UFO Sightings Surge Around Christmas, Experts Say

A measurable rise in reported unidentified flying objects around Christmas has drawn renewed attention from researchers and hobbyists alike. Data from the UFO Reporting Centre shows a spike in December reports, with Christmas Day often recording the highest numbers of the year. In 2021, December 25 saw 75 sightings reported, a data point cited by researchers studying seasonal patterns in public reporting. The spike has prompted renewed discussion about why holiday periods might yield more sightings and more reports, even as experts emphasize that increased reporting does not prove extraterrestrial visitation.

Experts say festive fireworks and light displays may play a role in the uptick, with more people out and looking up during the holidays. Christian Stepien, technical director at the centre in America, said the increase could be linked to holiday displays and consumer attention to lights. "The reason for the increased reporting could be due to festive firework and light displays," Stepien said. The explanation points to ordinary sources of night-sky activity—illuminated decorations, bursts of color from fireworks, and bright displays—that can be misinterpreted as unusual aerial phenomena by observers lacking time to verify what they saw.

Ron James from the Mutual UFO Network told The Daily Beast: "We do have a slight uptick twice a year in the summer and around the holidays. There are a few reasons why people might be paying more attention: they might be off work, they're doing family activities and things they don't normally do, so there are more possibilities for people to encounter things. Then, of course, there's always Santa Claus and the reindeer. If there is an uptick, I can understand that because there's a lot of people out during time shopping and doing things. They might be looking up in the air so I can understand it if there is." These observations underscore how seasonal routines—travel, shopping, gatherings—can elevate the likelihood of people noticing unusual objects or phenomena in the sky, even if those objects turn out to have ordinary explanations.

The historical record of festive-period sightings stretches back decades. Accounts of UFOs during the holiday season go all the way back to Christmas 1965, when astronaut Wally Schirra Jr. was aboard Gemini 6 and reported a puzzling object in space. He described: "We have an object, looks like a satellite going from north to south, probably in polar orbit. Looks like he might be going to re-enter soon. You just might let me pick up that thing." Fellow astronaut Thomas Stafford added: "I see a command module and eight smaller modules in front. The pilot of the command module is wearing a red suit." Mission control was reportedly tense until Wally Schirra began to play Jingle Bells on the harmonica and revealed the episode was a prank. The anecdote has since become a defining example of how spaceflight-era sightings entered public folklore, even as officials insisted there was no evidence of alien visitation.

Despite the long-running curiosity about Christmas-era sightings, scientists and investigators stress caution in drawing conclusions from seasonal upticks. The factors driving reporting are multifaceted: people are more likely to take time off, families participate in gatherings, and the public’s attention to the night sky intensifies during a season of decorations and lights. MUFON’s researchers emphasize that while upticks occur, they do not establish the existence of extraterrestrial craft. Instead, they reflect a combination of heightened visibility, cultural narratives, and the human tendency to notice unfamiliar objects against a winter sky.

As observers and researchers continue to monitor reports, authorities and investigators reinforce that most sightings are ultimately explained as conventional phenomena, misidentified satellites or aircraft, or atmospheric events. The ongoing dialogue reflects a broader public interest in space and the mysteries of the night sky, a topic that sits at the intersection of science, culture, and seasonal folklore. The findings cited in this account draw on reports and interviews published by outlets covering Science & Space topics, and are meant to illuminate how holiday-driven routines shape what people report to observers and databases dedicated to cataloging unusual aerial phenomena.