It’s the holiday season, which usually means spending prolonged periods of time with family and/or fighting crowds at the malls on Black Friday and beyond. This may lead to an urge to make a gentle kicking motion, but Ford encourages that! Why? Because it’s exactly what you do to open the new hands-free power liftgate on the all-new Escape! That simple motion is all it takes to load the family’s luggage or all the goodies you’ve bought into the cargo area without having to juggle a key and arms full of stuff.

Here are some stats: During the holidays, 87 percent of American adults experience stress when shopping, and auto-related activities have a tendency to induce the most stress. Nearly 55 percent of Americans say that traffic jams, locating a parking spot and getting packages into the vehicle with their hands full are among the top stressful activities.

But the all-new Escape can help you, well, escape, the holiday craziness in various technological ways. For example, there’s the hands-free liftgate we mentioned, as well as Active Park Assist to turn-by-turn directions.

How do you reduce your stress during the holidays? Tell us here at Ford Social, but also submit the tips for a chance to win prizes (including a chance at a hands-free shopping experience) at http://on.fb.me/handsfreeholiday, from Friday, November 25 through December 23, 2011. Six grand prize winners will be awarded a $500 shopping spree and a Ford Holiday Helper to truly reward them with a “hands-free” holiday. The Ford Holiday Helper will assist winners and up to two of their friends with their shopping for a day, from carrying bags to waiting in lines. You’ll also find 10 tips to help you avoid stress during the holiday season.