Candy Canes and Stuffing—Unwrapping Attitudes Towards Sex on Christmas
The Christmas holidays offer a rare break from the busy work schedule, plenty of social gatherings to attend, and a constant flow of mulled wine to get you in the festive spirit. There’s no better time of year to let your hair down and have some fun. But with plenty to prep and a house full of friends and family, many don’t get their Christmas wish.
Pure surveyed 2,000 adults on their festive plans — Not where they plan to spend the holidays or who will cook the Christmas dinner, but on who, when, and how often they plan to rip off their wrappings and enjoy a quick festive fumble during the holidays.
PURE DATING — ANYTHING BUT BORING!
Key takeaways
- With Christmas classics, sneaking around, and sexy Santa costumes getting us in the mood, 39% say they feel hornier during the Christmas period.
- From dating apps to the office Christmas party, singletons will be searching far and wide this year for the perfect gift: a holiday hookup.
- However, not everyone shares these feel-good feelings. With all the chaos of Christmas, 19% say their sex life suffers during the festive break.
HappyHorny Christmas: A wonder time of year for sex
Valentine’s Day is supposed to be the perfect time for romance, but just 10% of people say it puts them in the mood for sex. In comparison, 39% say Christmas and New Year are the holidays that get them hottest under the collar.
For men, sex is the perfect Christmas gift — 49% say they feel more in the mood over the festive period. However, love isn’t in the air for many women. Just 29% feel more up for it over Christmas and New Year, with 49% preferring sex during summer vacation.
Christmas provides a rare moment of rest and relaxation. For 49% of men, the feel-good feelings that come with the festive season find their way into the bedroom, making sex more enjoyable. However, for 75% of women, the stress of the holidays makes Christmas feel like any other day of the year under the sheets — if not worse.
But do we let the Christmas chaos stand in the way of a good time? Of course not. With 78% of people admitting they would ditch Christmas dinner preparations for a quickie, the turkey won't be the only thing getting stuffed this year.
Festive turn-ons: The Christmas kinks that get us in the mood
Returning home for the holidays doesn't mean that sex is off the menu. Not everyone views sneaking around their parents home as a hindrance. In fact, for 56% of people, it makes the occasion all the more exciting.
If you do find yourself sharing a home with your parents over the holidays, you could always throw on a festive playlist to mask the sounds of your frequent fumbles. For 52% of people, the Christmas classics are the perfect soundtrack to merrily moan along to.
If you really want to get your partner going, it’s best swapping the sexy lingerie for a Santa costume, given 66% find that fluffy red suit a turn-on at this time of year. It’ll bring a whole new meaning to ‘Santa coming down your chimney’.
The festival dry spell: Taking sex off the Christmas menu
For 37% of people, the chance to relax over Christmas and New Year performs miracles in the bedroom, but the winter months aren’t a magical time of year for everyone. In fact, for 19% of people, the stress of preparations and being stuck with their parents leaves their sex life drier than an overcooked Christmas dinner.
Life is often too hectic for sex during the Christmas celebrations, but 51% of people plan to make up for lost time in the New Year, vowing to spend more time in the sack in 2024. If you’re among the 23% planning to explore more kinks, make sure there’s a sexy costume and fluffy handcuffs on your Christmas wishlist.
The most popular Christmas toy of 2023? Sex toys. Some 71% of adults say they would appreciate receiving a sex toy, so if you don’t know what to get your partner this year, there’s a gift idea you will both enjoy.
Festive flings: Finding a seasonal soulmate
Despite what all those cheesy Christmas movies have taught you, chances are you won’t meet your match while running through the airport to catch a flight home. Dating apps are the go-to for singletons and Christmas time is no different. In fact, with more free time and in desperate need of a break from the family festivities, 36% plan to use dating apps more during the holidays.
As the saying goes, you shouldn't mix business and pleasure, but all rules go out the window at the office Christmas party. Some 77% of men and 59% of women are happy to end up on the naughty list if it means they can hook up with a colleague this year.
It isn't just in the workplace where singletons will be seeking a holiday hookup. Some 63% are also hoping to meet their match at a Christmas or New Year party this year.
Likewise, 61% are hoping for a Christmas miracle: that the friend they've been interested in for an eternity will show an interest. But 21% don't just want a quick fling — They want this Christmas to be the first of many spent together.
But, unfortunately, we don't always get what we want for Christmas. If the office party, festive celebrations, and social gatherings fail to deliver the gift of a decent orgasm, 28% plan to take their sex toy along to keep them company during the annual family get together.
Whether you’re celebrating with a partner or spending it alone, it’s the season of fun and you’ve been good all year — so it’s time to let your naughty side out!
Methodology: To create this study, researchers from Pure surveyed 2,000 adults aged over 18 years old, with no focus on particular genders, geographies, ethnicities, sexualities or social backgrounds.