Changing Christmas traditions

Only three per cent of people said they planned to follow the tradition of putting a coin in the Christmas pudding this year. Christmas cake is also falling out of favour with the population being replaced, albeit slowly, with panetonne (a fruit-studded bread from northern Italy) and German stollen.

52% said they would microwave at least two dishes and 24 per cent would use pre-prepared food bought from the shops. Only five per cent would bother to roast chestnuts, but 64 per cent will nibble at chocolates, 53 per cent at mixed nuts and 13 per cent at Bombay mix.

Traditional stocking fillers are also disappearing, with 69% of respondents saying they did not even know the ritual of packing them with walnuts and tangerines ever existed.

The study was commissioned by the broadcaster UKTV. Brian Turner, a television chef, said: ?While we may be in danger of losing some of our culinary traditions such as putting a penny in the pudding, roasting chestnuts and filling stockings with tangerines and nuts, there are lots of new rituals such as the champagne breakfast and eating stollen and panettone that we can really embrace.?

The way in which we spend Christmas Day has also evolved. Three quarters of respondents no longer watch the Queen's speech and only 18 per cent raise a glass to the monarch after their lunch.

Traditional parlour games such as charades are only played by 28% of those surveyed. Instead, 42 per cent said they would settle down to an interactive DVD or computer game.

Do you keep up with Christmas traditions? Leave your thoughts below.