When many think of  Christmas, memories and traditions enter their minds, from the anticipation of opening presents, to family madness. There isn’t much attention given  to the statistical image of the spiritual holiday.

Christmas is seen as a joyous time of year full of giving and of course, receiving. according to infowars.com, the average U.S. adult alone plans to spend at least $781  on Christmas gifts this year. That is not including the amount estimated to be spent on decorations and food. In the past, Americans have spent a total of $469 billion on the holiday season.

The billions of dollars spent on the holiday season is only a small part of the astonishing holiday. “Nine-in-ten Americans say they celebrate Christmas, and three-quarters say they believe in the virgin birth of Jesus,” says a Pew Research poll. That number is 96%  among Christians and 80% among non-Christians.

Money isn’t the only costly factor of the holiday season. Spirits and electric bills rise. The Christmas lights draping from houses and the chilly weather make for a significantly higher energy bill. You can actually save money from being cautious of the types of lights you use. LED lights are actually more efficient than other lights.

So, what do most people think of Christmas? Americans were asked in a survey conducted by ComRes “What Do You Think Christmas Is About?” the results were:

41% agreed that Christmas is a about celebrating that God loves humanity. 24% disagreed.

40% said Christmas is a good excuse for taking time off and doesn’t really have any meaning today but 34 % disagreed.

83% agreed that Christmas is a about spending time with family and friends