices have meant we are not spending so much. Each year we would normally overspend on everything, this year we are keeping a track on how much we spend and have reduced it down. Even food, we normally go mad, but we always find a lot goes to waste,” says Mark, who will have an extra guest at their Christmas dinner in the form of their new puppy.

Naomi from Birmingham tells us, “As I’m hosting this year, family members have agreed to bring things like drinks and desserts.”

Sharing these expenses can relieve the cost on the individual and showcase the importance of community during the holidays.

What do gifts look like this year?

Gift-giving has become a central part of how we view Christmas. Of course, this can be a great way to show your appreciation for those close to you, but trying to buy gifts for extended family and friends can become an overwhelming, never-ending list that breaks the budget.

With headlines packed full of news about the financial crisis, many see the need to scale down on gifts this year…

“I think the main change to gifting will be that I will have to cut down on the amount of extra little bits I buy to give alongside a main present as I find this is where I start to overspend,” says Lauren who has three sons.

Focusing on gifts for the kids might be helpful, as it cuts down the total number of presents that are bought. Lola says, “I hate buying joke presents or anything I class as 'landfill'. I would rather the children had 2 quality presents each that they will make use of, than 10 'landfill' presents.”

Trying to focus on buying gifts that will be appreciated and used all year round, as opposed to a one week novelty, is a great way to lessen the environment impact of Christmas and save money.

What makes the holidays special in 2022?

For many, this will be a tough Christmas as financial strains takes hold, but most of our parent panel are simply looking forward to the family coming together, especially after the impact of the pandemic and lockdowns on the last two years.

Kylie and her wife look back at Christmases during the pandemic…

“It was very different for many families in the sense that they could not be together, could not see each other and had Christmas apart and via things like Facetime, Zoom and Teams.”

But this extra awareness of how technology can keep us connected means that families who are spread across the globe, or simply unable to see each other in person, can stay in touch during the holidays.

Children are looking forward to the opportunity to see their grandparents and cousins after previous holidays apart. Being separated from loved ones has been challenging for many on our panel but distance makes the heart grow fonder and even those who have previously seen Christmas as being a demanding time are excited to see their loves ones again.

“COVID had a huge impact over the last two years, so it feels like there's something to make up for,” says Kaytie, who takes her daughters to see a musical every Christmas.

Perhaps it’s time to return to age-old Christmas traditions you may have missed in the last couple of years. Nicola’s family will be cosying up to a drive-in movie at Loch Lomond, while Claudia is taking her kids to the Christmas market.

“For me personally, I enjoy being able to spend [Christmas] with family and friends more than anything,” says Laura who has two sons, aged twelve and fourteen.

If you are co-parenting or are part of a blended family, Christmas day may not be at your home this year but there are still plenty of festivities throughout the season that you can enjoy with your kids - from baking gingerbread houses to watching Christmas movies under a blanket.

If our panel is anything to go by, Christmas in 2022 will be about families prioritising the parts of the season that are truly important to them and celebrating them together.

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