Avoid these common Christmas mishaps – as 25 biggest mistakes revealed

The biggest Christmas ‘emergencies’ include forgetting to defrost the turkey, leaving someone off the gift list, and running out of wrapping paper. A poll of 2,000 adults who celebrate Christmas uncovered the nation’s top festive fumbles, with the top 25 also featuring dropping the turkey while taking it out of the oven (25%).

Many added forgetting to collect relatives and blowing a fuse thanks to the display of Christmas lights. Others misjudged how many seats they’d need around the dinner table, while 9% have watched in horror as pets pulled down the Christmas tree.

A spokesperson for the frontline worker discount service Blue Light Card, which commissioned the research to help members avoid common pitfalls, said: “Despite their high-pressure jobs, our members tell us that the smallest Christmas slip-ups can cause the biggest stress – from forgotten gifts to last-minute dashes for an extra chair.”

The research also found lumpy gravy (eight%) and Yorkshire puddings that refused to rise (five%) also made the list of classic Christmas mishaps.

Yet despite the chaos, 73% of those who’ve endured a festive faux pas said it was worth it for the memories, and 86% have laughed about it in the years that followed.

However, forgotten Christmas food (27%), unexpected guests (25%) and failing to record Christmas TV specials were named as the biggest triggers of household arguments.

As a result, many now take precautions to avoid repeat disasters – with 30% buying far more wrapping paper than they will ever need.

And 27% stock the fridge with enough picky bits to feed far more people than they are expecting.

Nearly a quarter (23%) have kept emergency presents hidden away just in case, while 11% have borrowed extra chairs and tables from neighbours.

On the day itself, batteries are the item households are most often missing (24%), followed by sticky tape (14%), tin foil (13% and cranberry sauce (11%).

The spokesperson for Blue Light Card, which can help save active members upwards of £3,000 per year, added: “This Christmas, we want to help our incredible community spend less time worrying about mishaps and more time enjoying the moments that really matter.”