The holiday season, with its many traditions, family gatherings and general good feelings, will soon be upon us. To commemorate this time of year, the U.S. Census Bureau presents the following holiday-related facts and figures from its data collection. From Candy Canes to Christmas trees, read the interesting facts and figures about the holiday season!
Season’s Greetings
1.9 billion
Number of Christmas cards sent to friends and loved ones every year, making Christmas the largest card-sending occasion in the United States. The second largest is Valentine’s Day, with approximately 192 million cards being given.
- The History of Christmas Cards
- Project Britain: History of Christmas Cards
- A 5-step fascinating history of Christmas cards
- The History of Christmas Cards
Christmas Trees
20.8 million
Number of Christmas trees cut around the country in 2002. These trees were located on 21,904 farms spread out across 447,000 acres.
6.5 million
Number of Christmas trees cut in Oregon in 2002, making the Beaver State the nation’s leader. (There were 2.6 million trees cut in Clackamas County, Ore., alone.) Also topping the 1-million mark among states were Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Washington and Wisconsin.
Pennsylvania led the nation in the number of Christmas tree farms, with 2,164; Oregon was tops in acres devoted to Christmas tree production, with 67,800.
$506 million
The amount of money the nation’s Christmas tree farmers received from tree sales in 2004. Oregon was the top state in tree sales ($143 million), followed by North Carolina, Washington and Michigan.
$561 million
The value of U.S. imports of Christmas tree ornaments from China between January and August 2005. China was the leading country of origin for such items. Similarly, China was the leading foreign source of artificial Christmas trees shipped to the United States ($69 million worth) during the same period.
$80.2 million
Value of shipments by U.S. manufacturers of article trees, including Christmas trees, in 2002.
- Christmas Tree Facts
- National Christmas Tree Association – Quick Tree Facts
- The History of Christmas Trees
Holiday Names
1,162
Population of Christmas, Fla., an unincorporated town.
Other places whose names are associated with the holiday season include North Pole, Alaska (population 1,659 in 2004); Santa Claus, Ind. (2,201); Santa Claus, Ga. (238); Noel, Mo. (1,476); and – if you know about reindeer – the village of Rudolph, Wis. (418). On top of that there is Snowflake, Ariz. (4,836); Dasher, Ga. (822); and a dozen places named Holly, including Holly Springs, Miss., and Mount Holly, N.C.
$291,085
The value of U.S. imports between January and August 2005 from Christmas Island, an Australian territory in the Pacific Ocean, south of Hawaii. Perhaps some of these were “Christmas gifts from Christmas Island.”
Candy Canes
350 years
The number of years candy canes have been around! The origin of the ‘candy stick’ dates back to over 350 years ago!
- Christmas Candy Canes
- The History of Candy Cane
- Who Invented Candy Canes?
- Bulk Candy Store
- The Story of How the Candy Cane First Came to the U.S.
Where are Christmas Gifts Made?
124
Number of establishments around the country that primarily manufactured dolls and stuffed toys in 2003; they employed 2,123 people. California led the nation with 19 such locations, and Vermont employed the most, 670.
733
The number of locations that primarily produced games, toys and children’s vehicles in 2003; they employed 16,996 workers. California led the nation with 118 establishments and in the number of people they employed, 2,581.
$3.9 billion
Total value of shipments for dolls, toys and games by manufacturers in 2003.
$656 million
The value of U.S. imports of stuffed toys (excluding dolls) from China between January and August 2005. China was the leading country of origin for stuffed toys coming into this country, as well as for a number of other popular holiday gifts that were imported. These include electric trains ($71 million); puzzles ($48 million); roller skates ($44 million); sports footwear ($204 million); golf equipment ($43 million); and basketballs ($26 million). Canada was the leading supplier of ice skates ($7 million).
Winter Wonderland
6.8 million
The number of Americans who say they downhill-ski more than once a year. Other popular winter sports are cross-country skiing (1.9 million), ice hockey (1.8 million) and snowboarding (6.3 million).
It’s in the Mail …
20 billion
Number of letters, packages and cards delivered by the U.S. Postal Service between Thanksgiving and Christmas. The busiest mailing day this year is expected to be today (Dec. 19), with more than twice as many cards and letters being cancelled as on an average day.
- Meaning of a Christmas Card
- 10 Festive Facts About Holiday Greeting Cards
- Five interesting facts about Christmas cards
About 1 million
Number of packages delivered by the U.S. Postal Service every day through Christmas Eve. The busiest delivery day: Dec. 21.
