The Conversation: The Christmas Calendar of Twitter

Oh Christmas tree, Oh Christmas tree

Conversations about Christmas trees and when they are going up start as early as October. That’s right, while there are pumpkins on doorsteps and skeletons about, the people of the UK are already thinking about Christmas. Unsurprisingly, this means you can expect a lot of tree conversation throughout November, peaking during the last week of the month.

Last Christmas, I listened to Heart FM …

‘Whamageddon’ might sound like a sensational newspaper headline, but it’s really a festive game with one simple, though impossible, objective. Participants must avoid listening to Wham’s ‘Last Christmas’ throughout December. If a player hears the song, they have to post #whamageddon on Twitter. Most attempts to last the whole month have about as much success as you’d expect … 

A Christmas jumper isn’t just for Christmas

Ah, the dodgy Christmas jumper, a cultural institution — it’s even got its own day. Started by @savechildrenuk to raise money for children around the world, there’s plenty of discussion and planning that goes on for Christmas Jumper Day, as users share their jumper ideas from mid-November onwards. Conversations peak on the 8th December, as people around the UK don their ugly festive gear for a good cause.

Christmas ads are BACK

It’s fair to say that we’re an island that’s obsessed with our Christmas ads. From the yearly tear-jerker set against a stripped-back pop cover, to a certain vegetable named Kevin, there’s plenty of ads to discuss, and each one is dissected, reviewed, and discussed on Twitter. As Christmas returns to normal, we’re already seeing massive interest in Christmas ads compared to prior years.

It’s turkey time

The bigger the Christmas, the earlier the planning starts, especially when it comes to food. Over the last couple of years, thanks to smaller gatherings, turkey talk hasn’t started until the week of Christmas, but this year we’re expecting our Christmas chefs to return to meticulously planning their Christmas Dinner from mid-December onwards.

On Christmas Day, conversation (and booze) flows

On the big day itself, the UK has its priorities sorted. For most, the tipples begin before anything else,² followed by the opening of presents.³ Afterwards, a large Christmas breakfast leaves many of us unbuttoning our trousers to make room for the main course later.⁴ But, given a few hours to settle, Christmas dinner is firmly back on the menu, with discussions going on late in the afternoon.⁵ All that hearty feasting means that folks are finally ready to settle down for another tradition, the Christmas film.⁶

This isn’t just any sandwich …

The best part of Christmas may take place the day after … While some controversially indulge in their Christmas sarnie the same day as their Christmas dinner (we see you), Boxing Day is traditionally when most people use up their leftovers and create their ultimate Christmas sandwich. Anticipation kicks off early, with the Christmas sandwich featuring as a key highlight for most people.

With Christmas looking to be bigger and better than the past few years, there are plenty of opportunities to take advantage of the festive season. A time for loved ones to reconnect, it’s also the perfect opportunity for brands to tap in and lift the nation’s mood.

From Christmas Day planning to festive games and yearly cultural moments, the people of the UK love to share their love of Christmas with each other, and Twitter provides the perfect platform for users and brands alike to tap into the UK’s love of all things Christmas.