Brits’ top 20 Christmas ‘bucket list’ experiences revealed
HAVING a white Christmas at home, witnessing the Northern Lights in Norway and browsing the markets in Munich top our festive bucket lists, according to a poll.
The top 20 Christmassy experiences also include a trip to Lapland and spending the festive season in Disneyland.
While many also dream of ice skating at the Rockefeller Center in New York.
Others would love to one day have Christmas Day on the beach down under in Australia, the poll of 2,000 adults who celebrate the festive season found.
In fact, some even picture themselves attending Midnight Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City.
It also emerged a little closer to home, a third want to receive an experience on the 25th of December where they get to stay in a unique location to tick off their bucket list.
Whereas 31 per cent hope to find a luxury afternoon tea under the Christmas tree.
A spokesperson for Red Letter Days, which commissioned the research, said: “Christmas bucket lists are becoming an increasingly popular trend as people seek to make their festive season more magical.
“A lot of this stems from a growing desire to experience new traditions and create lasting memories with their families.
“While some of these experiences may be closer to home than others, there’s Christmas magic to be found all over the world, from snowy European markets to tropical celebrations abroad.”
The survey also found 39 per cent want to tick entries off their festive bucket lists to create special memories with family and friends.
But three in 10 want to experience new traditions in the festive season.
On average, Christmas revellers have five items on their December bucket lists which they are determined to experience one day.
Half are hoping to take in the magic of these experiences with their partner, while 36 per cent plan to do them with the kids.
As 77 per cent went on to say Christmas is the perfect time to make lasting memories with the family.
The survey, conducted by OnePoll, also found those who celebrate Yuletide would prefer to be gifted an experience over a material possession.
With 53 per cent of the belief that experiences will last a lifetime, and 38 per cent have thought more about these days out more than a gadget.
The Red Letter Days spokesperson added: “There’s been a noticeable shift in the types of gifts people are hoping to receive at Christmas.
“With more favouring an experience over traditional presents, there’s a growing appeal of giving something which will be truly memorable.”
TOP 20 FESTIVE BUCKET LIST ITEM
1. Having a proper ‘white Christmas’ with snow – at home
2. Witnessing the Northern Lights in Norway
3. Visiting Christmas markets in Munich
4. Having Christmas in Lapland
5. Exploring the Christmas Markets in Prague
6. Going to a UK pantomime
7. Spending Christmas in Disneyland
8. Ice skating at the Rockefeller Center in New York
9. Staying at the Ice Hotel in Jukkasjärvi, Sweden
10. Going to Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park
11. Having Christmas on the beach in Australia
12. Watching the Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall, New York City
13. Riding the Polar Express Train in Durango, Colorado, USA
14. Walking through Tivoli Gardens at Christmas, Copenhagen
15. Attending Midnight Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City
16. Visiting Strasbourg, France, known as ‘The Capital of Christmas’
17. Skiing in the Alps
18. Enjoying Christmas illuminations at the Kobe Luminarie, Japan
19. Visiting the Christmas Tree at Galeries Lafayette, Paris
20. Experiencing the Festival of Lights at Lyon