December 21, 2021
Holidays & Outlook for the New Year, Dec 2021
Majority of Americans Plan to Celebrate the Holidays with Vaccinated People Only... Optimism for the New Year Lowest in More than a Decade
Amid a heightened sense of holiday stress and lack of optimism for the new year, a majority of Americans are making a concerted effort to gather only with family and friends who are vaccinated against coronavirus.
While 42% of Americans plan to gather with people this holiday season regardless of their vaccination status, 52% report they will celebrate only with people who have been vaccinated against coronavirus. Democrats (79%), residents 45 or older (57%), and women (56%) are more likely than their counterparts to limit their holiday celebrations based on vaccine status.
Americans divide about whether they are more optimistic (49%) or more pessimistic (47%) about what’s ahead for the world in 2022. Optimism for the new year has reached an all-time low and is down from 56% in 2020. Republicans (68%) and Baby Boomers (56%) are among those who are most pessimistic.
A majority of Americans say the holiday season is more fun (52%) than stressful (43%). Yet, the proportion who say they are stressed out is up from 38% in 2018. While women divide (48% more fun to 47% more stressful), a majority of men (57%) say the holiday season is more fun.
Online Holiday Shopping Reverts to Pre-COVID Levels
37% of holiday shoppers nationally, down from a high of 53% in 2020, say they plan to shop online for all or most of their gifts this year. That figure is comparable to 33% in 2018. 40% expect to buy some gifts online, and 22% say they will not buy any holiday presents online.