For couples, the holiday season often comes with cozy routines and extra time together. For many single people, Christmas can feel like a spotlight they never asked for, especially when family gatherings turn into an informal interview about dating. That pressure is one reason so many people end up stretching the truth about their relationship status just to get through the meal in peace.
A survey by the dating app Wisp, conducted with 2,800 single adults in the United Kingdom, suggests this is far from a rare habit. Around 70 percent of respondents said they feel more judged and watched because of their love life at Christmas than at any other time of year. The study also found that roughly a third have lied to relatives about their status, largely because the expectation to settle down tends to spike during the holidays.
Sometimes the lie is small and designed to end the conversation quickly. About 27 percent admitted they have claimed to have a partner simply to avoid awkward questions. Another 14 percent said they went even further and invented a name along with a backstory for an imaginary significant other, which sounds dramatic until you picture the same questions being asked year after year with no easy way to change the subject.
The gap between generations was especially noticeable. Nearly half of Gen Z respondents, 47 percent, said they are likely to polish the truth at the Christmas table. Among millennials, 35 percent said the same. Gen X was less inclined to do it, with 18 percent admitting they might twist the details about their romantic situation.
Sylvia Linzalone, a dating expert at Wisp, framed the behavior as a form of self-protection rather than deception for its own sake. In her view, Christmas compresses the everyday pressure around dating into a single intense week. You are surrounded by couples, traditions, and well-meaning relatives who may think they are making harmless conversation, even when it lands like an interrogation.
Linzalone also pointed out that these numbers highlight how uncomfortable society can still be with singlehood. People are not necessarily lying because they are ashamed. They may be lying because they are tired of defending their choices while trying to enjoy dinner and the holiday mood, and they want a break from the idea that being partnered is the only acceptable outcome.
Have you ever felt pressured to explain your love life during the holidays, and what do you think would make those conversations kinder and less stressful? Share your thoughts in the comments.
