“Merry Christmas” remains the greeting of choice in Canada during the holiday season, according to a new poll.
The preferred festive greeting for 62 percent of Canadians is “Merry Christmas,” while only 24 percent prefer “Happy Holidays.” Fourteen percent of respondents to the newly released survey from the B.C.-based Research Co. didn’t have a preference.
The phrase “Happy Holidays” has seen a 10-point increase in usage since 2018, especially among younger Canadians, Research Co. president Mario Canseco told The Epoch Times.
A notable 73 percent of Atlantic Canadians, 67 percent of Albertans and 64 percent of Ontrians favour the greeting “Merry Christmas.” That percentage is only slightly lower in Saskatchewan and Manitoba at 63 percent as well as in British Columbia at 62 percent. The preference for the traditional greeting is less pronounced in Quebec where only 52 percent said they preferred “Merry Christmas.”
The poll also found the number of Canadians anticipating a stressful holiday season has risen compared to the previous year, even as more than half expect a relatively relaxed period in the upcoming weeks, the survey found.
Fifty-three percent of Canadians said they expect the current holiday season to be “more fun than stressful” while 31 percent believe it will be “more stressful than fun”—up four points since 2023.
The ‘Truth’ About Santa
Respondents were also asked about the age at which they discovered that Santa Claus is not real.More than half of Canadians—56 percent—reported finding out at age nine or younger, while 28 percent didn’t learn the truth until they reached the age of 10 or older.
Fifty percent of Canadians said they believe children should be told the truth about Santa Claus by the age of nine or younger, while 36 percent said this revelation should not occur before the age of 10.
Forty-eight percent of Atlantic Canadians, 42 percent of Ontarians, and 40 percent of Albertans said it is important to keep the magic alive for children under the age of 10.
This sentiment is less prevalent in other regions, with British Columbia reporting 35 percent, Saskatchewan and Manitoba at 34 percent, and Quebec at 24 percent.
Seventy-one percent of Canadians said they were satisfied with the way their parents and/or caregivers approached discussions about Santa Claus, while 15 percent reported dissatisfaction.
Those with the highest level of dissatisfaction were younger Canadians. Twenty percent of those in the 18-to-34 age bracket said they weren’t happy with the way they learned the truth.
The poll also found one thing most Canadians can agree on: turkey. A solid 85 percent of those polled said they liked turkey and considered it a Christmas dinner staple. Sixty-eight percent expressed fondness for cranberry sauce, and 60 percent said they enjoyed Brussels sprouts.
The rating was slightly lower for egg nog at 59 percent and fruit cake at 58 percent. Forty-nine percent of respondents said they like mince pies, while 47 percent enjoy plum pudding, and 40 percent like mulled wine.
