Happy Holidays Four

By 250 News

 Christmas is about the gift of giving, and the stats  this morning show Canadians are very generous indeed.

$7.9 billion — The record high amount of donations to charities claimed by Canadian taxfilers in 2005.

More than 5.8 million — The number of taxfilers claiming donations in 2005. The total donations were 13.8% higher than in 2004. The amount increased in all provinces and territories.

22 million — The approximate number of  Canadians (85% of the population aged 15 and over) who made a financial donation to a charitable or other non-profit organization in the year leading up to the Canada Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participating in 2004.

12 million — The approximate number of Canadians (45% of the population aged 15 and over) who did some volunteering through a group or organization.

On this Christmas Eve,  as many  Canadians prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ, it is important to  note there are some other Holy days celebrated in many homes across the country, some earlier this month, somd  to come in the days and weeks ahead:

• Hanukkah, began December 16 celebrated by people of the Jewish faith.
• Kwanzaa (December 26) is marked by many people of African origin.
• Buddhists celebrate Bodhi Day in early December.
• Guru Gobind Singh's Birthday will be celebrated by those of the Sikh faith in early January.
• Eid-ul-Adha, the most important feast of Islam, is also in January.
• Diwali (celebrated by those of the Hindu faith) and Ramadan (celebrated by followers of the Muslim faith) occurred in the autumn of 2006.

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