Research says there is no dampening of enthusiasm for Christmas this year

The world often feels in constant flux and 2017 has been no different, so it’s not surprising that many of us take comfort in the Christmas period as a time for tradition, family and goodwill.

Of course one of the main events of Christmas day is the meal, often spent with large numbers around a table enjoying a traditional feast of roast turkey with all the trimmings – and it seems many home cooks are feeling positive about the day of cookery ahead.

The vast majority of respondents (84%) are planning a traditional Christmas meal this year agreeing that it wouldn’t feel like Christmas without one, although not everyone agrees with 9% declaring it to be overrated.

Despite over 90% thinking that Christmas has become too commercialised they also expect Christmas to be fun this year including 32% who are ‘Super Excited’. However there are around 7% of people ‘Not bothered’ by the event, and spare a thought for the 2% that are ‘Dreading It’.

Home is still the preferred location for the meal by far with 90% of respondents planning to have the meal at their own home or that of a family member.

For some though it’s all about getting away, either at a restaurant or pub (2%) or on holiday (4%). Particularly brave is the family choosing to picnic on a Cornish beach this Christmas day!

Most respondents (78%) are cooking the meal themselves, although around half of them consider it a team effort in the kitchen. Thankfully over 89% of them enjoy cooking the meal, which is just as well given that many cooks are going to have their work cut out this year with the majority (28%) having 8 or more guests around the table.

With so many options available to shoppers nowadays, have tastes moved away much from the traditional roast turkey? It seems so, with just 65% plumping for a turkey, and nearly one in three people choosing something different – with the most popular choice being Beef (30%), Pork (15%) or alternative birds including Chicken (14%), Goose (11%), Duck (8%) with only a handful choosing game birds.