Lonely this Christmas: more young adults to spend the day solo

https://www.thetimes.com/uk/society/article/more-young-adults-spending-christmas-alone-study-f30m7b7jf

Posted by TimesandSundayTimes

15 comments

  1. According to research that has compared shifts in festive attitudes and behaviour over time, one in nine people say they will be spending Christmas Day alone this year, compared with 1 in 30 who did so 55 years ago.

    The Policy Institute at King’s College London found that 1 in 11 of those aged 21 to 34 will be spending the day solo — up from 1 in 100. The share of over-65s spending Christmas alone has held steady at 15 per cent.

    The research draws on two nationwide surveys of UK adults aged 21 and over from 2024 and 1969, offering a fresh look at how beliefs and lifestyles have evolved over the decades.

  2. It’s starting to circleback on the long-term cultural changes across the globe. The vast majority of younger people aren’t settling down, aren’t able to afford the traditional Xmas and have no children to celebrate with.

    Some can’t bear spending time with their boomer relatives, who complain or give them the Spanish inquisition about settling down.

    Friendships are declining, especially with males and I suspect there’s a sense that invitations are nothing more than “pity” invites to peer couples who have the 2-4 children lifestyle.

  3. Best Christmas I ever had was the one I spent by myself.

  4. The title gives it negative connotations. Not everybody wants to make a big deal of Christmas anymore. Some people enjoy their own company, or want to do away with traditions that they were obligated to be a part of anyway.

    Christmas is so commercialised and linked to spending nowadays, I’m not surprised people are doing away with it. It’s so In your face and unavoidable for the months leading up to it, everywhere you go, all over the TV, you literally cannot avoid it.

  5. I’m gonna be on my own but to be honest I’m really not bothered about it

  6. This may sound flippant, but please believe me, it isn’t.
    Right now, I’d give almost anything to be alone or with my partner, just the two of us.

  7. Wait until they found out about us spending New Years Eve alone … I’ve been doing that for years and it’s brilliant.

    I spend Xmas eve with friends … I’ll usually say hello to family on Xmas morning and then hide away until 2nd Jan having some peace.

  8. I’m not classed as young but I’ll be spending most of the day alone apart from when my two children come to visit. It doesn’t really bother me. It’s just been another normal day for me for years now. Haven’t been excited about Christmas for a very long time.

  9. Mid-forties here and spent a *lot* of December 25ths alone when I was in my 20s and 30s.

    I’m lucky that my partner, who works outside the country a lot, will be here this year. Sometimes she isn’t.

    Even so we’ve worked hard not to have to go and see either set of parent. Neither of us get on with our parents that well. So, we’re not chasing a crowd.

  11. Spent the last 14 years either solo or with partner’s family because of rifts within mine so none of this surprises me.

    After the first year alone you just kind of let it all wash over you and the commercial dimensions of it become far more apparent and unappealing. People get so stressed and worked up over what is supposed to be a religious day of celebration and gratitude.

    for me as much as it doesn’t feel great being alone it still feels better than spending it with relatives who don’t behave with love or respect or have a compulsion to cause drama. It’s not enjoyable and it’s certainly not in the spirit of Christmas.

    Despite all that, I’m going to see my mother tomorrow for the first time since all this kicked off and frankly I’m just doing it out of some kind of misguided obligation. Already, my sisters are causing stress and making me feel like my going is causing them issues, and again, it’s like Chinese whispers trying to figure out what the problem actually is.

    Ex partner did Christmas with her family on the 21st this year to avoid similar issues with some of her relatives.

    Next year will be back to a good bottle of wine, nice food, and even better whisky on my own rather than being made to feel shit by people who should know how to behave better. If that makes me a miserable cunt so be it…

  12. People not feeling obligated to spend time with their relatives if they don’t want to. Sounds like a win.

  15. Who said we’re LONELY? …. Finally, a day off; some peace & quiet ….

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