Here are the Christmas statistics, history, myths & facts plus interesting Christmas by numbers. Including statistics about Christmas tree, light, gift & song.
Christmas is a holiday that is celebrated around the world, and it has become one of the most beloved and anticipated times of the year.
But how much do you really know about this festive season?
In this article, we will explore 70+ Christmas statistics, history, myths, and facts, along with interesting Christmas by numbers.
From the origins of Christmas to the most popular holiday traditions and everything in between, this article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of what makes this holiday so special.
So, let’s dive in and discover some fascinating insights into the magic of Christmas!
What is Christmas and Why Celebrate it?
Christmas is a major annual Christian holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ.
It is observed on December 25th by billions of Christians around the world. The day is usually marked by religious services, exchanging of gifts, and special meals with family and friends.
It is also a public holiday in many countries.
While Santa Claus is often associated with Christmas as a marketing tool for commercialization, the day has its roots in the Christian faith and the celebration of the birth of Jesus.
Most Interesting Christmas Statistics & Facts
- 90% of Americans celebrate Christmas.
- 95% of Christians in the United States celebrate Christmas.
- Americans are estimated to spend between $942 to $960 billion during the Christmas holiday season.
- On average, consumers in the United States are anticipated to spend around $870 on Christmas gifts.
- Americans purchase 1.3 billion units of Christmas greeting card each year.
- 73% of Americans stated that they send holiday cards, and out of them, 60% do it annually.
- Approximately 3.6 million people in Japan sit down to enjoy KFC fried chicken every Christmas, which began from a marketing campaign that used the slogan ‘Kentucky for Christmas.’ In 1974.
- Approximately 25-30 million Real Christmas Trees are sold annually in the U.S.
- 80% of artificial trees globally are made in China.
- American household Christmas lights use 6.63 billion kilowatt hours of electricity consumption every year.
- Christmas lights add £79 million to the UK’s energy bills.
- 81% of Americans prefer receiving Christmas gifts they will actually use throughout the year.
- 77% of Americans more focused on health during the holidays and use health and wellness for Christmas gifting inspiration.
- The top recurring Christmas gift is candy or chocolate at 47%, followed by a gift card or money at 46%, and something homemade at 44%.
- “Silent Night” was the most recorded Christmas song ever.
- The first recorded celebration of Christmas is 25th December AD 336.
- The first known Christmas card was sent in 1611.
- The first commercial Christmas card was sent in 1843.
Christmas Statistics & Facts
90% of Americans celebrate Christmas.
Source: Pew Research, 2017
95% of Christians in the United States celebrate Christmas.
Source: Pew Research, 2017
The religious aspect of Christmas is acknowledged by 55% of American adults, with 46% considering it primarily a religious holiday rather than a cultural one, while 9% observe it as both a religious and cultural event.
Source: Pew Research, 2017
Americans are estimated to spend between $942 to $960 billion during the Christmas holiday season.
Source: NRF, 2022
On average, consumers in the United States are anticipated to spend around $870 on Christmas gifts.
Source: Deloitte, 2022
Americans purchase 1.3 billion units of Christmas greeting card each year.
Source: Greeting Card Association
73% of Americans stated that they send holiday cards, and out of them, 60% do it annually.
Source: Yahoo! finance, 2022
Approximately 3.6 million people in Japan sit down to enjoy KFC fried chicken every Christmas, which began from a marketing campaign that used the slogan ‘Kentucky for Christmas.’ In 1974.
Source: MailOnline
Christmas Tree Statistics
Approximately 25-30 million Real Christmas Trees are sold annually in the U.S.
Source: National Christmas Tree Association
The world’s tallest cut Christmas tree was a 67.36 m (221 ft) Douglas fir (Pseudotsga menziesii) erected and decorated at Northgate Shopping Center, Seattle, Washington, USA, in December 1950.
Source: Guinness World Records
Christmas Tree farmers in the U.S. have planted about 350 million Real Christmas Trees.
Source: National Christmas Tree Association
North American Real Christmas Trees are grown across all 50 states and Canada.
Source: National Christmas Tree Association
80% of artificial trees globally are made in China.
Source: National Christmas Tree Association
There are over 4,000 local Christmas Tree recycling programs throughout the U.S.
Source: National Christmas Tree Association
1 to 3 seedlings are planted for each Real Christmas Tree harvested in the spring.
Source: National Christmas Tree Association
There are roughly 350,000 acres of land used to grow Christmas Trees in the U.S., which helps preserve green space.
Source: National Christmas Tree Association
The Christmas Tree industry in the U.S. employs over 100,000 people, and close to 15,000 farms grow Christmas Trees.
Source: National Christmas Tree Association
Christmas Tree Facts
It can take anywhere from 4 to 15 years to grow a Real Christmas Tree to its typical height of 6-7 feet, with an average growing time of 7 years.
Source: National Christmas Tree Association
Real Trees are a sustainable, recyclable resource, while artificial trees contain non-biodegradable plastics and potentially harmful metals like lead.
Source: National Christmas Tree Association
The top Christmas Tree producing states in the U.S. are Oregon, North Carolina, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Washington.
Source: National Christmas Tree Association
Christmas Tree History
The first recorded Christmas tree was placed in the Cathedral of Strasbourg in 1539.
Source: Wikipedia
The first record of a Christmas tree being displayed in an American home was in the 1830s by German settlers of Pennsylvania.
Source: History
The first known Christmas tree being displayed at Queen’s Lodge in Windsor, England was in December 1800 by “good Queen Charlotte,” who was the German wife of George III.
Source: English Heritage
The first electrically illuminated Christmas tree was created by Edward H. Johnson in 1882.
Source: Library of Congress
The first national Christmas tree was lit by President Calvin Coolidge to grace the White House grounds on 24th December 1923.
Source: History
The first Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center was put up in 1931.
Source: Wikipedia
The first official Christmas tree lighting ceremony in Rockefeller Center was held in 1933, and a Rockefeller Center publicist decided to make the tree lighting an annual tradition.
Source: Wikipedia
Christmas Lights Statistics & Facts
American household Christmas lights use 6.63 billion kilowatt hours of electricity consumption every year.
Source: U.S. Department of Energy, 2008
Christmas lights add £79 million to the UK’s energy bills.
Source: Uswitch, 2021
Many families around the world are expected to spend up to 156% of their monthly income on Christmas.
Source: WorldRemit, 2022
Milan in Italy is the European city that use the most energy for Christmas lighting.
Source: Uswitch, 2021
Luxembourg City in Luxembourg is the European city that use the least energy for Christmas lighting.
Source: Uswitch, 2021
Christmas Gift Statistics & Facts
81% of Americans prefer receiving Christmas gifts they will actually use throughout the year.
Source: SWNS digital, 2019
Americans appreciate a practical Christmas gift by the age of 24.
Source: SWNS digital, 2019
77% of Americans more focused on health during the holidays and use health and wellness for Christmas gifting inspiration.
Source: SWNS digital, 2019
The top recurring Christmas gift is candy or chocolate at 47%, followed by a gift card or money at 46%, and something homemade at 44%.
Source: SWNS digital, 2019
The top gifting traditions was opening one present on Christmas Eve and allowing one person to distribute gifts from the Christmas tree, both backed by 45% of Americans.
Source: SWNS digital, 2019
86% of Americans said that the holiday traditions are important.
Source: SWNS digital, 2019
Christmas Song Statistics & Facts
“Silent Night” was the most recorded Christmas song ever.
Source: TIME
The most popular Christmas song “Silent Night” was written by Mohr in German in 1816 and put to music by Gruber in 1818.
Source: TIME
The History of Christmas
Christmas was first declared a federal holiday on 26th June 1870.
Source: History
The first recorded celebration of Christmas is 25th December AD 336.
Source: Christianity
The first known Christmas card was sent in 1611.
Source: Wikipedia
The first known Christmas card was sent by Michael Maier to James I of England and his son Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales.
Source: Wikipedia
The first commercial Christmas card was sent in 1843.
Source: Britannica
The first commercial Christmas card was designed in England by John Callcott Horsley.
Source: Britannica
Sir Henry Cole is the first person who sent out a commercial Christmas card.
Source: Britannica
Alabama was the first US state to call Christmas a legal holiday.
Source: Southern Living
Questions and Myths About Christmas
Is December 25 Really the Day Jesus Was Born?
The answer is No.
The Bible does not specify December 25 as the day of Jesus’s birth, and there is no mention of the date or time of year when Mary gave birth to him in Bethlehem. In fact, the earliest Christians did not observe his birth as a celebration.
How December 25 Became Christmas? Who Set the Date?
In 336, during the reign of the Emperor Constantine, the church in Rome officially began celebrating Christmas on December 25.
There is speculation that the selection of this date, which coincided with established pagan celebrations, was a political move to weaken those traditions, as Constantine had made Christianity the predominant religion of the empire.
Source: Britannica
Interesting Christmas by Numbers
Here are the interesting Christmas numbers:
Number 1 of Christmas:
- 1 baby (Jesus) was born in the world.
- 1 angel appeared to the three shepherds and told them the good news of Jesus coming to the world.
- 1 bright star appeared in the eastern sky when Jesus was born.
Number 2 of Christmas:
- The 2 parents of Jesus – Joseph and Mary.
Number 3 of Christmas:
- The three shepherds who were the first to be notified of Jesus’ birth.
- The three kings or wise man who traveled to visit Jesus after His birth.
- The numbers of gifts three king or wise men bring to Jesus – Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh
Number 4 of Christmas:
- The numbers of letters in the word Mary (Jesus’s mother).
- The numbers of Sunday from Advent to Christmas.
Number 4 of Christmas:
- The numbers of letters in the word Jesus.
Number 6 of Christmas:
- The numbers of letters in the word Joseph (Jesus’s father).
Number 7 of Christmas:
- The numbers of days between Christmas and New Year.
Number 9 of Christmas:
- The numbers of letters in the word Christmas.
Number 12 of Christmas:
- The month of Christmas (December).
- There is a famous Christmas song named “12 days of Christmas”.
Number 24 of Christmas:
- Christmas Eve
- The day before Jesus’s birth
Number 25 of Christmas:
- Jesus’s birthday
- Christmas day
Number 26 of Christmas:
- The day after Christmas
- The Boxing Day – a holiday celebrated after Christmas Day
FAQ for Christmas
When is Christmas?
Christmas is celebrated on December 25th every year.
What is the origin of Christmas?
Christmas is a Christian holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. The holiday has evolved over time to include various traditions and customs from different cultures.
What are some popular Christmas traditions?
Some popular Christmas traditions include decorating a Christmas tree, giving gifts, singing Christmas carols, and enjoying a festive meal with family and friends.
What is the significance of the Christmas tree?
The Christmas tree is a symbol of Christmas and is believed to have originated in Germany in the 16th century. The evergreen tree represents eternal life and the lights and decorations represent the hope and joy of the holiday season.
What are some popular Christmas foods?
Some popular Christmas foods include roast turkey or ham, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie.
What are some popular Christmas songs?
Some popular Christmas songs include “Jingle Bells,” “Silent Night,” “Joy to the World,” “Deck the Halls,” and “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.”
What are some popular Christmas movies?
Some popular Christmas movies include “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “A Christmas Carol,” “Home Alone,” “Elf,” and “The Polar Express.”
What is Santa Claus?
Santa Claus, also known as Saint Nicholas, is a legendary figure who is said to bring gifts to children on Christmas Eve. He is typically depicted as a jolly, rotund man with a white beard, wearing a red suit and hat.
What are some popular Christmas gifts?
Popular Christmas gifts include toys, clothing, electronics, books, and gift cards.
Is Christmas celebrated around the world?
Yes, Christmas is celebrated around the world, although the customs and traditions may vary from country to country.
Conclusion
Christmas is a widely celebrated holiday with deep roots in Christian tradition. Its history and customs have evolved over time to include a variety of cultural influences.
Some popular traditions associated with Christmas include decorating a Christmas tree, giving gifts, enjoying festive meals, and singing carols. Christmas is also a time for sharing, caring, and spending time with loved ones.
Despite its religious origins, the holiday has become a secular celebration that is observed by people of many different faiths and cultures around the world.
Source:
- National Christmas Tree Association
- U.S. Department of Energy
- Greeting Card Association
- Guiness World Record
- Wikipedia [1], [2], [3]
- Library of Congress
- History [1], [2], [3]
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