With Christmas almost here, many Americans are eager to break out all those classic and niche festive traditions that make the holiday season truly memorable.
Adhering to traditions is non-negotiable for many of us, whether it’s going for a big family walk first thing in the morning or snuggling in front of the fire with a warm mug of cocoa and watching a Christmas movie.
Even sports don’t take a break on Christmas Day — specifically football. In fact, football fans can look forward to some exciting matchups this year, as well as testing the sports betting odds for these games over at Action Network:
- Kansas City Chiefs vs. Pittsburgh Steelers at 1 p.m. ET on Netflix
- Baltimore Ravens vs. Houston Texans at 4:30 p.m. ET on Netflix
- Seattle Seahawks vs. Chicago Bears at 8:15 p.m. ET on Prime Video – Boxing Day.
But the Christmas traditions don’t stop at the gridiron. For many families, the holiday season is about picking out the perfect Christmas tree, writing letters to Santa, and maybe nursing a post-holiday hangover from an alcoholic eggnog or two.
With all this in mind, we surveyed Americans nationwide to uncover their Christmas traditions and habits.
See what we found out below!
How Much Are People Willing to Spend on a Christmas Tree?
Needless to say, the cost of a Christmas tree can vary greatly depending on where you live in America. It probably comes as no surprise that the closer you are to wild pine trees, the cheaper they will be.
Perhaps surprisingly, North Dakota has the highest average Christmas tree price, at $70.42, followed by Hawaii, at $61.75 (where several Christmas tree farms are actually located).
Delaware then claimed third place for the most expensive state for Christmas trees at $59.13. Followed by Connecticut and then New Jersey in fourth and fifth, respectively, where Christmas trees cost an average of $57.38 and $57.01.
It does appear that these states spend a little more on their trees than others. However, Utah leads the lower end of the spectrum with just $26.27, and Vermont follows with $23.58. This indicates that some states are more economical when it comes to selecting the perfect Christmas tree — or it may be that more trees are grown locally.
Naturally, in places with big cities like New York, the average tree cost is a bit higher ($41.65). This reflects the typical expenses of living, but New York is not quite as high as in North Dakota. This suggests that urban areas may be willing to pay a little more for a tree, but they don't reach the extremes seen in some rural states.
Which Are the Most Hungover States on Christmas Day?
If you like a mulled wine or two, then it’s safe to say that many Christmas celebrations will often come with a little too much holiday cheer, and many Americans wake up with a hangover on Christmas Day.
New Mexico leads the way in this regard, with 52.9% of people surveyed reporting they usually wake up with a hangover come Christmas morning. This was then followed by South Dakota and Wisconsin in joint second at 42.9% each, indicating that these states go all out with their Christmas festivities as well. Finally, in third, we had Kansas, where 40% of those we reached out to admitted they often woke the next day with a hangover.
Meanwhile, at the other end of the spectrum, Alabama and Montana reported the lowest hangover rates at just 11.1% and 8.3%, respectively, as well as Mississippi, where just 12% of respondents said they suffer from a hangover on Christmas Day itself.
This stark contrast shows that while some states enjoy a boisterous holiday celebration, others keep it a bit quieter. Meanwhile, in states like California and New York, the hangover rate is closer to the average, with both areas showing a more moderate celebration style compared to more rural states like New Mexico.
When Do Americans Stop Writing to Santa?
Writing letters to Santa is one of the most beloved family Christmas traditions around the world, but it’s certainly not something most of us do as we get older. So, when do kids stop making lists and sending them to the North Pole?
On average, kids in America stop writing to Santa around 8 years old. However, as you’d expect, that age varies depending on your state. For example, children in Rhode Island are big believers, not stopping their letters until 9 years and 2 months old. This is followed closely by both New York (8 years, 4 months) and Georgia (8 years, 4 months).
These states clearly hold on to the magic of Santa for longer. On the flip side, Wyoming shows the earliest drop-off, with kids stopping their letters at a mind-blowing 4 years and 9 months old. Similarly, South Dakota has an average age of just 5 years old!
Getting Into the Festive State of Mind
Overall, things naturally vary across the board when it comes to typical Christmas traditions. New Mexico certainly parties the hardest in the run-up to Christmas; meanwhile, Rhode Island has the oldest kids who are still writing to Santa and believing in the magic of Christmas.
Whatever your traditions, we can all agree that the festive season brings us all together. Whether we're gathering around the tree, enjoying a holiday meal, or huddling around the TV to watch the NFL games, Christmas is a time for connection and celebration that we can all get involved in!
Our Methodology
Using 3Gem, Action Network surveyed 2,000 Americans between Nov. 11-12 of 2024. Nationally representative, aged 21+.
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