National Poll: Americans Report Christmas is Number One, Public Religious Displays A-OK, and Holiday Spending Likely Up

FAIRFIELD, Conn., Dec. 18 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --- 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 4th/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.

EXPERT AVAILABLE FOR COMMENT

-- Jerry Lindsley, director, Sacred Heart University Polling Institute

To speak with this expert, please contact Funda Alp at 203-396-8241 or alpf@sacredheart.edu.

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.

About Sacred Heart University

Sacred Heart University, the second-largest Catholic university in New England, offers more than 40 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs on its main campus in Fairfield, Connecticut, and satellites in Connecticut, Luxembourg and Ireland. Approximately 5,800 students attend the University's four colleges: Arts & Sciences; Education & Health Professions; University College; and the AACSB-accredited John F. (Jack) Welch College of Business. The Princeton Review includes SHU in its "Best 366 Colleges: 2008," U.S. News & World Report's "America's Best Colleges 2008" ranks SHU among the best master's universities in the North, and Intel rates it #11 among the nation's most "unwired" campuses. SHU fields 32 division I athletic teams, and has an award-winning program of community service.

For additional Sacred Heart University news, please visit http://www.sacredheart.edu/pressroom.cfm.

.