Gift face on vacation? Most fake their excitement during the holidays

Over half of Americans have had to use their “holiday gift face” (RGF) during the holidays – masking their disappointment with a poorly presented gift.

The survey of 2,000 U.S. adults who celebrate the winter holidays examined the phenomenon of the RGF “holiday gift face,” which is the expression one gives—intentionally or unintentionally—when receiving a gift that creates confusion or questions (is this a gift?) and loses the point.

The results revealed that over the past three years, the average person has received two gifts that they simply didn’t like, with the main excitement dampeners being incomplete wrapping (14%), crumpled or old materials (13%) and themes holiday mismatches (12). %).

But most of the time, people are likely to keep their responses cordial and polite. Respondents said they would be more likely to respond to the wrong gift giver with, “thanks for thinking of me” (27%), “I like it” (23%) or “I really appreciate that” ( 21 %).

This reflects a strong tendency to maintain positive interactions, highlighting the importance of gratitude in gift-giving experiences, even when respondents are not keen on the gift in front of them.

Conducted by Talker Research on behalf of Scotch Brand, the survey found that avoiding eye contact is the clearest sign of dissatisfaction with gifts (24%).

This is followed by a fake smile (20%), changing the tone of their voice (16%), or talking too much about how great the gift looks (16%).

Fifty-six percent of respondents skillfully hide their disappointment with a “resting gift face,” and 57% believe they have mastered this art.

Likewise, 53% can say “right away” when others don’t like a gift. This keen awareness can resonate with anyone who has been in the tricky position of trying to gauge the true feelings of a gift recipient.

The “holiday gift face” was found to appear most often when receiving gifts from family members (34%), significant others (29%) and friends (28%).

More than half of respondents judge presentation closely, with 54% agreeing that it matters how a gift looks when they receive it.

Perhaps surprisingly, those who reported being skilled at wrapping were more likely to be disappointed by poor wrapping quality.

For example, those who consider themselves expert or skilled wrappers feel less excited if the wrapper is incomplete, crumpled, or out of date.

According to respondents, the thought induces joy. When receiving a gift, the main things that make it feel special are if there is thought behind the gift (42%), it brings back a memory of the gift giver (16%) and if it has sentimental value (15%).

With only 5% attributing the importance of a gift to its monetary value, emotional connections and sentimental value dominate the joy of recipients.

Overall, 40% said they felt pressured to open gifts in front of the recipient.

“With the holiday season upon us, we know this can bring out our need to find the perfect gift and wrap them perfectly with every bow and fold,” said the gift-wrapping expert. , Amber Kemp-Gerstel, who is a spokeswoman for Scotch. Brand.

“However, behind this intense focus is the pure joy of giving – because nothing feels better than knowing that the love you put into a gift will be felt long after the paper has been torn. With each closing, we are truly closing in on moments of joy.”

The survey also found that when receiving gifts, the first thing people notice is the size of the gift (18%).

Beyond size, the color or pattern of wrapping paper stands out to 17%, while others consider how beautifully it’s wrapped (14%) and whether it’s accompanied by a handwritten card or note (11%).

Four in five (81%) believe presentation matters when giving gifts to others during the holiday season, and 68% said they enjoy giving gifts more than receiving them.

While 74% of “expert wrappers” prefer giving, only 55% of “beginner wrappers” felt the same, pointing to the increased personal satisfaction that skilled wrappers associate with their gift-giving efforts.

A third claimed they were experts in gift wrapping, regardless of the size or shape of the gift. Forty percent felt they were at least proficient, but admitted they struggle with uniquely shaped items. Overall, this indicates that most of the respondents possess a good level of wrapping skills.

Universally, almost half agree that the easiest and fastest way to prepare gifts is to put them in a gift bag. When it comes to gift boxes, 26% prefer them for giving, but only 19% find them easier to open.

A quarter of respondents believe wrapping paper is cited as the easiest to open (25%), but even fewer find it quick to open (21%).

“Wrapping a gift is more than just covering what’s inside. It’s a ritual, a moment to slow down and let the intention shine,” said Kemp-Gerstel. “Every fold and ribbon is a layer of excitement, creating anticipation and joy. Because when you wrap with care, you’re not just giving a gift—you’re giving an experience.”

TOP 10 ANSWERS TO GO TO FOR CONSIDERED GIFTS

1. “Thank you for thinking of me” – 27%
2. “I like” – 23%
3. “I really appreciate this” – 21%
4. “You shouldn’t have!” – 14%
5. “What a thoughtful gift” – 13%
6. “What a wonderful gift” – 12%
7. “You are very kind” – 11%
8. “It’s the thought that counts” – 10%
9. “It’s so unique!” – 9%
10. “Where did you find this?” – 8%

Survey methodology:

Talker Research surveyed 2,000 Americans who celebrate the winter holidays; the survey was commissioned by Scotch™ Brand and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between October. 17 and October. 22, 2024.