We're Making A List: Facts About The Holiday Season

FORT LAUDERDALE (Wednesday, December 07, 2005) - A slew of surveys always arrives this time of year. Think of them as a gift! Drop their revelations into holiday party chitchat or see how you compare to everyone else when it comes to holiday rituals.

Like holiday parties, for instance.Who knew that 52% of singles have skipped a holiday bash because they didn't want to go solo? Maybe it's because 44% expect to be asked about their love life at least five times during the holiday season. So why give inquisitors another shot?

Then again, maybe the no-shows don't know what they're missing. That same survey says 24% of men and 20% of women have used mistletoe as an excuse to smooch.

Those who do skip the bash might use the time to shop -- solo. Seems 86% of single guys prefer to hit the stores alone.

But how much coin they're dropping might depend on how many dollars they're pouring into a gas tank. If your stocking seems emptier this year, blame it on gas prices. In one survey, 70% of those polled who are cutting back on holiday gifts said fuel prices affected their spending.

Hard to say whether economy or sheer convenience accounts for electronic greeting cards' growing popularity. One survey did find that 80% of those polled will send at least one electronic card this year.

But don't expect plain old paper cards to go by the wayside. If all the mail the U.S. Postal Service delivers on Dec. 19 were placed end to end, it would circle the world. Six times. Why Dec. 19? That's typically the busiest mailing day of the year.

If the post office delivers a dreadful chartreuse sweater from your aunt, chances are you won't return it. Seems 46% of those surveyed never do.

Thoughtful person that you are, you shell out for gift cards, which 8 in 10 Americans are "thrilled" to get.

In contrast, 57% of Americans are horrified by re-gifting, probably because they have enough junk already.

Maybe those re-gifters are already swamped, loading up on precious presents for their pets.One survey found that 24% of those polled spend more on their four-legged pals than on human family members.

With good reason, no doubt. This, despite the fact that 1 in 3 pets has damaged a Christmas tree or a holiday decoration. No word on whether they threw up the damaged goods on the carpeting because that wasn't addressed in the survey.

But for certain, pets offer plenty of ho-ho-hos. According to 54% of those polled, their furry friends show more holiday spirit than the average Joe!

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