A new Sacred Heart University Poll shows Christmas beats out its next closest holiday rival by more than a three-to-one margin.

In a national survey of Americans, 48.5% said that Christmas was their favorite holiday followed by Thanksgiving (15.9%), July 4^th/Independence Day (7.1%), Easter (6.5%), and Halloween (5.8%).

Others trailed even further behind Christmas – Memorial Day (1.8%), New Year’s (1.8%), Valentine’s Day (1.5%), Veterans Day (1.4%), Hanukah (0.5%), and Columbus Day (0.1%).

Strong and growing numbers of Americans, 83.9%, continue to support temporary religious displays such as mangers or menorahs on public greens.  This is up from 80.8% in 2003.  Just 10.5% oppose such public displays in 2007.

According to Sacred Heart University Polling Institute Director, Jerry Lindsley, “Some thought that over time Americans would give up the fight to continue religious presentations on public property.  It looks like the opposite is happening.  Not only is Christmas America’s favorite holiday, but Americans believe the public green is, indeed, the place to celebrate.”

And, with spirituality up, it also appears the spirit of holiday spending may be up as well.  On average, Americans surveyed estimated they would spend $1085.03 on holiday gift buying.  This is up from $970.28 measured in a 2003 Sacred Heart University Poll.

How the Poll Was Conducted

The Sacred Heart University Polling Institute completed 800 interviews with residents nationwide between November 26 – December 5, 2007. The sample was generated proportional to population contribution in all 50 states. Statistically, a sample of 800 completed telephone interviews represents a margin for error of +/-3.5% at a 95% confidence level.

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