The nation gets emotional this time of year for myriad reasons. They are fierce about their own traditions. But one thing is for sure: though there are some cultural dynamics at work, the vast majority of Americans celebrate Christmas. As in 90 percent.
“Nine-in-ten Americans say they celebrate Christmas, and three-quarters say they believe in the virgin birth of Jesus,” says a Pew Research poll. That number is 96 percent among Christians and 80 percent among non-Christians.
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The spiritual and secular aspects somehow co-exist here: Half see Christmas as a “religious holiday”, about a third view it as more of a “cultural holiday,” the pollster says.
And on to the numbers:
86 percent of Americans buy gifts and gather with family and friends on Christmas or Christmas Eve; 90 percent of white evangelicals, 88 percent of Protestants, 87 percent of black Protestants and 85 percent of Catholics agree.
73 percent believe “that Jesus was born of a virgin”; 97 percent of white evangelicals, 87 percent of Protestants, 94 percent of black Protestants and 26 percent of Catholics agree.
54 percent will attend religious services this year; 71 percent of white evangelicals, 62 percent of Protestants, 65 percent of black Protestants and 86 percent of Catholics agree.
51 percent say Christmas is a religious holiday; 82 percent of white evangelicals, 67 percent of Protestants, 60 percent of black Protestants and 59 percent of Catholics agree.
32 percent overall say Christmas is a cultural holiday; 9 percent of white evangelicals, 20 percent of Protestants, 21 percent of black Protestants and 26 percent of Catholics agree.
Source: A Pew Research Center poll of 2,001 U.S. adults conducted Dec. 3-8 and released Thursday.
