The text discusses the period of time between Christmas and New Year’s Eve known as “Dead Week” or “Boxing Week.” It explores how this week is often a time of aimlessness and confusion, as people are neither fully engaged in the holiday season nor back to their regular routines. The text also touches on the cultural traditions associated with this week, such as regifting and indulging in rest and relaxation. Despite the lack of official recognition or time off for many, Dead Week offers a collective chance for deep rest and a break from the usual pressures of productivity and ambition. It is a time when simply existing is enough, allowing for a much-needed pause in our fast-paced society.
| Signal | Change | 10y horizon | Driving force |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dead Week, a period between Christmas and New Year’s Eve | Transition from holiday to unmarked time | More recognition of Dead Week as a distinct period | Desire for rest and relaxation |
| Boxing Week, a week of sales and accumulation of more stuff | Extension of the holiday season | Increased consumerism during Dead Week | Desire for deals and discounts |
| Romjul, a Norwegian term for Dead Week | Celebration of Yule without adhering to holiday rules | Emphasis on rest and celebration during Dead Week | Desire to enjoy the holiday season without expectations |
| American celebration of Dead Week with no official name | Collective chance for deep rest | More companies giving employees the week off | Recognition of the need for rest and relaxation |
| Dead Week as a break from forward-motion drive | Relief from ambition and striving | Society’s push for constant hustle and achievement | Desire to escape the pressure to constantly optimize for efficiency |
| Dead Week as a unit of nothing time | Break from constant striving and achievement | Appreciation for unmarked and nonurgent time | Desire for a sense of nothingness and peace in a busy society |
| Forgiving nature of Dead Week | Grace and forgiveness outside of success and failure | Increased acceptance of simply existing as enough | Desire for a break from the pressure to constantly succeed |