Unpacking Christmas dating trends and tips to date mindfully this silly season 

The cheesy Netflix movies, All I Want For Christmas Is You playing, meeting friends or family's new significant other, it must be Christmas. As we wind down the year, the summer months are a pretty social time for most, and for some, a time for romance. 

If you’re single during silly season, it’s an exciting time. The packed schedule of parties can mean more socialising and more opportunities to meet people. In addition, after the holidays set in, we are left with an abundance of time to both relax and go on more dates.

That said, the holidays can be a time of heightened stress and emotion, leading to more intense relationships. So how should we navigate the fun and risks of dating during Christmas? 

Let’s dive into the merry parts of Christmas dating and the not-so-merry.

Dating during Christmas – The Christmas Tree Effect

It’s not just a vibe - research indicates our mindset changes when it comes to dating during silly season. Daters say that they think about dating more during Christmas, as they reflect on the year that has been and the year ahead.  

In good news for singles, it also happens to be a great time to date. 

The holiday season comes with more lunches, dinners and parties than we know what to do with, i.e. increased opportunities to meet and connect with new people. So while your social battery might veer on drained, it can be a great time for singles to remain open minded and put themselves out there - ask a crush out, or swap Instagram handles at a party. 

For those already festively dating, one in five Aussies think attending family or friend events with someone they just started dating is more than okay. 

Dating terms for the most part have negative associations such as ghosting, breadcrumbing, love bombing etc. However, Christmas brings us one that may be endearing, which is the Christmas Tree Effect. 

What is the Christmas Tree Effect?

You wouldn’t want to over-clutter a Christmas tree with decorations, so don’t over-clutter your options for dating. In essence, this time of year we tend to date with stronger filters and fewer potential partners, allowing us to focus on more compatible connections. Drop the restrictive rules, unhelpful habits, and the mentality that more is always better. Instead, it’s the realisation that a “less is more” approach can help you optimise your love life.

Dating During Christmas – Snow-globing 

While we have the endearing Christmas Tree Effect, the silly season also gives us the holiday dating trend of Snow-Globing. 

What is Snow-Globing?

Snow-Globing happens when you are swept up in a whirlwind holiday romance that ends abruptly during or straight after the holidays, and are left wondering “what just happened? They got me a gift and brought me to friendmas!” It’s a not-so-festive metaphor for someone shattering your heart, like a snow globe, after a particularly festive December. 

Where Snow-Globing differs from uncuffing (where two people mutually separate at the end of a holiday/seasonal period) is in intent. The person who does the breaking up usually had no intent to date after the holidays, despite indicating otherwise, and ends the situationship pretty close after silly season ends. 

Daters might ‘snow-globe’ because they don’t want to be alone or don’t want to be seen as single during silly season and typically begins and ends with the holiday season.

Breakup Day

Another dreaded December dating occurrence is when the calendar reaches December 11, commonly known as Breakup Day.

The unofficial title was given to the day back in 2008 when the folk at Information is Beautiful analysed Facebook status updates and noticed how many people announced a severed relationship two weeks before Christmas. 

Reasons for breaking up during December include:

1. Family-related stress putting a toll on romance 

2. Gift-giving conundrums 

3. End-of-year reflections 

Tips for dating during the Christmas holidays

1. Set expectations with yourself, and be upfront with them:

What is it you want out of this Christmas period? A potential partner to start 2024 with, a summer fling, or just wanting to see what happens under the mistletoe?

Any of the above is okay, but if you have expectations or those expectations change – be fair and let the person you are dating know - clear is kind.

2. Check in with their expectations:

Are you dating someone fresh out of a December 11 breakup? Alternatively, could you spot being snow-globed early on? It can be easy for us to get swept up in the romance, and feel like something is more serious than it might be.

Meeting someone’s friends or family during silly season could be more due to circumstance instead of intent. Apply those Christmas tree filters and be curious with  date to see if they are emotionally available.  

3. Enjoy yourself:

The holidays and dating should be FUN! If you are clear with yourself and your partner on the expectations, you can avoid miscommunications and heartbreak down the line. Keep these in the back of your mind and go out and enjoy yourself.

Summer is a great time to soak up the Sydney beach scene or Melbourne bar scene with a new friend, and see where it takes you in the new year.