I just wanted to share some stats about what “you the people” believe about Christmas according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.
The Survey finds that 69% of Adults rate Christmas as one of our nation’s most important holidays. Meanwhile 26% say it’s somewhere in between the most and least important holidays.
This puts Christmas just ahead of the 63% who consider the Fourth of July one of the country’s most important holidays.
Sixty-four percent (64%) of Americans planned on attending a religious service this holiday season, showing little change from last year. But then 87% of Americans celebrate Christmas in their family, and 70% of that group recognize it as a religious holiday celebrating the birth of Christ rather than a secular one.
Generally, Christmas and the Fourth of July are the holidays rated most important by Americans. Thanksgiving, Memorial Day and Veterans Day are just below but are much more popular than Halloween and St. Patrick’s Day.
Those who attend religious services at least two or three times a month are more passionate about Christmas than those who occasionally attend church or those who don’t attend services at all.
At the same time, Evangelical Christians are more inclined to regard Christmas as one of the most important holidays than Protestants and Catholics are. Older adults are more likely to attend a religious service than those who are younger. Women are more inclined to go to a service than men.
Eighty-one percent (81%) of all adults said they will have a large dinner with friends and family on Christmas, while 14% will not. Two-out-of-three (66%) Americans will open gifts on Christmas morning. Twenty percent (20%) planned to open their gifts the night before. Another 15% were undecided.
More than eight-out of ten Americans celebrate Christmas and 70% do so primarily as a religious holiday honoring the birthday of Jesus. Among those who celebrate Christmas, 81% believe Jesus Christ is the son of God sent to Earth to die for our sins.