Christmas… by the numbers

2014

Here are some facts on assorted topics related to Christmas, the festive season and other religious holidays.

(Last updated: December 4, 2014)

Christmas trees

For information on Christmas trees, see Christmas trees… by the numbers.

Gifts of all kinds

Exchanging gifts is a big part of Christmas, not to mention Hanukkah, Eid and Kwanzaa.

Some families might see some of these items in their Christmas stockings or left under the tree!

(Data are seasonally unadjusted.)

  • $4.35 billion — The value of food and beverages purchased at large retailers in Canada in December 2013, up 11.0% from average monthly sales of $3.92 billion for this category in 2013 and up 8.7% from November 2013.
  • $528.6 million — The value of televisions and audio and video equipment purchased at large retailers in Canada in December 2013, up 129.0% from average monthly sales of $230.8 million for this category in 2013 and up 63.9% from November 2013.
  • $401.4 million — The value of toys, games and hobby supplies, including electronic games purchased at large retailers in Canada in December 2013, up 192.1% from average monthly sales of $137.4 million for this category in 2013 and up 38.1% from November 2013.
  • $377.0 million — The value of computer hardware and software purchased at large retailers in Canada in December 2013, up 92.5% from average monthly sales of $195.8 million for this category in 2013 and up 46.4% from November 2013.
  • $269.4 million — The value of small electrical appliances purchased at large retailers in Canada in December 2013, up 107.8% from average monthly sales of $129.6 million for this category in 2013 and up 57.1% from November 2013.
  • $207.3 million — The value of tableware, kitchenware, cookware and bakeware purchased at large retailers in Canada in December 2013, up 81.3% from average monthly sales of $114.4 million for this category in 2013 and up 56.7% from November 2013.
  • $176.9 million — The value of cosmetics and fragrances purchased at large retailers in Canada in December 2013, up 83.6% from average monthly sales of $96.4 million for this category in 2013 and up 55.5% from November 2013.
  • $184.2 million — The value of sporting goods purchased at large retailers in Canada in December 2013, up 34.6% from average monthly sales of $136.9 million for this category in 2013 and up 85.7% from November 2013.
  • $140.4 million — The value of stationery, office supplies, cards, gift wrap and party supplies purchased at large retailers in Canada in December 2013, up 93.7% from average monthly sales of $72.5 million for this category in 2013 and up 55.2% from November 2013.
  • $123.4 million — The value of jewellery and watches purchased at large retailers in Canada in December 2013, up 140.6% from average monthly sales of $51.3 million for this category in 2013 and up 110.3% from November 2013.
  • $84.4 million — The value of cameras (still and digital) and related photographic equipment and supplies purchased at large retailers in Canada in December 2013, up 125.6% from average monthly sales of $37.4 million for this category in 2013 and up 106.6% from November 2013.

Source: CANSIM, table 080-0009.

Canadian dolls, toys and games

  • 1,873 — The total number of employees in the doll, toy and game manufacturing industry in Canada in 2012.
  • $278.2 million — The total revenue of the doll, toy and game manufacturing industry in Canada in 2012.

Source: CANSIM, table 301-0006.

Poinsettias

  • 11.4 million — The number of poinsettia indoor potted plants and cuttings produced in greenhouses in Canada in 2013.

Source: CANSIM, table 001-0049.

Holiday lights

Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) have emerged as an energy-efficient alternative to conventional incandescent lighting. Festive holiday lighting has proven to be particularly well-suited to LED technology.

  • 33% — The proportion of Canadian households that reported using LED holiday lights in 2011, up from 29% in 2007.

The highest rate of reported use of LED holiday lights in 2011 was in Nova Scotia, at 45%.

Households and the Environment Survey, use of light emitting diode (LED) holiday lights, Canada and provinces, 2007 to 2011
Geography 2007 2009 2011
%
Canada 29 32 33
Newfoundland and Labrador 22 35 40
Prince Edward Island 32 41 32
Nova Scotia 29 39 45
New Brunswick 27 38 34
Quebec 25 28 32
Ontario 31 31 34
Manitoba 33 35 39
Saskatchewan 26 36 33
Alberta 31 34 29
British Columbia 34 36 32
Source: Statistics Canada, Environment, Energy and Transportation Statistics Division.

Source: CANSIM, table 153-0059.

The cybermall

  • $7.7 billion — The value of e-commerce sales by retailers in Canada in 2012, up from $6.6 billion in 2011.

Source: “Retail at a glance: E-commerce sales, 2012,” The Daily, Tuesday, July 8, 2014.

See also: Infographic: 2013 Survey of Digital Technology and Internet Use.

Have you been naughty?

According to tradition, naughty children receive a lump of coal in their Christmas stocking!

  • 68.9 million tonnes — The amount of coal produced in Canada in 2013.

Source: CANSIM, table 135-0002.

Holiday candy and snacks

  • $450.9 million — The value of monthly sales of candy, confectionery and snack foods at large retailers in December 2013, the month with the highest sales.
  • $292.1 million — The average monthly sales of candy, confectionery and snack foods at large retailers in 2013.

Source: CANSIM, table 080-0009.

A time for sharing

  • 13.3 million — The approximate number of Canadians (47% of the population aged 15 and over) who did some volunteering in 2010 through a group or organization.

Source: “Study: Volunteering in Canada, 2010,” The Daily, Monday, April 16, 2012.

  • $8.3 billion — The amount of donations to charities claimed by Canadian taxfilers in 2012.
  • 5.6 million — The number of taxfilers claiming donations in 2012.
  • $270 — The median donation in Canada in 2012.

Source: “Charitable donors, 2012,” The Daily, Thursday, March 27, 2014.

Eggnog and whipping cream

  • 5.6 million litres — The volume of commercial sales of eggnog in Canada in December 2013. More than 2 million litres were sold in November 2013.
  • 5.4 million litres — The volume of commercial sales of whipping cream in December 2013. The next highest month for sales of whipping cream is October, at 4.5 million litres.

Source: CANSIM, table 003-0012.

Christmas turkey

  • 21.5 million — The number of turkeys produced in Canada in 2013.
  • 168.4 million tonnes — The amount of turkey produced in Canada in 2013.

Source: CANSIM, table 003-0018.

  • 1,956 — The number of farms reporting turkey production in Canada.

Sources: Census of Agriculture; CANSIM, table 004-0026.

See also: Thematic maps from the Census of Agriculture, Turkeys, 2011.

Cranberries

  • 267 — The number of farms producing cranberries in Canada.
  • 6,148 hectares — The area of land devoted to the production of cranberries in Canada.

According to the Census of Agriculture, this agricultural activity is concentrated in Quebec and in British Columbia.

Sources: Census of Agriculture; CANSIM, table 004-0214.

See also: Thematic maps from the Census of Agriculture, Cranberry area, 2011.

  • 122,084 tonnes — The amount of cranberries produced in Canada in 2013, with a farm gate value of $94 million.

Source: CANSIM, table 001-0009.

  • 1.2 kilogram — The amount of fresh cranberries available for consumption as food per capita in Canada in 2013. (Data adjusted for retail, household, cooking and plate loss.)

Source: CANSIM, table 002-0011.

Much to celebrate

Canada is a nation of people of diverse ethno-cultural and religious backgrounds.

Here are just some of the holy days celebrated in many homes and communities across Canada this time of year:

(Note: The 2011 National Household Survey collected information on religious affiliation, regardless of whether respondents practised their religion.)

Christmas is December 25, but many Canadians of Central and Eastern European origin celebrate the holiday earlier in December or on January 7.

  • 67.3% — The proportion of people in Canada who reported that they were affiliated with a Christian religion.

Hanukkah (December 16 to 24, 2014) is celebrated by people of the Jewish faith.

  • 1.0% — The proportion of people in Canada who reported that they were affiliated with a Jewish religion.
  • 0.9% — The proportion of people in Canada who reported their ethnic origin as Jewish.

Kwanzaa (December 26 to January 1) is marked by many people of African origin.

  • 2.3% — The proportion of people in Canada who reported their ethnic origin as African.
  • 1.6% — The proportion of people in Canada who reported their place of birth as Africa or a country within Africa.

Buddhists celebrate Bodhi Day in early December.

  • 1.1% — The proportion of people in Canada who reported that they were affiliated with a Buddhist religion.

Guru Gobind Singh's Birthday is celebrated by those of the Sikh faith in early January.

  • 1.4% — The proportion of people in Canada who reported that they were affiliated with a Sikh religion.

Eid-ul-Adha, the Islamic Feast of Sacrifice, is the most important feast of Islam and will next be celebrated in September 2015. There is also Eid-al-Fitr (July 2015) and the Islamic New Year Al-Hijira in October 2015. Ramadan will next be observed in June 2015.

  • 3.2% — The proportion of people in Canada who reported that they were affiliated with a Muslim religion.

Diwali, the festival of lights (celebrated by those of the Sikh and Hindu faiths) will next be observed in November 2015.

  • 1.5% — The proportion of people in Canada who reported that they were affiliated with a Hindu religion.

Sources: 2011 National Household Survey: Data tables: Religion; 2011 National Household Survey: Data tables: Citizenship; 2011 National Household Survey: Data tables: Ethnic Origin.

For more information on religion in Canada, consult: 2011 National Household Survey: Immigration, place of birth, citizenship, ethnic origin, visible minorities, language and religion; Society and community: Religion in Statistics by subject; Guides to the latest information: Religion.

Festively named places in Canada

You (or Santa Claus!) can ‘visit’ these and other places using the NHS Profile or the Census Profile.

Chimney, Christmas Island, Cranberry, Cranberry Junction, Cranberry Portage, L'Enfant-Jésus, Gift Lake, Holly, Noëlville, Reindeer Station, Sled Lake, Snowflake, Stocking Harbour, Turkey Point.

See also: Census Geography.

Burning off those holiday calories?

Sales of exercise and fitness equipment at large retailers peak in January.

  • $36.4 million — The value of sales of exercise and fitness equipment at large retailers in Canada in January 2014. In December 2013, the value of sales of exercise and fitness equipment at large retailers was $33.4 million.
  • $17.2 million — The average monthly sales of exercise and fitness equipment at large retailers in Canada in 2013, for comparison.

Source: CANSIM, table 080-0009.

Let’s go skiing and snowboarding!

The ski industry, specifically in British Columbia and Alberta, continued to benefit from the improved infrastructure and positive media exposure delivered by the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

  • $976.0 million — The operating revenues of the skiing industry in Canada in 2012, up 0.9% from 2011.

Source: Amusement and recreation, 2012.

Nearby nature activities

  • 3% — The proportion of Canadian households that went cross-country skiing or snowshoeing close to home (within a 10-minute trip) in 2011.
  • 3% — The proportion of Canadian households that went skating close to home in 2011.
  • 5% — The proportion of Canadian households that owned a snowmobile in 2011.

Source: Households and the Environment Survey, 2011.

Welcome 2015!

As the clock strikes midnight on the last day of December 2014, many people across Canada ring in the New Year with a glass of sparkling wine.

  • $404.5 million — The value of sales of sparkling wines in Canada in 2012/2013, up 10.2% from 2011/2012. Canadian products made up nearly a quarter of this amount.
  • 23.4 million litres — The volume of sparkling wines sold in Canada in 2012/2013, up 6.7% from 2011/2012. This represents the equivalent of nearly 11 million 750 ml bottles of domestic sparkling wines and more than 20 million 750 ml bottles of imported bubbly in 2012/2013.

Source: CANSIM, table 183-0015.

Please enjoy responsibly

  • 78,391 — The number of incidents of impaired driving reported by police in 2013, down from 84,149 incidents in 2012.
  • 107 — The number of incidents of impaired driving (drugs / alcohol) causing death in 2013, down from 141 incidents in 2012.

Sources: “Police-reported crime statistics in Canada, 2013,” Juristat; CANSIM, table 252-0051.

Merry Christmas!

Happy New Year!

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