December 18, 2025
2025 Holiday Season, December 2025
More Americans Say Holidays are Stressful, Not Fun... Most Want to Stay at Home and Not Travel
More Americans are feeling stressed out during the holiday season than in years past. While residents nationally divide about whether the holidays are more anxiety-laden or more fun, there has been a significant increase in the proportion of Americans who think the holiday season is more stressful. Opinions differ along income, gender, and partisan lines. When it comes to how Americans would prefer to spend their holidays, most would like to stay at home and not travel. As for gifts, Americans divide about whether they would like one big gift versus 10 small ones.
Americans divide about whether the holiday season is more stressful (50%) or more fun (50%). Residents nationally have grown more stressed out over the holiday season. When last reported in December of 2022, 37% reported the holiday season was more stressful while 61% said it was more fun.
Six in ten Americans who earn less than $50,000 annually (60%) think the holiday season is more stressful compared with 55% of higher earners who say it is more fun. Regardless of income, the holidays have become more stressful. In 2022, those earning less than $50,000 divided (47% more stressful to 51% more fun). Among those who earn $50,000 or more, 32% said the holidays were more stressful to 67% who said the were more fun.
A majority of men (55%) say the holiday season is more fun while the same proportion of women (55%) say it is more stressful. In 2022, 69% of men and 53% of women thought the holiday season was more fun than stressful.
While 57% of Democrats think the holidays are more stressful, 61% of Republicans say they are more fun. Independents divide (48% more stressful to 51% more fun). Regardless of party identification, more than six in ten thought the holidays were more carefree in 2022.
Most Americans (82%) would rather stay at home during the holidays, but 18% would rather travel during the holidays.
51% of Americans would like to get one big holiday gift while 48% would prefer to receive 10 small holiday gifts. A majority of men (53%) would prefer one large gift; women divide (49% one large holiday gift to 50% ten small gifts).
Methodology
This Marist Poll national survey of 1,440 adults was conducted December 8th through December 11th, 2025, by the Marist Poll. Adults 18 years of age and older residing in the United States were contacted through a multi-mode design: By phone using live interviewers, by text, or online. Results for all adults (n=1,440) are statistically significant within ±3.2 percentage points. Results for registered voters (n=1,261) are statistically significant within ±3.4 percentage points. For full methodology and tables, click on the Survey Data button below.