Holidays

Americans Rate MLK Very Highly, Less Enthusiastic About His Holiday

Americans still hold an overwhelmingly favorable view of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., but a plurality also continues to believe today’s federal holiday honoring the civil rights hero’s birthday is not good for the racial situation in this country.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 85% of American Adults share at least a somewhat favorable opinion of King, including 51% who have a Very Favorable view of him. Only 10% hold an unfavorable regard for the civil rights leader who was assassinated in 1968, with three percent (3%) who view him Very Unfavorably. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on January 12-13, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

12% View New Year’s Day As Most Important Holiday

One of the most highly anticipated holidays of the year is also one of the least important in the eyes of many Americans. 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 12% of American Adults consider New Year’s Day to be one of the nation’s most important holidays.  Thirty-two percent (32%) view it as the least important, while 52% see it as somewhere in between.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on December 26-27, 2011 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

30% to Make New Year’s Resolutions

On New Year’s Eve, most Americans will be awake to bid farewell to 2011 and welcome in the new year of 2012.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 30% will start the new year off by honoring the tradition of making resolutions to improve their lives. Sixty-one percent (61%) won’t bother with resolutions, and eight percent (8%) haven't made up their minds yet. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on December 28-29, 2011 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. Seemethodology.

27% Give 2011 Positive Ratings, 39% Optimistic About Next Year

As 2011 comes to an end, Americans expected it to be better than it turned out, but they are slightly more optimistic about the future than they were last year at this time. 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 39% of American Adults expect 2012 to be a good, excellent or the best year ever, while 23% feel it will be poor.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on December 28-29, 2011 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Americans Plan To Be Busy New Year's Eve

Look out! Saturday night is New Year's Eve, and 44% of American Adults plan to kiss someone at midnight. Sixty-one percent (61%) plan to say a prayer on New Year's Eve, but it's not clear if that's before or after the kiss. 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that not quite as many Americans (40%) intend to have a drink that night to celebrate, but 22% will be asleep by the time midnight rolls around. Sixty-two percent (62%) plan to be awake at that hour, and another 15% haven't made up their minds yet. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on December 26-27, 2011 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Christmas Ranks First Among Holidays

For most adults, Christmas continues to be America's most important holiday.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 67% of American Adults consider Christmas one of the nation’s most important holidays, showing little change from last year and consistent with surveys stretching back to December 2006. Only six percent (6%) see Christmas as one of the least important holidays, while 24% rate it somewhere in between.

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on December 21-22, 2011 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

74% Believe Jesus Was Son of God

Most adults who will be celebrating Christmas tomorrow will do so as a religious holiday, and an overwhelming majority believes in the divinity of Jesus Christ.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American Adults shows that 90% will be celebrating Christmas in their family. Of those adults, 74% will be celebrating Christmas as a religious holiday while 22% will be observing it as a secular one. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on December 17-18, 2011 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

38% Haven’t Finished Their Holiday Shopping; 18% Still Haven’t Started

Panic time? Thirty-eight percent (38%) of American Adults haven’t finished their holiday shopping with Christmas coming on Sunday, and 18% haven’t even started yet, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.

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The survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on December 21-22, 2011 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

26% Have Yet To Start Their Holiday Shopping

With less than one week left until Christmas, one-in-four Americans hasn’t started holiday gift shopping yet. But quite a few more adults have finished since last week.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American Adults shows that 39% have now finished their holiday gift shopping. That's 18% more who've wrapped up their shopping since a week ago when just 21% were done.  Most (57%) still haven't finished shopping though.

51% Say Economic Conditions Make Holiday Travel Less Likely

The number of adults who expect to travel away from home during the holiday season has slowly increased in recent years, but half still say the current economy makes them less likely to do so.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American Adults shows that 21% will be traveling away from home this holiday season.

21% Have Finished Their Holiday Shopping; 35% Haven't Begun Yet

One-in-five Americans have now finished their holiday shopping, but one-third of adults haven't even started.  

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 21% of American Adults say they now have finished their holiday gift shopping.  That means another 10% have gotten finished in the past two weeks since only 11% were done just after Black Friday.

81% Who Celebrate Christmas Celebrate as a Religious Holiday

More Americans than ever say they celebrate the upcoming holiday of Christmas as a religious one. 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 88% of American Adults say they celebrate Christmas, and 81% of this group celebrate it as a religious holiday. Just 16% of those celebrants regard it as a secular holiday.

Most Americans Don’t Mind Being Wished “Happy Holidays”

Whether Americans celebrate Christmas or not, most are not offended by the type of holiday greeting they receive this time of year.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American Adults shows that 88% celebrate Christmas, while eight percent (8%) do not.

79% Say Religious Holidays Should Be Celebrated in Public Schools

At a time when most Americans see political correctness as a serious problem in this country, an overwhelming majority continues to believe religious holidays should be celebrated in the public schools. 

11% Have Finished Holiday Shopping, 49% Haven’t Started

After the much-hyped Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, only a few more Americans say they are done with their holiday shopping compared to last week. Nearly half still haven’t even started.

70% Prefer 'Merry Christmas' Over 'Happy Holidays' on Store Signs

Holiday shoppers, as they have for several years, would prefer to be greeted with signs reading “Merry Christmas” rather than “Happy Holidays” this season.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American Adults shows that 70% prefer that stores use signs that say “Merry Christmas.”

62% Plan To Spend Less On Gifts This Year

Most Americans plan to spend less money on gifts than they did last year, and fewer adults will be doing their shopping on the Internet.  

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 62% of American Adults say they’ll spend less on gifts than they did a year ago, while just 11% say they’ll spend more.

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The survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on November 22, 2010 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

7% Finished With Holiday Shopping – Before Black Friday

Even before the much-hyped Black Friday shopping rush, seven percent (7%) of American Adults say they already have finished their holiday shopping, up from four percent (4%) at the beginning of the month. At the other extreme, a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 59% have not even started.

83% Have A Lot To Be Thankful For This Thanksgiving

America is going through tough economic times, but its citizens still say overwhelmingly that they have a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving Day. In fact, more Americans than ever view this holiday as one of the nation’s most important ones.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American Adults shows that 58% regard Thanksgiving as one of the nation’s most important holidays.

48% Will Spend Thanksgiving At Home

More Americans will be having their Thanksgiving dinner at home this year, but nearly half still plan on overindulging during the holiday meal.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American Adults finds that only 34% plan on going to a relative's home for their Thanksgiving meal. Instead, 48% plan to enjoy the holiday meal in their own home.

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The survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on November 20-21, 2011 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.