Christmas might be the merriest time of year, but with all of your relatives coming together in one place, it can also be ripe for family rows.
This year, Christmas comes just weeks after the general election, and it looks like many Britons are anticipating arguments about politics over the dinner table.
According to a new survey of more than 2,000 people conducted by relationships charity Relate, one in five (19 per cent) of UK adults predict political disputes this Christmas.
The survey also looked at what has caused family tensions at Christmas in the past, listing drinking too much alcohol (16 per cent), deciding where to spend the 25 December (15 per cent) and having high expectations (15 per cent) as the most common causes.
Relate also said that calls to its helpline typically increase after the festive period, rising by 12 per cent last January.
Meanwhile, visits to Relate’s website – which offers advice and relationship support – rose by 53 per cent at the same time.
Dee Holmes, family counsellor for Relate, said that while Christmas can be the perfect time for family to get together, it can also create high expectations.
“When you’re all cooped up in one house with alcohol in free flow and there’s pressure on those having to host, the smallest thing can trigger a full-blown argument,” she said.
“While it might seem like a family member is lashing out about something trivial like people not pulling their weight with the chores, there’s often something more behind it.
“When we return to our family environment we can often fall into old patterns of behaviour and long-buried tensions can arise. If this is the case, getting some counselling in the New Year may be a good idea.”
Relate’s tips on avoiding family arguments this Christmas include dividing chores, limiting your alcohol intake and trying to avoid discussing controversial topics, such as Brexit or the election results.
You can read more of the organisation’s tips on its website here.
