New Year's Celebrations and Resolutions in MENA

• 19% of online respondents celebrate Christmas
• 47% of online respondents are planning on making a New Year‘s Resolution for 2014
• Getting a better job (24%) is the most popular New Year’s resolution for 2014

With 2013 coming to an end, YouGov decided to carry out a regional survey to see what people had planned over Christmas and New Year.

New Year is the most celebrated festivity followed by Christmas (19%). Meeting with family (68%), friends (62%) and enjoying a cooked dinner (60%) are the most popular ways in which Christmas is usually celebrated by online respondents. The most enjoyable things about Christmas cited include; spending time with loved ones (63%), Christmas trees (57%), food (53%) and the atmosphere (51%).

Similarly, online respondents who celebrate New Year usually spend it meeting with family (53%), friends (52%) and having a party (47%). The most favoured things about New Year include; having a public holiday (47%), meeting up with friends (46%) and the start of a new beginning (43%).

Six in ten (59%) online respondents did not have a New Year’s resolution last year (59%), with the main reasoning being not believing in resolutions (56%). Of those that did have a New Year’s resolution (41%), 28% stuck to it for the whole year followed by 19% who stuck to it for a few months.

Looking ahead, almost half of all online respondents are planning on making a New Year’s resolution for 2014 (47%). The most popular resolutions include getting a better job (24%), maintaining a better work/life balance (13%) and losing weight (13%).

Data collected 23rd-29th December 2013 among 3770 respondents across the region using the YouGov online panel. Data is largely representative of the online population within the region.