A new festive survey has revealed that women are almost twice as likely as men to take on the exhausting job of organising Christmas — from planning and prepping to buying and wrapping gifts. While the season is often framed as a time of joy, sparkle and family togetherness, the findings suggest that a significant number of households depend on one person shouldering most of the emotional and practical labour.
According to the poll, six in 10 people (61%) say they end up handling the festive workload largely on their own. And the imbalance is clear: three-quarters of Brits (74%) agree that one partner usually ends up doing the majority of the Christmas preparation.
Within the 2,000-person sample, 76% of those taking on the bulk of the organising were women — compared with 40% men. When it comes to buying presents, the gap widens even further: 93% of women say the task falls to them, and 89% say they handle the wrapping too.
This is also where people most want help. While wrapping can be fun, 66% admit it’s stressful trying to find the perfect gift for everyone and keep on top of the growing pile.
The survey sheds light on just how much time goes into creating a seamless Christmas. Two in five (40%) spend between five and fifteen hours preparing for the big day — essentially a full working week of evenings dedicated to planning, shopping, cooking or decorating.
All that effort comes at a cost. Almost seven in ten (68%) say they feel completely worn out before Christmas even begins. And it’s not only partners — the imbalance appears within families too, with 54% agreeing that one sibling usually takes on more festive responsibilities than the others.
Despite the pressure, there’s a clear appetite for change. More than half of respondents (55%) say they’d feel noticeably less stressed if the workload was shared more evenly. For many households, the message is simple: Christmas is better when the effort — and not just the celebration — is shared.
For families in Ireland, where Christmas traditions often involve big gatherings, home-cooked feasts and multi-day celebrations, the findings are likely to strike a chord. And as every Irish mammy who has ever been left juggling the Christmas list knows too well, a bit of balance goes a long way in keeping the season merry.
