Over a third of parents now track Santa using a smart device
- Traditional Christmas rituals are becoming more hi-tech – with more than a third of parents planning to ‘Track Santa’ on a smart home device this year More than half (53 per cent) of parents across the country will consider using smart home tech to make Christmas extra magical this year.
- Less than two thirds will leave out a mince pie for Santa and carrot for Rudolf this Christmas as parents move away from childhood traditions (64 per cent).
- More than half (53 per cent) of parents across the country will consider using smart home tech to make Christmas extra magical this year.
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas – and it seems our festive traditions are in for a tech upgrade, with more adults planning to use smart devices to keep the magic of Christmas alive for children this year rather than more classic traditions like writing letters to Santa.
According to new research from EDF Energy, more parents will use smart home tech to ‘Track Santa’ this year (33 per cent) than search for his footprints by the fireplace (19 per cent), or look out for signs that Rudolph has visited (28 per cent).
More than half of adults surveyed also revealed that they would use a smart home voice control device to track and play the sound of Santa’s footsteps in a bid to make this Christmas extra magical (53 per cent). What’s more, the same number of us will use smart home tech to ‘Track Santa’ this Christmas (33 per cent) as will look up into the sky to spot his sleigh (33 per cent).
And it’s not just searching for Santa that we’re using smart devices for. Nearly a quarter (24 per cent) of adults plan to use smart plugs to turn the tree lights on ‘as if by magic’ on Christmas morning.
The findings also revealed classic traditions may be being replaced:
- 73 per cent of adults left out a mince pie and carrot on Christmas Eve as a child, but fewer than two thirds still take part in the annual custom (64 per cent)
- More than one third of adults have taken up a new practice of using their smart device to track Santa.
Philippe Commaret, Deputy Managing Director – Customers at EDF Energy, added: “It’s well acknowledged that technology is transforming our day to day lives, and it seems it is now also playing a part in our cultural celebrations. As people look to continue their childhood traditions in a way that is relevant to future generations, they are turning to smart home tech to help keep the magic of Christmas alive.
“With a range of smart home devices, including smart voice speakers and smart lighting solutions, the EDF Energy Smart Home Store can help you make this Christmas the most magical one yet for all the family.”
Looking ahead to the future, there is no dream too big - the survey also revealed the top 5 things we would like to be able to do to make Christmas even more magical…
- Receive a personalised message from Santa through your smart home gadget.
- Watch your presents being made in Santa’s Workshop in the North Pole.
- Play the sounds of Santa walking up the driveway/stairs throughout your home.
- Find reindeer hoof marks/sleigh tracks on the roof.
- Chat with a 3D hologram of Santa.
Notes to Editors
Consumer research of 2,000 UK adults conducted by OnePoll (21/11/2019 – 26/11/2019)
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About EDF
EDF is driving the transition towards An Electric Britain – a secure, affordable, low-carbon future for everyone. As Britain’s biggest generator of zero carbon electricity, we are investing more than £100 million weekly in Britain’s electricity infrastructure. We supply millions of customers with electricity and help homes and businesses switch to electricity for heating, transport and industrial processes.
We operate five nuclear power stations and more than 35 onshore wind farms and three offshore wind farms. Since 2009, EDF has invested almost £9 billion in the nuclear fleet to improve reliability and extend station lifetimes. The five generating stations currently supply about 12% of the UK’s electricity demand.
EDF is building the UK's nuclear renaissance with the construction of a new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point C. We are a minority investor (12.5%) in and major supplier to a replica plant at Sizewell C in Suffolk. Hinkley Point C and Sizewell C will provide low carbon electricity to meet 14% of UK demand and power around 12 million homes. EDF Group companies Framatome and Arabelle Solutions have a presence in the UK and manufacture critical equipment such as reactor pressure vessels and turbines.
EDF is enabling its 5 million customers, both in business and at home, to choose electric solutions that save cash and carbon, whether it is buying an electric car, generating and storing electricity, selling energy back to the grid or installing solar panels or a heat pump. In 2025, EDF’s Customers business was ranked as one of the Sunday Times’s Best Place to Work.
It is also one of the UK’s leading developers of renewable energy through EDF power solutions UK and Ireland. We have more than 2GW of renewable generation in operation and over 10GW in construction, planning and development across a range of technologies including onshore and offshore wind, solar and battery storage.
We are one of the largest suppliers to British business and a leading supplier of innovative energy solutions that are helping businesses become more energy independent. In addition, the company’s energy services business, Dalkia, is one of the UK and Ireland’s largest technical service providers.
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