Holiday season fun facts

The holiday season is a time for gathering and celebrating with friends and family, gift-giving, reflection and thanks. To commemorate this time of year, the U.S. Census Bureau presents the following holiday-related facts and figures from its data collection.

It's in the mail

19 billion -- The number of cards, letters and packages the U.S. Postal Service expected to deliver between Thanksgiving and Christmas last year. The busiest delivery day was expected to be Dec. 17. On Dec. 15, the Postal Service expected to cancel the largest volume of mail of the season, with 960 million cards and letters processed.

Rush to the Stores

$28.2 billion -- Retail sales by the nation's department stores (including leased departments) in December 2008. This represented a 40 percent jump from the previous month (when retail sales, many holiday-related, registered $20.2 billion). No other month-to-month increase in department store sales last year was as large.

$24 billion -- Value of retail sales by electronic shopping and mail-order houses in December 2008 - the highest total for any month last year.

16,670 -- The number of electronic shopping and mail-order houses in business in 2007. These businesses, which employed 268,328 workers, are a popular source of holiday gifts. Their 2007 sales were $199 billion, of which 44.6 percent were attributable to e-commerce. California led the nation in the number of these establishments and their employees, with 2,493 and 32,971, respectively.

Christmas Trees and Decorations

$410 million -- Sales by U.S. Christmas tree farmers in 2007.
$109.3 million -- Sales by Christmas tree farmers in Oregon in 2007, which led the nation.
$470.3 million -- The value of U.S. imports of Christmas tree ornaments from China between January and August 2009. China was the leading country of origin for such items. Similarly, China was the leading foreign source of artificial Christmas trees shipped to the United States ($28.6 million worth) during the same period.

Where the Toys are ... Made

94 -- Number of establishments around the country that primarily manufactured dolls and stuffed toys in 2007; they employed 1,641 people. California led the nation with 17 locations.

683 -- The number of locations that primarily produced games, toys and childrens vehicles in 2007; they employed 10,708 workers. California led the nation with 112 establishments.

$3.2 billion -- Total value of shipments for dolls, toys and games by manufacturers in 2007.

$4.3 billion -- The value of U.S. toy imports including stuffed toys (excluding dolls), puzzles and electric trains from China between January and August 2009. China was the leading country of origin for stuffed toys coming into this country, as well as for a number of other popular holiday gifts. These include roller skates ($30 million), sports footwear ($120 million), golf balls ($31 million) and basketballs ($29 million). China leads Canada as the leading supplier of ice skates ($12 million versus $5 million), with Thailand ranking third ($4 million).

Holiday Names

Place names associated with the holiday season include:

North Pole, Alaska (population 2,212 in 2008)
Santa Claus, Ind. (2,314)
Santa Claus, Ga. (250)
Noel, Mo. (1,608)
Rudolph, Wis. (412)
Dasher, Ga. (849)
Snowflake, Ariz. (5,673)
A dozen places named Holly, including Holly Springs, Miss., and Mount Holly, N.C.

Hanukkah and Kwanzaa

50.4% -- Proportion of the nation's spuds produced in Idaho and Washington in 2008. Potato latkes are always a crowd pleaser during Hanukkah.

$1.3 billion -- The value of product shipments of candles in 2002 by the nations manufacturers. Many of these candles are lit during Hanukkah and Kwanzaa celebrations.

New Years Eve and Day

79,389 -- The estimated July 1, 2008, population of Champaign, Ill., a place whose name alone may get you into a celebratory mood.
$475 million -- U.S. manufacturers shipments of effervescent wines (including sparkling wines, such as champagne) in 2002.