Like Hot Searches – December 2014, Christmas was the flavour of the month for December on Google and Facebook in 2015. Other standout topics included Star Wars, Boxing Day sales and a certain Miss Universe mishap.

It is a truth universally acknowledged that one must search Google for ‘Christmas’ once December strikes. Well, at least that seems to be the name of the game, as ‘Christmas’ has been a consistent rising search term in December over the past couple of years. Searches peaked on Christmas Eve, and we looked for messages to write on cards and what the weather was going to be like come the big day. We also sought lunch inspiration – ‘ham’, ‘Woolworths’ and ‘Coles’ were some of the top related search terms. ‘Christmas movies’ rounded out the list of related terms… Maybe perennial favourite Love Actually didn’t cut it this year?

Festive dates like Christmas, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day weren’t lost on the Facebook audience, either – this was the most popular topic for Facebook in December as well. Melbourne’s annual Carols By Candlelight concert and various New Year’s Eve fireworks displays generated significant interest with older women on Facebook.

The only topic big enough to take on a period notoriously filled with Christmas Googlers and Facebookers was, of course, the highly anticipated release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Bringing out the nerd in us all, the release of the seventh film in the massive franchise saw Australians take to Google to search for the film and its shiny new characters, as well as a few old ones. Punters in Victoria and New South Wales were curious and also wanted to get the goss about the next installment, too.

Shoppers eager for Boxing Day sales at David Jones & Myer got to searching a day early, on Christmas Day. As they planned their method of attack and lay in wait, keen bargain hunters also wanted to know the opening hours of specific stores – particularly the Canberra, Adelaide and Sydney stores – as well as what each sale offered.

Held on 20 December, the live television announcement of Miss Universe 2015 became something of a spectacle when host Steve Harvey mistakenly announced Miss Colombia as the winner. About three minutes later, he apologised and announced Miss Philippines. Awkwardness ensued. Predictably, the footage of the incident was plastered all over Facebook, intriguing a predominantly female audience.

Eager shoppers likewise inundated electrical extraordinaires The Good Guys and Harvey Norman searching for a good deal. Boxing Day sales are serious business, and Australians were searching for products like Dyson vacuum cleaners, Fitbits and GoPros. Searches peaked on 26 December – and Tasmanians were the biggest fans of Harvey Norman, while the ACT and South Australia showed The Good Guys some love with the highest search volume.

Ed Sheeran and Elton John’s Australian concerts encouraged chatter amongst younger and older women respectively, while Oprah Winfrey’s Australian tour was also a popular topic amongst women.

Searches for the cult jewellery brand Pandora remained fairly steady over the course of December, indicating this was a popular present for many on Christmas morning. However, searches for Pandora reached a peak on Christmas Day, as Boxing Day bargain hunters again came out of the woodwork searching for a great price on earrings, personalised bracelet pendants and rings. Googlers also wanted to know where they could go out and buy Pandora, as related search terms included ‘Michael Hill’ and ‘Pandora store’.

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