Lifestyle

60% Celebrate Christmas As Religious Holiday

Merry Christmas. Today is one of America’s most celebrated holidays although the celebration takes many forms and has different meanings for different people. Seventy-six percent (76%) of those who celebrate opened Christmas presents this morning. Nineteen percent (19%) opened them last night.

Sixty percent (60%) of Americans celebrate Christmas primarily as a religious holiday. To Christians, it is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Fifty-seven percent (57%) will attend a religious service during the holiday season. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on December 21, 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.

42% Waited Till Final Weekend to Finish Holiday Shopping

If the stores seemed a little crowded the past few days, it’s partly because an amazing 42% of Americans had not finished their holiday shopping heading into the final weekend before Christmas.

In fact, a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 20% waited until the final weekend to begin their shopping. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on December 21, 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.

46% Consider the Holiday Season Joyous, 42% Stressful

As Christmas nears, adults remain closely divided as to whether they find the holidays joyous or stressful, but most still aren't having trouble getting in the holiday spirit.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 46% of American Adults consider the holiday season joyous. Nearly as many (42%) find the season stressful instead. Twelve percent (12%) are not sure how they feel about the season. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on December 11-12, 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.

63% Have Made Donation to Help People in Need

Three-out-of-four Americans have given to church, charitable or other non-profit groups over the past six months.

Among those who regularly attend church or other religious services, nine-out-of-ten have made charitable contributions over the past six months. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that, among those who occasionally attend church, 71% have made such a donation. Among those who rarely or never attend religious services, 60% have made charitable contributions. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on December 13-14, 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.

Most Will Send Cards, Go to a Party This Christmas Season

Parties are a highlight of this Christmas season for many people, but traditional caroling isn’t nearly as popular.

Eighty-eight percent (88%) of American Adults celebrate Christmas in their family, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

Sixty percent (60%) plan to attend a Christmas party this year.

Fifty-four percent (54%) will send out Christmas cards.

But just nine percent (9%) say they will go Christmas caroling.

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(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook. 

The survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on December 11-12, 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.

46% Have a Positive Outlook About 2013

Looking back, most Americans don't give 2012 even a good rating, but they have higher hopes for 2013.    

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 36% of American Adults rate the year 2012 as good or better, including eight percent (8%) who think it was excellent and three percent (3%) who think it was the Best Year Ever. Thirty-five percent (35%) describe 2012 as fair, while 28% think it's been poor.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on December 7-8, 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.

29% Have Finished Their Holiday Shopping

The countdown continues: 12 shopping days left until Christmas, and 32% of American Adults still have not begun their holiday gift shopping yet.

Sixty-four percent (64%) have started their shopping by now, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. That’s up from 59% a week ago and 32% in mid-November. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on December 11-12, 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.

34% Favor Federal Control of Online Gambling

The Senate is quietly discussing legislation to put the federal government in charge of online gambling, freezing out state lotteries that want to move in that direction, but Americans aren’t too enthusiastic about the idea.

Just 34% of American Adults favor federal government regulation of online gambling, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Forty percent (40%) are opposed to federal control in this area, but a sizable 26% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on December 7-8, 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.

76% Think Christmas Should Be About Jesus, Not Santa

Should Christmas be more about Jesus Christ or Santa Claus? It may seem hard to tell looking at the popular culture, but Americans overwhelmingly think the emphasis should be on Jesus.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 76% of American Adults believe Christmas should be more about Jesus. Only 14% think it should be more about Santa, but another 10% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on November 29-30, 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.

15% Plan to Give More to Charity This Holiday Season

Americans will be giving more to charity this holiday season compared to last year.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 15% of American Adults plan to give more to charity, while 33% intend to give less. Forty-seven percent (47%) say their rate of charitable giving will be about the same. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on December 3-4, 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.

15% Have Finished Their Holiday Shopping

Now that December’s here, Americans are getting more in the mood for shopping.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 59% of American Adults now have started their holiday shopping, up from 47% a week ago and 32% in mid-November. Thirty-seven percent (37%) still haven’t started shopping yet. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on December 3-4, 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.

82% Favor Celebrating At Least Some Religious Holidays in School

Despite continuing legal challenges, more adults than ever favor the celebration of all religions in the public schools. Most also still believe religious displays should be permitted on public land.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 82% of American adults think at least some religious holidays should be celebrated in public school. That includes 50% who believe all religious holidays should be celebrated. Just 15% think public schools should not recognize any religious holidays.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

Win an IPad: Take the Rasmussen Challenge. This week’s entries will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, December 4.

The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on November 29-30, 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.

53% Worry About Toy Safety This Holiday Season

Concern about the safety of toys is at an all-time high this holiday season, but most Americans admit they have never purchased a defective toy.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 53% of American Adults are at least somewhat concerned about the safety of most toys that are being sold this holiday season, including 23% who are Very Concerned. Forty-one percent (41%) don't share that concern, with 10% who are Not At All Concerned. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on November 29-30, 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.

Football Is The Clear Favorite For Sports Fans

Baseball may be called America’s pastime, but the United States is clearly a football nation.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of sports fans finds that 53% say football is their favorite sport to follow. Baseball comes in a distant second with 16% support, while basketball is the favorite of 11%. Six percent (6%) of Americans prefer hockey, with no other sport including soccer, auto racing, golf and tennis reaching five percent (5%). (To see survey question wording, click here.)

Football is the top sport across the demographic board, with even more women (57%) than men (50%) saying it’s their favorite to follow.

Regardless of their preference, Americans tend to feel the highs more than the lows when it comes to sports. Fifty-eight percent (58%) of sports fans say they feel Very Happy when their favorite team wins a big game, while just six percent (6%) say they feel Very Depressed when their team loses a big one. In fact, 64% claim they don’t feel very depressed at all when their team loses a crucial matchup.

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This survey of 1,011 Sports Fans was conducted on November 27, 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.

15% Talk About Sports Every Day

Americans as a whole are pretty casual about discussing and viewing sports, but most believe sports are good for young people.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American Adults shows that 15% talk about sports with family and friends every day or nearly every day, while another 14% say they do so about once a week. Twenty-six percent (26%) say they talk sports occasionally. A sizable number of Americans (44%) say they rarely or never discuss sports with their family and friends. (To see question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 2,000 Adults was conducted on November 27, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 2 percentage point with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

51% Say They Have A Sweet Tooth

With the Hostess Twinkie making headlines, 51% of Americans admit to having a strong taste for sweets, and 19% say they eat sugary snacks every day. Twice as many (37%) say they're overweight, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.

Forty percent (40%) say they don't have a sweet tooth, but another nine percent (9%) aren't sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls).  Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook. 

The survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on November 27-28, 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.

49ers Are Still Fan Favorites to Win Super Bowl

At the start of the National Football League season, the San Francisco 49ers were the fan favorites to win Super Bowl XLVII.  As the playoffs approach, fans still give the ‘Niners the edge to win it all, but it's close. 

Seventeen percent (17%) of Pro Football Fans believe the 49ers will win the Super Bowl, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.  That’s up slightly from 15% who felt that way in October. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

This survey of 600 Professional Football Fans was conducted on November 27, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

57% Have A Favorable Opinion of Hostess Twinkies

Most Americans like Hostess Twinkies and are following the news about the company that makes them. They tend to blame a recalcitrant labor union for putting that company out of business.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 69% of American Adults, in fact, are following recent news reports about the Hostess baking company, including 31% who are following Very Closely. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls).  Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook. 

The survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on November 27-28, 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.

64% Will Decorate Their Home for the Holidays

Most Americans plan to decorate their homes again this holiday season, but the majority still haven’t started yet.

Sixty-four percent (64%) of American Adults say they will decorate this year, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. That finding that has shown little change over the past few years.  Thirty percent (30%) will not decorate this holiday season.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on November 25-26, 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.

68% Prefer 'Merry Christmas' Over 'Happy Holidays'

Most Americans still prefer signs in stores that say “Merry Christmas” rather than ones with “Happy Holidays.”

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 68% of American Adults prefer Merry Christmas. Just 23% like Happy Holidays instead. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls).  Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook. 

The survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on November 11-12, 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.