Prince George, B.C. –So what makes Christmas special to you?

If you are like the majority  who  responded to a new Angus Reid survey  it will be  spending time with friends and family.  94% of those surveyed, regardless of religious or cultural background, indicated  it was time  with family and friends that makes Christmas somewhat or very special. 

Other findings in this  survey  show that  80% of respondents  prefer to call this time of year “Christmas” rather than the “Holiday Season”.

So what makes Christmas so special?

Well  you may not  guess by the  rush at the stores, but only  26% said it was the giving and receiving of gifts.

A significant number of Canadians – two-in-five (37%) say they will attend a Christmas service. That is twice as many as those who say they normally attend monthly or more (18%). According to Angus Reid’s calculations, that could mean there may be as many as 10 million people in church on the 25^th.   The survey also found that for many Canadians, Christmas time provides a “a breather from everyday life.”