Buzz
In our rapidly changing world, keeping up with yearly trends can be challenging, but one constant remains: Americans' enduring love for Christmas. However, the level of enthusiasm varies significantly depending on where you live. Interestingly, certain states in the U.S. radiate more holiday cheer than others, and our online activities provide fascinating clues about these differences.
To pinpoint where Christmas enthusiasm is at its peak, Preply's team created the Christmas Spirit Index. This tool examines a full year of Google search data for popular holiday-related terms, such as Christmas carols, holiday recipes, and Christmas light displays. States are then ranked per capita based on these search frequencies.
The results reveal the top 10 states with the highest number of Christmas-related searches:
- Utah
- Massachusetts
- Virginia
- Illinois
- Washington
- Texas
- Maryland
- Pennsylvania
- California
- New Jersey
Utah, renowned for the globally celebrated Tabernacle Choir’s Christmas performance, claimed the top spot for holiday enthusiasm. Massachusetts secured second place in online searches, a stark contrast to its historical roots as a state that once banned Christmas. Virginia, known for hosting some of the nation’s earliest Christmas festivities, followed closely, while Illinois ranked fourth, standing out as the sole Midwestern state on the list.
Preply also examined the opposite end of the spectrum—identifying regions in the U.S. less inclined to embrace winter wonderlands or focus on holiday-related activities in December. Here are the 10 states with the lowest levels of Christmas cheer, based on search data:
- New Mexico
- Arkansas
- Vermont
- Maine
- North Dakota
- Mississippi
- Montana
- South Dakota
- Wyoming
- Alaska
It might come as a surprise that Alaska, with its abundant snowfall, ranks last in these findings. However, this could be due to its already winter-dominated landscape. With its challenging terrain, stunning northern lights, and snow-covered peaks, the Last Frontier may not feel the need to amplify its festive spirit during the holiday season.
In addition to exploring holiday cheer, Preply’s team also investigated skepticism surrounding Santa Claus. They examined per capita search data across the U.S. for the phrase “Is Santa Real?” to identify which states were more inclined to question the existence of the beloved Saint Nick.
The results revealed that Pennsylvania and Massachusetts ranked among the states least likely to believe in the iconic gift-bearer. In the Northeast, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Connecticut also made the top 10. Meanwhile, residents of West Virginia and Ohio expressed significant doubt about Santa’s existence. Conversely, states such as Alaska, Montana, and Hawaii were found to be the most likely to embrace the Santa myth—and perhaps even set out milk and cookies on Christmas Eve.
