Gen Z is Rethinking Christmas For Good

It seems that Gen Z is not as eager to spend Christmas the traditional way. The rising cost of living and overall financial uncertainty could be the reasons why. But what exactly is driving the young people’s new caution toward the holidays, and how does it differ across other generations?

The EssayPro.com research department surveyed 6,500 participants from the three generations: Gen Z, Millennials, and Gen X. The idea was to explore how each of the generations sees holidays, from a Christmas tree to stocking fillers, and what factors shape their outlook.

The research looked at why Gen Z approach the holidays the way they do. This included how they celebrate, what Christmas gifts they buy, how much and where they spend, and what emotional and social factors come into play.

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How Gen Z Views Christmas

For Gen Z, Christmas is definitely more of a personal choice, not a blind following of social expectations. They might just be the first living generation for whom the good old Christmas tree just doesn’t mean that much.

• 18% of Gen Z say they don’t celebrate Christmas, compared to 11% of Millennials and 3% of Gen X

• 46% of Gen Zs said they enjoy the holiday 

• 33% of Zoomers feel neutral or accepting of the holiday

• 14% of Gen Z dislike or don’t care about Christmas

• 23% of Zoomers would rather spend Christmas and Thanksgiving with friends or alone, rather than with family. For Millennials, the same applies to 9%, and only 4% of Gen X agree

Average Christmas Spending by Generation

If we look at findings around the spending habits, there is a definite trend of a cautious, minimalist approach.

• 31% less will be spent on Gen Z Christmas gifts and festivities compared to last year

• Average holiday gift spending by generation:

• $561 for Gen Z, reflecting cost consciousness and practicality
• $867 for Millennials, currently the generation with the highest spending velocity
• $774 for Gen X, who are expected to provide gifts for several generations

• 12% of Gen Z plan to spend $50 or less on presents, compared to 8% of Millennials and 3% of Gen X, highlighting their pragmatic approach.

Gen Z Christmas Gifts Trends

What’s more, many Gen Zers are choosing to spend on themselves this year. Whether it’s limited budgets or a generation-wide focus on self-care, holidays are absolutely becoming more niche and personalized.

• 28% Gen Zs plan to spend money on self-gifts rather than gifts for family, either buying small treats or subscriptions

• 11% of Gen Z say they won’t buy gifts at all

• 61% say financial concerns are the main reason for cutting holiday spending

• 15% of Gen Zs admit to minimal interest in traditional Christmas rituals

Holiday Shopping Habits

But while there are still a few boxes under the Christmas tree, where are they coming from?

• 62% of Gen Zs shop primarily online, with a growing share (28%) buying at least some holiday gifts via social media platforms like TikTok Shop or Instagram

• 48% of Millennials also shop online, but use Amazon or other traditional e-commerce platforms more than social media

• 28% of Gen X shop online as well

• 36% of Gen Z rely on influencer recommendations for gift choices, compared to 24% of Millennials and 14% of Gen X

Holidays and AI

As another EssayPro research showed, Gen Zs trust technology a lot more than previous generations. This once again reflects in how AI is used for holiday shopping.

• 31% of Gen Z are using ChatGPT or other AI for personalized gift suggestions

Holiday Season Mental Health

Gen Zers’ are chronically online. And with that come the X-mas jitters from unrealistic expectations, distorted values, and FOMO. But even though Zoomers aren’t as actively engaged, their Yuletide stress levels are the highest.

• 45% of Gen Z report feeling anxious during the holiday season, compared to 39% of Millennials and 27% of Gen X

• 48% of Gen Z feel pressured to spend more than they can afford, or buy the “right” gifts under the Christmas tree, versus 35% of Millennials and 28% of Gen X

• 31% of Gen Z experience loneliness during the holiday period, compared to 22% of Millennials and 11% of Gen X

Gen Z Gift Preferences

Many believe that Zoomers are all about luxury brand names and trends. However, the data shows that Gen Z Christmas gifts are actually more connected to usefulness and personal experience.

• 38% of Gen Z prefer useful presents
• 16% of Zoomers want trending collectibles such as Sonny Angel or Labubu
• 14% Gen Zs want to see digital gifts like in-game items or subscriptions to streaming services
• 25% of Gen Zers choose experience-based gifts like tickets to concerts and events.

The previous generation also appreciates value over cost:

• 45% of Millennials lean toward thoughtful or useful gifts
• 35% of Millennials would like to receive experience-focused gifts

Christmas Traditions

Compared to Millennials and Gen X, Gen Z increasingly opts out of classic holiday rituals, like cooking a decadent meal or exchanging presents. This highlights a major shift in priorities. 

• 26% of Gen Zers won’t be putting up a Christmas tree, compared to 19% of Millennials and 10% of Gen X

• 16% of Gen Zers skip traditional family meals on Thanksgiving, the same goes for 12% of Millennials and 5% of Gen X

• 13% of Zoomers skip traditional gift exchanges, versus 9% of Millennials and 3% of Gen X

The Holiday Obligation Trap

The traditional pressure to attend family gatherings isn’t equal across generations.

• 85% of respondents report feeling pressure to participate in Christmas with family
• 76% of Gen Z feel this pressure, compared to 83% of Millennials and 90% of Gen X

Global and European Context

Gen Z celebration habits are shifting worldwide.

• 16% of Gen Zers in Europe skip Christmas entirely, higher than 11% of Millennials and 6% of Gen X.

• The Netherlands and France show the highest holiday opt-out among Gen Z.

• 17% of Gen Z in the Netherlands don’t celebrate Christmas, the highest holiday opt-out rate in Europe. The Dutch are followed by 16% in France, 15% in Germany, and 11% in the UK.
  
  
• 21% of UK Gen Zers prefer spending Christmas alone or with friends. The same applies to 17% in the Netherlands, 15% in Germany, and 12% in France.

• 11% of Dutch Gen Zs claim that celebrating Christmas on their own schedule improves their mental well-being due to flexibility and reduced social pressure.

• 39% of European Zoomers opt out of traditional Christmas as a personal choice and 33% due to financial pragmatism. 

Conclusion

Gen Z is unmistakably redefining Christmas. Authenticity, financial reality, and mental well-being are now the main focus. A roast dinner and a Christmas tree with a pile of wrapped boxes underneath are almost in the past. Celebrations are now more personal, flexible, and emotionally manageable.

For many young people, the holiday season has lost its priority due to financial instability. But it’s also the desire to avoid stress rather than create it. Ultimately, Gen Z isn’t rejecting Christmas. They’re just making it their own.

Methodology

This report is a summary of findings from a survey by EssayPro.com completed in October 2025. The total sample of 6,500 respondents included 2,500 Gen Z (ages 18–27), 2,000 Millennials (ages 28–41), and 2,000 Gen X (ages 42–57). The research team sourced participants through their professional networks, social media, and targeted advertisements. This ensured diversity and balance across age, gender, and economic status.

The questions in the survey focused on holiday participation, gift-giving, spending patterns, online shopping, the use of AI tools, and mental well-being. Cross-generational evaluation strategies were implemented to identify differences in attitudes and behaviors in relation to the traditional Western holiday approach.

Data analysis relied on descriptive statistical methods, including percentages, mean values, and generational comparisons. Results were weighted when necessary to align with each group's demographic distribution.

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