Rather than focusing on mince pies or Santa Claus, Very’s Christmas ad shows a less merry holiday reality: elderly loneliness. By casting Christmas in a different light, it harnesses the power of advertising to spotlight social causes, triggering positive brand associations in the process.

Christmas adverts seem to get more and more whimsical – but this year, Lidl has opted for realism. Playing on its position as a trusted supermarket for everyday necessities, Lidl offers a down-to-earth portrayal of modern rituals around festivities, giving viewers "a Christmas you can believe in."

Rather than hunkering down with the family over the festive period, Britons are likely to do all their Christmas shopping online, before jetting off on holiday to avoid tiresome family and the dreary weather. So what roles do generosity and social bonds play in the British festive landscape of 2019?

Christmas may be the happiest time of the year among those who celebrate it, but it comes with plenty of stressors – whether that’s money, family, or gift-giving. Canvas8 spoke to 20 people from across the US to find out what tends to worry them around the festive season and how they plan to cope.