2025’s biggest holiday trend? Skipping the celebrations

2025’s biggest holiday trend? Skipping the celebrations

A clear holiday season trend is emerging across the country: Many Americans would rather stay home. New LifeStance Health research shows that 64% of respondents wish they could skip at least a few of their holiday gatherings this year, while 28% say they would like to attend them all. The majority (75%) say that some gatherings feel like obligations, with Gen Zers reporting this feeling at an overwhelming 89%.

Millennials (34%) and Gen Z adults (33%) are the most likely to want to skip most or all of their gatherings, reflecting a growing disconnect between holiday expectations and how people actually want to spend their time. This includes workplace celebrations, family dinners, neighborhood events and outings with friends.

A trend years in the making

This shift didn’t begin in 2025. A Talker Research holiday survey conducted for Chinet in 2024 showed early signals that Americans were already scaling back their winter social calendars. Attendance dropped from an average of five gatherings in 2023 to three in 2024. While excitement for the season remained, people began choosing smaller, more intentional events over larger, more traditional ones.

Americans are also stepping back from workplace gatherings

2023 research from Visier, which surveyed 1,000 full-time U.S. employees about after-hours socializing, found that nearly two-thirds (64%) of employees reduced or completely stopped attending company events after work hours in 2023. This mirrors the broader cultural pullback captured in LifeStance’s research, which shows that people are increasingly protecting their free time.

Yet Visier’s data also highlights a generational divide. Younger employees—Gen Zers (40%) and Millennials (49%)—are significantly more interested in attending workplace holiday parties than their Gen X (19%) and baby boomer (13%) counterparts. The finding reinforces that younger adults aren’t rejecting connection; they’re rejecting pressure, obligation and oversized gatherings.

Together, the studies paint a picture of a shifting holiday culture: Americans want connection, but they want it on their own terms.

Why Americans are opting out: A deeper look at the 2025 holiday mindset

The desire to skip holiday gatherings reflects more than personal preference. It reflects economic, emotional and social pressures that have reshaped how people experience the season.

Financial and economic concerns

Economic pressures are a primary force driving the shift toward staying home.

Financial strain is widespread this year. Americans are slashing their holiday budgets at the highest rate since 2020, and rising costs are pushing many to rethink travel and spending. Inflation, high interest rates and growing household debt are forcing people to cut back on discretionary expenses, including travel, gifts and large gatherings.

Travel costs remain a major barrier. Many younger adults say going home for the holidays simply isn’t feasible, which is an issue that became widely discussed in recent years as millennials and Gen Zers reported that the financial load of holiday travel outweighed the emotional benefit.

Hosting has also become more expensive. From food prices to decor, the rising cost of hosting is leading fewer Americans to open their homes for gatherings. The mental preparation and labor involved add another deterrent.

Mental health and stress

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For many, the holidays have always carried emotional weight, but this year’s pressures seem to intensify it.

Performance pressure plays a significant role. Nearly 70% of Americans feel pressure to appear happier than they actually are, particularly millennials and Gen Zers.

Burnout is another driver. Many Americans feel overworked and overscheduled, and the holidays offer one of the few opportunities for genuine rest.

Managing family dynamics also adds strain. More than a quarter of Americans say their well-being takes a hit during the holidays due to family conflict, unresolved tension or emotional triggers.

Family conflict and frustration

Gatherings are not always sources of joy. For many Americans, they are sources of conflict.

Nearly half expect heated discussions at holiday events, often driven by political disagreements, family drama or generational clashes. This was especially true in 2024, when families were gathering during a highly discussed election period. According to a LifeStance survey released in October 2024, 79% of respondents reported experiencing anxiety related to the 2024 U.S. presidential election. Younger adults were particularly affected and were far more likely to experience moderate to significant anxiety.

Shifting priorities and a post-pandemic mindset

The COVID-19 pandemic permanently reshaped holiday expectations. Large, loud, multiday gatherings have lost appeal, replaced by more intentional traditions focused on comfort and authenticity.

Many Americans now prefer smaller, more manageable gatherings at home, or they choose to host only those whose presence feels meaningful. Even those who enjoy the holidays are seeking more relaxed, low-pressure ways to celebrate.

Younger adults want to socialize—but differently

Across the aforementioned research sources, one theme is consistent: Younger generations still crave connection, but not the traditional version.

The bottom line

The declining interest in holiday gatherings reflects a cultural shift fueled by financial strain, emotional burnout, family complexity and changing priorities. Americans are tired, overstretched and increasingly intentional about how they spend their time.

The holidays are still beloved, but the way people want to celebrate is changing. Many are choosing rest over obligation, smaller circles over big crowds and authenticity over performance.

And in 2025, some Americans may view staying home as a way to celebrate on their own terms, based on current survey trends.

This article summarizes survey findings and cultural trends from third-party and LifeStance research. It is intended for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as predictions or guarantees.

This story was published by LifeStance Health and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.