At least at Christmas the services are full - that has long been an indisputable fact. But fewer and fewer people are interested in a Christmas service, a survey shows. Instead, other activities are in the foreground.
Interest in Christmas services has continued to fall in Germany. Only 15.4 percent said in a survey that they wanted to go to church on Christmas Eve. In 2019 it was still 23.6 percent, reported the University of the Bundeswehr Munich in Neubiberg this week. Around 1,200 people were questioned about this at the beginning of December. One assumption of the study authors: Perhaps the corona pandemic has also changed traditions. In the so-called Generation Z, i.e. those up to the age of 28, more than 20 percent are planning to go to church.
The festival, at which the birth of Jesus is the focus for Christians, is celebrated without any religious reference: 65 percent of those surveyed are planning to give presents and have dinner together. Traditions, which are a must for people up to their early 40s in particular, but according to the study, there is less interest among older people.
"Most people are suffering from the crisis," summarizes study leader Philipp Rauchschnabel. "For Christmas, however, they have found their way to master this crisis well from a financial point of view." Many planned their purchases better this year, almost a quarter deliberately do without. About one in three stated that they wanted to save on decorations, visits to the Christmas market and gifts.
And what else are the Germans up to on December 24? Almost half want to watch films, preferably classics like "Three Nuts for Cinderella", "Home Alone" or "The Little Lord". Many also listen to Christmas carols - according to the study, however, not even 20 percent want to sing themselves. More than 80 percent also refrain from Christmas updates of their status in social media on that day, across the generations.
It sounds harmonious, but it isn't always, as the study shows. Typical reasons for a Christmas argument were above all too many commitments or partners who, in the opinion of their loved ones, did not behave in a Christmassy enough way - a criticism that came mainly from women.
Favorite wishes include money, trips together, travel, books and even homemade things. But what actually ends up under the Christmas tree? 40 percent want to give away sweets and groceries, around 30 percent books, followed by toys, homemade goods or shopping vouchers.
