Deutsch
English
Français
Do you have a question?
Get in touch with me. Feel free to call me or send me an e-mail message. I look forward to the dialogue with you!
When the first fairy lights come on outside, something begins to stir in the country. Some people immediately get into the Christmas spirit, while others are still waiting for that spark. We wanted to understand this interplay, with curiosity and insight. That’s why we conducted another representative survey in the intervista online panel this year. We are happy to share the exciting insights with you.
Study profile
Methodology: Online panel survey conducted by intervista
Target group: Swiss population aged 15 to 79 residing in German-speaking and French-speaking Switzerland.
Sample size: n=1,016 interviews
Survey period: 20 to 26 November 2025
Christmas mood
Around 40% of the Swiss population describe themselves as Christmas fans. On the other hand, 21% see themselves as Christmas grumps. The difference according to age is interesting: while more young people count themselves among the Christmas fans, the proportion of Christmas grumps is significantly higher among older people.
Christmas mood progression
The Christmas mood does not arise overnight in Switzerland. Before November, almost no one is in the festive spirit.
For around a fifth of people, the Christmas mood begins in November. It really picks up speed at the beginning of December. By then, 58% are already in the Christmas spirit. This proportion continues to grow until Christmas, with a total of around 90% getting into the festive mood at some point.
Christmas rituals
When Christmas is celebrated in Switzerland, much of it follows familiar patterns. For most people, sharing a meal, candlelight, unwrapping presents and a festively decorated home are simply part of the tradition. Our data reveals subtle differences. Women have a particularly strong influence on the festivities with rituals involving lights, decorations and biscuits. And a look at the different regions reveals some interesting facts. While candles are very strongly associated with Christmas in German-speaking Switzerland, people in French-speaking Switzerland focus more on socialising and celebrate Christmas with parties much more frequently.
Favourite Christmas cookies
At Christmas time Switzerland is filled with the aroma of classic biscuits. Swiss butter cookies and cinnamon stars are clearly among the favourites. However a look at the different regions reveals subtle differences in taste. For example Swiss jam sandwich cookies are much more popular in German speaking Switzerland than in French speaking Switzerland.
Christmas tree
More than half of the Swiss population puts up a Christmas tree at home at Christmas. There are significant regional differences. While 74% of people in German-speaking Switzerland choose a natural tree, 60% in French-speaking Switzerland opt for an artificial Christmas tree.
Christmas animals
The animal that the Swiss population most strongly associates with Christmas is the reindeer. The donkey is the second most common animal associated with Christmas, followed by the sheep in third place. Other animals such as the ox or the camel do not make it onto the podium of Christmas animals.
Favourite gifts
We asked the Swiss population what Christmas gifts they enjoy most. The clear favourite across all age groups is shared experiences. Culinary gifts are also very popular, especially among people between the ages of 30 and 50. There are clear gender-specific differences. Men are more likely than women to want electronic devices, toys, games or video games. Women, on the other hand, are particularly happy to receive books and magazines, as well as cosmetics, spa, wellness and perfume.
Artificial intelligence at Christmas
AI is omnipresent and increasingly shaping everyday life. However, it is still used with caution in connection with Christmas. Our data shows that only 28% of the Swiss population uses AI for Christmas purposes. As expected, it is used more frequently by younger people than by older people.
When AI is used in connection with Christmas, it is mainly for inspiration. People most often use it to search for gift ideas, write Christmas greetings or get suggestions for creative images, recipes and menus.
Carmen Bauer