Christmas Day may be marketed as a flawless celebration, but new research from greetings card marketplace thortful suggests the experience is far less smooth for most people in the UK.

The survey found that 79% of Brits say their Christmas Day does not go entirely to plan. While festive advertising often depicts effortless meals and harmonious family gatherings, the reality for many involves a series of small and sometimes significant mishaps. Even so, 20% of respondents say they always laugh off problems, often finding that the chaos adds to their enjoyment.

Food related problems were the most common source of disruption. 24% reported that meals are frequently overcooked or undercooked, while 19% said Christmas dinner is never served on time. A further 16% admitted they forget to defrost key ingredients such as the turkey.

Family tensions also emerged as a recurring issue. 17% of respondents said they argue with relatives on Christmas Day. In more extreme cases, 5% reported ending a relationship on 25th December, and 3% said a marriage proposal was turned down.

The survey identified a wide range of other festive setbacks:

• 15% are hungover from Christmas Eve drinking.
• 13% receive duplicate gifts.
• 12% eat or drink too much and fall asleep before games begin.
• 11% experience an oven or appliance breaking down.
• 11% forget to buy a present for someone.
• 9% wrap gifts poorly.
• 9% deal with guests delayed by traffic.
• 7% see pets eat presents under the tree.
• 4% lose a job over the Christmas period.
• 3% have to visit A&E on Christmas Day.

Regret over gifts can begin almost immediately, with 2% of respondents saying they re sell unwanted presents on platforms such as Vinted or Depop on Christmas Day itself.

Despite these problems, many people adapt as the day unfolds. 10% said they actively improvise to improve the situation, while the 20% who approach mishaps with humour often feel the imperfections enhance the experience.

thortful said the findings reflect a familiar truth about the Christmas season, describing these moments as “perfect imperfections” that highlight the importance of shared experiences over flawless celebrations.