Christmas Through the Eyes of Gen Z: Joy, Stress, and Spending Habits

The most joyful holiday is around the corner 🎄☃️🎅

Everyone is in a rush to buy gifts, organize family spending, and finish job tasks. Indeed, Christmas brings people happiness, joy, and a festive mood. Nevertheless, it can also cause stress due to excessive spending or social media pressure to achieve a “perfect” holiday.

PapersOwl became interested in how Gen Z prepares for Christmas, so we conducted a survey asking various questions about the time spent on Christmas preparations. This review also examines the impact of social media, Black Friday sales, and more.

TL;DR

Here are some main findings that form Gen Z Christmascore:

• 59% of Gen Z strongly agree that Christmas is the most important holiday.
• One-third of Gen Z has gone into debt due to Christmas spending.
• Gift exchange is the most cherished Christmas tradition for young Americans.
• Social media influences the perception of Christmas for 46% of Gen Z.
• There is a clear sign that Gen Z has grown up, with 23% spending the most on presents for their children.

Well, statistics are quite two-sided. While some go into debt to buy everyone a gift, others cherish gift exchange. Let’s look at several statements more closely to find a golden mean.

The Meaning of Christmas: Stress or Gifts Unless

While Christmas holds significant value for many, it can also evoke a range of mixed emotions. For some, the holiday marks a time for relaxation and reflection, but for others, it can feel like a challenge.

Indeed, the desire to find the perfect gift, create a flawless holiday experience, and meet the expectations of family or social circles often adds a layer of stress.

Many Gen Z members still cherish Christmas, but its significance varies. While 59% consider it the most important holiday of the year, 22% are less enthusiastic, ranking other occasions higher.

The reason is that Gen Z feels the pressure particularly intensely. Except for personal expectations, they also try to navigate the influence of social media, where everyone seems to be celebrating their 🙌Perfect Pink/Red/Harry Potter/Whatever Christmas🙌. Whereas balancing these competing factors can make Christmas both joyful and daunting. Many are wondering:

🌟How can you enjoy the holiday without getting overwhelmed by outside pressures?

This creates a complicated relationship with the holiday for Gen Z, who are more focused on the commercial side of Christmas than previous generations.

Yet, traditions like gift exchanges remain beloved, with 75% favoring this festive activity above others. In fact, gift exchanges tap into something deeper than just the act of giving and receiving. They are a tangible expression of thoughtfulness, a way to show we care, especially when words might not suffice. Interestingly, for many, the joy isn’t in the gift itself, but in the shared anticipation and the moment of connection it creates.

🎁It’s not just about the material; it’s about the story behind the gift — the thought, the effort, and the relationship that makes each item uniquely meaningful.

On the other hand, 55% of respondents agree to some extent that they feel pressured to buy gifts for everyone in their family. It is no surprise that one in three people has gone into debt at least once for Christmas spending. Unfortunately, the fear of not providing the “perfect” gift can overshadow the true meaning of the holiday, turning what should be a time of joy into a financial burden.

Hopefully, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and other November and early December discounts can still make the holiday affordable. However, while similar sales events may seem like a lifeline for those struggling to make ends meet during the holiday season, they often come with hidden costs.

These discounts, hyped up as “once-in-a-lifetime deals,” encourage consumers to overspend by creating an artificial sense of urgency. In reality, these sales are carefully timed to capitalize on the holiday rush. This way, sellers encourage people to buy more than they need or can afford. Thus, it fosters a culture of consumerism that leaves little room for meaningful, mindful spending.

📝Our advice? MAKE LISTS BEFORE. SAVE MONEY LATER.

To further support this point, data show that sales and discounts influence holiday shopping decisions for 62% of Gen Z. However, the truth is that the so-called “deals” often end up fueling a cycle of debt rather than providing genuine savings. Many Gen Z shoppers end up purchasing items they didn’t plan to buy. As a result, this only stretches their budgets and leaves them financially strained long after the holidays.

Family Ties and Obligations

Spending Christmas with family is both a joy and a source of pressure for Gen Z:

• 73% feel obligated to celebrate with family.
• 51% can’t say that the holiday season is not stressful, with many attributing this stress to the pressure of creating the “perfect” Christmas or fulfilling family expectations.

As we’ve mentioned, this burden of “perfect Christmas” derives directly from social media and the expectations it poses. Almost half of Gen Z believe social media influences their perception of Christmas.

Moreover, one-third of Gen Z often compare their Christmas celebration to that of celebrities. It’s a lesser share, but why bother if everyone should live their life? This comparison only sets unrealistic standards based on curated, picture-perfect images of celebrity holidays. Instead of focusing on creating their own unique memories, many Gen Z individuals find themselves trying to match an idealized version of the holiday that’s far removed from their reality.

📸No wonder 8 out of 10 Gen Z don’t broadcast their Christmas celebration online.

Obviously, social media can be a great virus in our minds, telling us we’re not enough or that our Christmas isn’t that spectacular. Besides, with the rise of social media, there’s an added layer of expectation that makes family interactions feel more stressful than they might be on regular days.

Despite these online pressures, we put faith in the idea that the value of family during the holidays remains central to many Gen Z members. Whether it’s through shared traditions or the comfort of being surrounded by loved ones, these moments still define Christmas for many. 

💫At PapersOwl, we believe that every celebration is amazing and unique due to the people gathered together and the atmosphere they create with the tiniest accents✨

Holiday Spending Habits: A Double-Edged Sword

For 8 out of 10 Gen Zers, gifts dominate Christmas expenses.

However, the true cost of Christmas isn’t always financial. It’s the rush and demand to make things your way.

This pressure to make everything perfect — whether it’s the ideal wishlist gift or the trendy TikTok meal — can lead to significant stress, especially when personal finances don’t align with holiday ambitions.

Interestingly, children are the ones Gen Z spends the most money on for Christmas presents. Thus, financial pressures can weigh heavily:

➡️46% feel pressured to spend more than they can afford.

Don’t get us wrong, Christmas magic has always included treats and gifts. However, the cozy legend about Santa Claus has evolved into Coca-Cola commercials and overly expensive cosmetics advent calendars. 

Sad? Sure. Unstoppable? Unfortunately.

In the meantime, 71% agree that Christmas has become too commercialized. Nearly half of the respondents believe that social media influences their perception of the holiday. Indeed, endless restock videos lead to unrealistic expectations and encourage excessive shopping. But hold, do you really need all 10 flavours of Christmas cookies or shower gels?

Despite all these challenges and obstacles, Gen Z still cherishes traditional elements, such as baking (59%), decorating (60%), and watching Christmas movies (62%).

Managing Holiday Stress

Holidays aren’t all joy and festivities. For Gen Z, stress management varies widely:

• 16% practice mindfulness or meditation.
• 15% resort to drinking as a coping mechanism.
• 12% admit to procrastination or escapism.
• 8% confess they simply can’t cope with holiday stress.

Along with these numbers, we found that 54% of Gen Z don’t take any days off for Christmas. Yet, quality rest is one of the best stress relievers. That’s why we strongly recommend you take at least 2-3 days off to spend time with family, friends, or yourself. And try doing it with no self-blaming 🙂

Socializing and Celebrating

Despite the prevalence of online communication, Gen Z views Christmas as an opportunity to finally meet their closest ones and disconnect for a few days.

Thus, offline traditions are still popular:

💌53% prefer combining online and offline greetings.

🎉 33% of people enjoy hosting parties.

In a world dominated by digital connections, Gen Z remains committed to the warmth of in-person interactions. And we totally support it!

It looks like Gen Z still knows how to find joy in the holiday season!

They try to remember the importance of being present and grounded through meaningful face-to-face connections or simple traditions. These moments bring true fulfillment and remind them that Christmas is not about perfection but about cherishing and connection.

🎄As you can see, Gen Z still favors in-person Christmas greetings. So be sure to give some real-life credits to Christmas. Everyone would love that!

A Final Look at the Bigger Picture

According to our observation, Gen Z finds creative ways to balance their holiday experience despite financial and social pressures. From setting budgets (53%) to celebrating through meaningful traditions, this generation strives to make Christmas both memorable and manageable. And we totally support you in this striving! 

Wishing you a social media-free and real-life full Christmas from the PapersOwl Team! XOXO✨

Methodology: Researchers from PapersOwl surveyed 2,000 members of Generation Z to compile this study. Randomly selected participants were asked to discuss their experiences, with no emphasis on a specific gender, ethnicity, or social background.