The festive season is a time for family gatherings, but it also brings its fair share of debates.
From deciding which films to watch to arguing over who should do the dishes and settling on the correct board game rules, these are the top family disputes during Christmas.
A survey of 2,000 adults who celebrate Christmas found that while 83% are excited about spending time with their loved ones, 43% are preparing for potential disagreements.
The list of top 30 light-hearted arguments includes discussions about the house temperature, whether gadgets should be allowed at the dinner table, and the appropriate time to open presents.
Other contentious issues include whether to turn off the tree lights when leaving the house and whether to go for a walk. Despite these squabbles, 37% confess that Christmas wouldn’t feel the same without them, and 54% even admit to enjoying a good family argument.
The study was commissioned by British Gas in conjunction with their PeakSave half-price electricity offer on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. A spokesperson commented: “From debates over what films to watch to disagreements over who’s clearing the table, family get-togethers at this time of year are the scene to many a seasonal spat.”
The survey also revealed that 71% plan to play a board game with their loved ones during the festive period. Monopoly, Scrabble, and Trivial Pursuits emerged as the top three choices among those polled.
The festive period often brings with it passionate conversations, with the main sources of contention during board games being rule-breaking (26%), feelings of defeat (24%) and excessive competitiveness (23%).
Resolution to these disputes generally comes through collective agreement (24%), a well-timed joke to break the tension (19%), or by some individuals opting for a brief separation from their nearest and dearest to cool off, at 14%.
A representative from British Gas chimed in, noting: “Although our research shows we can enjoy a little festive family drama, nobody wants big arguments, and with half price electricity at Christmas that’s one less thing to worry about.”
