Brits have revealed the most common Christmas mishaps, including forgetting to put the oven on, bringing up politics at the dinner table – and losing someone’s present.
A study of 2,000 adults found nearly three-quarters have had a Christmas blunder, with knocking over the Christmas tree, getting too tipsy, and being caught cheating at Scrabble all in the top 40 list.
Other awkward moments include being caught pulling faces behind auntie’s back, and not realising their mother-in-law was in earshot when they moaned about her interfering.
In fact, the survey found that Christmas mishaps are so common, one in three believe getting through the festive period without at least one blunder would be a true Christmas miracle.
As a result, 64 percent suspect people tend to filter their festive period, only putting the “good parts” of Christmas on social media so their family life appears more perfect.
But six in ten would rather have a “real and authentic” festive experience than getting too caught up trying to make everything perfect.
Tina Warner-Keogh, co-founder of Warner’s Distillery, which commissioned the research, said: “There’s nothing more real than when things don’t go quite to plan at Christmas.
“So, what’s not to love if the dog eats the turkey (that happened) or if the Christmas pudding set the tablecloth on fire (that also happened).
“It’s all real, authentic festive family fun.
“In a world where reality is increasingly filtered to keep up appearances, a real and authentic Christmas – mishaps and all – makes the festive season much more memorable.”
The study also found a quarter of adults have left the price tags on gifts, and 22 percent ran out of wrapping paper.
Another 12 percent admitted to blazing their way through two-thirds of a tub of Quality Street by themselves – only leaving the worst ones for others.
And just 23 percent reckon they have completely “mastered” how to manage Christmas, and get through with no blunders at all.
More than half (53 percent) of respondents, polled via OnePoll, would go as far as to admit they feel relieved when the season of goodwill is finally over.
To celebrate Christmas – blunders and all – Warner’s has created a festive cocktail menu, including the “0% Come All Ye Drivers”, for anyone trying to avoid getting too tipsy, and “Christmas On The Rocks”, that can be slung together last minute to appease the in-laws.
Tina Warner-Keogh added: “With last year being a pretty unusual one for all of us, let’s not get caught up in the pressure to appear “perfect”.
“We are all about keeping it real at Warner’s, which is why we only use 100% natural ingredients in our gin.
“Whatever blunders you encounter this Christmas, enjoying time with those that truly matter is what it’s all about.
“So, let’s keep it real and have a very merry Christmas.”
THE TOP 40 CHRISTMAS BLUNDERS:
- Leaving prices on gifts
- Running out of wrapping paper
- Forgotten to send cards before the cut off postal dates
- Not getting someone something who made an effort to get you something
- Getting drunk on Christmas Eve and being hungover in bed
- Christmas tree fell over/was knocked over
- Getting tipsy on the day in front of relatives
- Sending a present in the post and it not arriving
- Forgot to put on your “happy and surprised” face when opening a gift you didn't like
- Forgotten a key element of the Christmas dinner
- Settled in to watch a film or TV show with the family without realising it had very awkward sex scenes in it
- You/someone else turning up late
- Gravy was watery and terrible
- Someone turning up you haven't invited
- Giving a gift to the wrong person
- Got your timings wrong and missed The Queen's Speech
- Brought up politics at the dinner table
- Hated Christmas dinner
- Had someone tell you to your face they didn't like a present you'd got them
- Accidentally breaking a gift you've just received
- Forgetting to turn the oven on when making the dinner
- Burning the Christmas dinner
- Got caught making a face at an off-colour remark made by a family member
- Writing the wrong name on a gift e.g. ex girlfriend's name on current girlfriend's gift
- Your kids waking up and seeing you wrap present and them realising Santa isn't real
- Didn't buy my Secret Santa gift
- Realising at the last moment the turkey didn't fit in the oven
- Overheard your mother-in-law criticising you
- Turkey was totally undercooked
- Your mum over-indulging and starting to perform to the family
- Got caught out regifting
- Getting caught cheating at a boardgame
- Gotten nan too tipsy
- Criticised your mother-in-law when she was in earshot
- Accidentally given meat to someone who is veggie/vegan
- Refusing to wear granny's handknitted jumper
- Not setting enough places at the table
- People breaking up at your party
- Accidentally flashed at the Christmas party
- Driven across the country to visit family – only to forget all their presents at home