Christmas Most Important Holiday, Most Americans Say

By Lillian Kwon, Christian Post Reporter Tuesday, December 19, 2006

Christmas is one of the nation's most important holidays, the majority of Americans say, even more than those who listed the Fourth of July.

A Rasmussen Reports survey of 1,000 adults, conducted Dec. 15-16, found that nearly nine out of ten Americans celebrate Christmas. Only 7 percent consider the holiday one of the least important while 71 percent consider it one of the most important.

On a more religious note, 65 percent of Americans would like to see more emphasis on the birth of Christ during the season and 59 percent plan to attend a Christian Church service on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.

Another Rasmussen Reports survey found the 69 percent of Americans prefer stores to use the phrase "Merry Christmas" in their seasonal advertising rather than the generic "Happy Holidays." An earlier Zogby International poll found the 95 percent of Americans said they were not offended by a "Merry Christmas" greeting in stores.

Major retailer Wal-Mart welcomed back the Christmas phrase to their stores this season. And the war on Christmas is dying out.

After battling an "outrageous" attack on Christmas last year, Christians are happy to see a more peaceful Christmas season this year.

"The war on Christmas seems to be over and Christmas won," said veteran film critic and talk show host Michael Medved on a Focus on the Family radio broadcast earlier this month.

Medved attributed the end of the Christmas war to the small number of protestors.

"The number of people who were anti-Christmas - you could probably fit into a phone booth," he noted.

Stores, such as Gap, still afraid of offending nonbelievers have chosen to leave out "Merry Christmas" in their greetings, advertising, and store decorations. And nativity scenes are still protested in some areas.

But overall, the latest surveys and reports support the comeback of Christmas.

Even among non-Christians, the majority want to see Christmas decorations and displays, Medved pointed out.

Christmas trees are no exception. The Rasmussen Reports survey revealed that 62 percent of Americans will have a Christmas tree. Additionally, 78 percent of all Americans believe that Christian holiday symbols such as a baby lying in a manger should be allowed on public land while only 9 percent disagree.

Other findings showed that 75 percent of those who celebrate Christmas open their present on Christmas morning; 28 percent have not started shopping for gifts; and 14 percent will go Christmas caroling this year.