Seniors Look Forward to Time with Friends and Family in Holiday Season

December 6, 2006 – The older we get the more the holiday season becomes about spending time with family and friends and less about gifts and parties. In a recent Harris Poll those age 61 and older were the most likely to say this is what they most look forward to during the holidays. But, when it comes to getting presents, no one in this age group put it on their list. What movie do seniors prefer - "Miracle on 34th Street." And, what animated video do you need to have ready for the grandkids – women prefer "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer," while the men like "A Charlie Brown Christmas."

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A large majority (71%) of all U.S. adults say they most look forward to spending time with their family and friends. Holiday dinners and parties (9%), watching television specials and hearing holiday songs (5%), searching for perfect gifts (3%), and getting presents (2%) are all further down on the list of what adults most look forward to during the holiday season.

Almost three-quarters (74%) of Baby Boomers (those aged 42 to 60) and 76 percent of Matures (those 61 and older) say spending time with friends and family is the one thing they most look forward to for the holidays.

The youngest age group, Echo Boomers (those aged 18 to 29), are more likely than the other groups to say that getting presents is what they are looking forward to this holiday season, although this is low on everyone’s list (7% of Echo Boomers vs. 2% of Gen Xers aged 30 to 41; less than 1% of Baby Boomers and no Matures).

Harris also asked adults, regardless of how they personally feel, if they think that most people feel the holiday season is a time for loved ones and traditions or a time to receive presents and do a lot of shopping. Two in five (41%) adults believe most people think it is a time for loved ones and traditions, compared to just over one-quarter (27%) who believes most people fall into the commercialism of the season, thinking of presents and shopping. One-third (32%) believes most people feel it is both equally.

Animated television specials and seasonal movies are an added bonus each December.

When asked what their favorite holiday animated special is, "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" (26%) just edges out "A Charlie Brown Christmas" (24%). This is closely followed by one in five (21%) who says their favorite is "How the Grinch Stole Christmas." Further down the list are "Frosty the Snowman" (8%) and "The Year without a Santa Claus" (3%), while 19 percent says none of these are a favorite. Men and women differ on favorite animated special, as more women (29%) take a shine to Rudolph while 28 percent of men lean towards Charlie Brown.

There is also a close race for favorite when it comes to holiday movies. Just under one-quarter (23%) say "Miracle on 34th Street" is their favorite movie, closely followed by 21 percent those who cite "It’s A Wonderful Life" (21%) and "A Christmas Story" (20%).

Rounding out the list are the more recent movies, "National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation" (12%) and "The Santa Clause" (11%), while 13 percent say none of these is a favorite. Not surprisingly, there is a generational difference with regard to favorite holiday movies.

Over one-third (37%) of Matures and 29 percent of Baby Boomers say "Miracle on 34th Street" is their favorite holiday movie. For the younger generations, "A Christmas Story" comes out on top with 24 percent of Echo Boomers and 30 percent of Gen Xers citing the story of Ralphie and his Christmas wish for a BB gun as their favorite holiday movie.

WHAT PEOPLE MOST LOOK FORWARD TO DURING THE Holiday season

"Thinking of the upcoming holiday season, what is the one thing you most look forward to?"

	Total	Generation
	Total	Echo Boomers (18–29)	Gen X (30–41)	Baby Boomers (42–60)	Matures (61+)
	%	%	%	%	%
Spending time with family and friends	71	63	69	74	76
Holiday dinners and parties	9	11	10	8	7
Watching television specials and hearing holiday songs on the radio	5	4	3	6	5
Searching for perfect gifts for people	3	5	5	2	2
Getting presents	2	7	2	*	-
Other	10	10	11	10	10

Note: Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding.

*Less Than 0.5%

- Indicates no response

Favorite ANIMATED Holiday TV special

"Which of these is your favorite holiday animated TV special?"

	Total	Men	Women
	%	%	%
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer	26	23	29
A Charlie Brown Christmas	24	28	20
How the Grinch Stole Christmas	21	20	21
Frosty the Snowman	8	6	10
The Year Without a Santa Claus	3	1	4
None of these	19	23	16

Note: Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding.

Favorite Holiday MOVIE

"Which of these is your favorite holiday movie?"

	Total	Generation
	Total	Echo Boomers (18–27)	Gen X (30–41)	Baby Boomers (42–60)	Matures (61+)
	%	%	%	%	%
Miracle on 34^th Street	23	10	11	29	37
It’s a Wonderful Life	21	12	16	27	27
A Christmas Story	20	24	30	16	12
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation	12	20	17	8	4
The Santa Clause	11	16	15	10	5
None of these	13	18	11	10	15

Note: Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding.

Methodology

The Harris Poll® was conducted online within the United States between November 13 and 20, 2006 among 2,429 adults (aged 18 and over). Figures for age, sex, race, education, region and household income were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. Propensity score weighting was also used to adjust for respondents’ propensity to be online.

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