What’s in a name? As Shakespeare put it, a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. And for many people, Christmas would feel just as festive whatever you choose to call it.
Whether it is Christmas, Xmas, Noel or even Crimbo, the mince pies still crumble and the lights still twinkle. But according to a new YouGov poll, not every alternative name sparks goodwill and cheer.
Christmas has accumulated a whole wardrobe of aliases over the years. There is the familiar shorthand Xmas, the French-flavoured Noel, the ancient Yuletide rooted in northern Europe, and more modern, informal nicknames like Crimbo. Yet while some of these are happily embraced, others make Britons wince.
Crimbo: Dividing opinions
Crimbo, in particular, divides opinion. Almost half of Britons, 46%, say they dislike or actively dislike hearing Christmas called Crimbo. Still, it is not without its admirers. Around one in five people, 21%, say they like or even love the term, while roughly a third feel completely indifferent.
There are, however, names that fare far worse. Crimble, a term popularised by The Beatles, is disliked or hated by 68% of the public. Worse still is Chrissie, which 78% of Britons react negatively to, including half who say they outright hate it.
By contrast, Xmas emerges as the most popular alternative to Christmas itself. Just over half of Britons, 52%, view it positively, while only 16% dislike it. Despite occasional claims that it somehow removes the religious meaning, the abbreviation seems to have secured its place in cards, headlines and shop windows.
Mixed reactions
More general phrases also attract mixed reactions. Talking about the festive season tends to be received kindly, with 43% approving of the phrase, although one in five dislike it. Holiday season, on the other hand, strikes a different note. Forty-two per cent of Britons see it negatively, compared with just 24% who like it, perhaps reflecting its more American tone.
Yuletide and Noel sit quietly in the middle ground. Between 39% and 44% of Britons say they neither like nor dislike these terms.
Age, as ever, plays a significant role. The sharpest generational divide appears around the term holiday season. Among 18 to 24 year olds, it is viewed positively by a margin of 53% to 18%. Among those over 50, the mood flips, with between 53% and 55% viewing it negatively. Festive season follows a similar pattern, although opinion among older Britons does not tip decisively into the red. Those aged over 65 are split, with 34% liking the phrase and 26% disliking it.
Christmas by age
Crimbo also skews by age. Six in ten people aged over 65 say they dislike or hate the term, compared with around 41% to 47% among younger groups. Almost a third of 18 to 24 year olds are happy to hear Crimbo, while only 11% of the over-65s feel the same.
Yuletide is the notable exception. Affection for the word grows steadily with age. Only 20% of the youngest adults view it positively, rising to 42% among those over 65. At the same time, negative reactions fall from 28% in the youngest group to just 17% among the oldest.
In the end, the poll suggests that while names matter, the season itself matters more. Call it Christmas, Xmas or Yuletide, and most people will happily join in. Call it Chrissie, though, and you may find yourself met with something decidedly less festive.
