Fashion is always at the top of the Christmas gift list

This is not a cliché from the Christmas comedies, apparently, Italians really love Christmas, especially compared to the rest of Europe. That's according to GoStudent platform, which wanted to give a voice to European families on the occasion of the festive season and find out more about their opinions, habits, and consumption. According to the report, more than 50% of our compatriots think that Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year and declare that they experience it with serenity and without stress, compared to 15% of Spaniards, 20% of French, and 30% of Germans. Of course, the expenses associated with the festivities and the search for gifts are a source of stress, but all this is balanced by the pleasure of socializing, as only 1 in 10 respondents find preparing meals and being with relatives unpleasant. For the same reason, 6 out of 10 Italians will spend Christmas at home, while 29% plan to go away for the holidays. Only one figure underlines how much the critical socio-political changes have affected our habits: the budget for gifts.

For Italian families, holiday-related spending (25%) and the search for the perfect gift (16%) are among the main causes of stress, which is also true for the rest of Europe. The crisis is making itself felt in the pockets of Italians, who have decided to spend less on gifts for relatives and friends this year. In fact, our country has the lowest gift budget in Europe: 28%, more than 1 in 4, spend less than €200, and 30% between €200 and €300. Although respondents from other European countries are more concerned about holiday costs than our compatriots, Spaniards, French and Germans spent more than Italian families in 2022. In fact, only 22% in France, 21% in Spain, and 19% in Germany set their gift budget at less than €200.

As for the most popular types of gifts, giving clothes is the most popular choice, both in Italy (59%) and in the rest of Europe (58.8%). On the other hand, only 33% of Italians opt for cultural gifts or experiences such as books, theatre and concert tickets, or travel, compared to 38% for the European average. Electronic devices are also less in vogue than in other countries, receiving 29% of preferences, compared to 40% in other markets. The most tech-savvy people in the Old Continent are Germans (53%), compared to 31% for the European average. Yes, Christmas is not only a time to exchange gifts, but also an opportunity to get together, talk and share experiences, but it is also indicative of our lifestyles and how the changes around us are shaping society.