With the big day nearly here, many food lovers are turning their attention to planning the perfect Christmas dinner. One of the biggest questions is when to actually eat, and a new poll has revealed what time Americans think is the best time to serve the big meal.
The survey by Talker Research for Newsweek asked 1,000 U.S. adults what they think is the ideal time to eat Christmas dinner. It showed that the most popular time was between 4 and 6 p.m., favored by 31 percent of respondents. After that, 28 percent want their meal between 2 and 4 p.m. instead.
The poll, which was conducted on December 2-6, also revealed that the least popular times to eat were very early in the day or late in the evening. Just 3 percent of Americans eat Christmas dinner before midday, and only 2 percent have it after 8 p.m.
Men and women were evenly split on the decision too, as eating between 4 and 6 p.m. was favored by 30 percent of men and 31 percent of women. Alternatively, 6 percent of people who were polled don't have a big meal on Christmas day at all.
Preferences varied depending on age, as Generation Z (people born between 1997 and 2012) want their meal between 2 and 4 p.m., while millennials (those born between 1981-1996) would prefer four until 6 p.m. Indeed, the slightly later time was also favored by Generation X (people born between 1965 and 1980) and Baby Boomers (those born between 1946 and 1964), both with 30 percent.
For etiquette expert and lifestyle commentator Jo Hayes, the perfect time to eat Christmas dinner is around 2 p.m. She explained that this isn't too early, so it gives people ample time in the morning, but doesn't encroach upon being an evening meal either.
Hayes told Newsweek: "Usually family or guests are invited for midday. This gives individuals/couples/families the morning to do their thing. When they arrive, they will be offered drinks and nibbles while we do final preparations for the meal before everyone sits down to eat at 2 p.m.
"If people stick around on Christmas Day, some leftovers or extras may be served at around 7 p.m.," the founder of the website Etiquette Expert continued.
For Hayes, eating at 4 p.m. is "too late" and a rather awkward time. It's too late to be lunch, yet too early to be an evening meal. "If guests haven't eaten a proper meal since breakfast, they'll be ravenous," she added.
However, Americans choosing to eat between 5 or 6 p.m. is less surprising, as this gives them time to eat a light lunch before building up an appetite for the big meal. She notes that the timings and traditions varies a lot depending on traditions and cultures.
"Many people split their day between two families. They may do lunch with one side, and dinner with the other. Some people prefer to have a lunch during the middle of the day, while others prefer an evening meal," Hayes, an Australian, told Newsweek.
Regardless of what time you choose to tuck in, Hayes adds that dining etiquette is always a necessity. Hosts can really level up their game with a properly set table, complete with centerpieces and intricate place settings. As for the guests, they must always remember their table manners.
"Use cutlery correctly, no talking while eating, elbows off the table, and definitely no cell phones at the table," Hayes said. "All devices should be out of sight, out of mind. No one wants notifications interrupting this special family time."
This random double-opt-in survey was conducted by market research company Talker Research, whose team members are members of the Market Research Society (MRS) and the European Society for Opinion and Marketing Research (ESOMAR).
English (US) ·