Christmas... by the numbers

2017

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

(Last updated: December 15, 2017)

Christmas tree farms in Canada

  • $77.6 million — The value of farm cash receipts for Christmas trees in Canada in 2016.

Source: CANSIM table 002-0001.

  • 1,872 — The number of farms that grew Christmas trees in Canada in 2016. According to the 2016 Census of Agriculture, this agricultural activity is concentrated in Quebec, Nova Scotia, Ontario, British Columbia and New Brunswick.

Source: CANSIM table 004-0218.

For more information on agriculture in Canada, see Statistics by subject, Agriculture, and the 2016 Census of Agriculture.

Fresh-cut Christmas tree exports

Canada is a net exporter of fresh-cut Christmas trees.

  • $43.1 million — The value of fresh-cut Christmas trees exported from Canada to the rest of the world in 2016.
  • 1,952,489 — The number of fresh-cut Christmas trees exported from Canada to the rest of the world in 2016.
  • $39.7 million — The value of fresh-cut Christmas trees exported from Canada to the United States in 2016.
  • 1,866,218 — The number of fresh-cut Christmas trees exported from Canada to the United States in 2016.
  • $5.1 million — The value of fresh-cut Christmas trees imported from the United States to Canada in 2016.

Fresh-cut Christmas trees were also exported to:

  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Aruba
  • Australia
  • Bahamas
  • Barbados
  • Bermuda
  • Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba
  • Cayman Islands
  • Curaçao
  • France
  • Jamaica
  • Panama
  • Philippines
  • Russian Federation
  • Saint Pierre and Miquelon
  • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  • Sint Maarten
  • Thailand
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Venezuela
Christmas tree exports, by province, 2016
Provinces Trees
number $
Source: Statistics Canada, International Accounts and Trade Division.
All provinces 1,952,489 43,089,996
Quebec 1,265,217 27,426,473
Nova Scotia 353,586 7,208,116
New Brunswick 298,425 7,893,550
Ontario 23,491 474,285
Saskatchewan 2,412 $34,292
British Columbia 9,358 53,280
Prince Edward Island 0 0
Newfoundland and Labrador 0 0
Manitoba 0 0
Alberta 0 0

Artificial Christmas tree imports

  • $61.0 million — The total value of artificial Christmas trees imported to Canada in 2016.
  • $59.5 million — The value of artificial Christmas trees imported to Canada from China in 2016.

Source: Statistics Canada, International Accounts and Trade Division.

Gifts of all kinds

Exchanging gifts is a big part of Christmas, not to mention Hanukkah and Eid. Some families might see some of these items in their Christmas stockings or left under the tree!

(Data are unadjusted.)

  • $5.1 billion — The value of food and beverages purchased at large retailers in Canada in December 2016. This was up 16.92% from average monthly sales of $4.35 billion for this category in 2016 and up 16.8% from sales in November 2016.
  • $459.9 million — The value of televisions and audio and video equipment purchased at large retailers in Canada in December 2016. This was up 121.3% from average monthly sales of $207.8 million for this category in 2016 and up 31.0% from sales in November 2016.
  • $417.8 million — The value of toys, games and hobby supplies, including electronic games, purchased at large retailers in Canada in December 2016. This was up 203.7% from average monthly sales of $137.6 million for this category in 2016 and up 38.8% from sales in November 2016.
  • $274.9 million — The value of computer hardware and software purchased at large retailers in Canada in December 2016. This was up 65.4% from average monthly sales of $166.3 million for this category in 2016 and up 11.9% from sales in November 2016.
  • $263.4 million — The value of small electrical appliances purchased at large retailers in Canada in December 2016. This was up 91.5% from average monthly sales of $137.6 million for this category in 2016 and up 33.0% from sales in November 2016.
  • $238.5 million — The value of tableware, kitchenware, cookware and bakeware purchased at large retailers in Canada in December 2016. This was up 82.1% from average monthly sales of $131.0 million for this category in 2016 and up 46.6% from sales in November 2016.
  • $154.8 million — The value of cosmetics and fragrances purchased at large retailers in Canada in December 2016. This was up 69.2% from average monthly sales of $91.5 million for this category in 2016 and up 48.9% from sales in November 2016.
  • $171.6 million — The value of sporting goods purchased at large retailers in Canada in December 2016. This was up 16.2% from average monthly sales of $147.6 million for this category in 2016 and up 47.7% from sales in November 2016.
  • $98.7 million — The value of stationery, office supplies, cards, gift wrap and party supplies purchased at large retailers in Canada in December 2016. This was up 85.1% from average monthly sales of $53.3 million for this category in 2016 and up 43.5% from sales in November 2016.
  • $118.0 million — The value of jewellery and watches purchased at large retailers in Canada in December 2016. This was up 130.4% from average monthly sales of $51.2 million for this category in 2016 and up 108.2% from sales in November 2016.
  • $73.7 million — The value of cameras (still and digital) and related photographic equipment and supplies purchased at large retailers in Canada in December 2016. This was up 177.4% from average monthly sales of $26.6 million for this category in 2016 and up 88.4% from sales in November 2016.

Source: CANSIM table 080-0009.

See also: "Black Friday: A closer look," The Daily, Tuesday, November 24, 2015.

Canadian dolls, toys and games

Source: CANSIM table 552-0006.

  • 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

  • 6.5 million — The number of poinsettias (indoor potted plants) produced in greenhouses in Canada in 2016.

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.

  • 41% — The proportion of Canadian households that reported using LED holiday lights in 2015, up from 29% in 2007.

The highest rate of reported LED holiday light use in 2015 was in New Brunswick, at 49%.

Households and the Environment Survey, use of light emitting diode (LED) holiday lights, Canada and provinces, 2007 to 2015
Geography 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015
%
Canada 29 32 33 40 41
Newfoundland and Labrador 22 35 40 46 48
Prince Edward Island 32 41 32 46 48
Nova Scotia 29 39 45 45 46
New Brunswick 27 38 34 47 49
Quebec 25 28 32 41 38
Ontario 31 31 34 38 41
Manitoba 33 35 39 37 44
Saskatchewan 26 36 33 34 42
Alberta 31 34 29 36 42
British Columbia 34 36 32 43 41

Source: CANSIM table 153-0059.

The cybermall

  • $1.8 billion — The value of e-commerce sales by retailers in Canada in December 2016, accounting for 3.5% of total retail sales in Canada, their highest proportion in 2016.

Source: "Retail trade, December 2016," The Daily, Wednesday, February 22, 2017.

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!

  • 61.0 million tonnes — The amount of coal produced in Canada in 2016.

Source: CANSIM table 135-0002.

Holiday candy and snacks

  • $460.2 million — The value of sales of candy, confectionery and snack foods at large retailers in December 2016, the month with the highest sales.
  • $326.1 million — The average monthly sales of candy, confectionery and snack foods at large retailers in 2016.

Source: CANSIM table 080-0009.

A time for sharing

  • 12.7 million — The approximate number of Canadians (44% of the population aged 15 and over) who volunteered in 2013 through a group or organization.

Source: Infographic: General Social Survey on Giving, Volunteering and Participating.

  • $9.1 billion — The amount of donations to charities claimed by Canadian taxfilers in 2015.
  • 5.5 million — The number of taxfilers claiming donations in 2015.
  • $300 — The median donation in Canada in 2015.

Source: CANSIM table 111-0001.

Eggnog and whipping cream

  • 5.2 million litres — The volume of commercial sales of eggnog in Canada in December 2016. More than 2.6 million litres of eggnog were sold in November 2016.
  • 5.7 million litres — The volume of commercial sales of whipping cream in December 2016. The next highest month for sales of whipping cream was October 2016, at 4.9 million litres.

Source: CANSIM table 003-0012.

Turkey

  • 21.8 million — The number of turkeys produced in Canada in 2016.
  • 183.4 million tonnes — The amount of turkey produced in Canada in 2016.

Source: CANSIM table 003-0018.

  • 1,992 — The number of farms producing turkeys in Canada.

Sources: Census of Agriculture and CANSIM table 004-0226.

Cranberries

  • 280 — The number of farms producing cranberries in Canada in 2016.
  • 7,339 hectares — The area of land devoted to producing cranberries in Canada in 2016.

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

Sources: Census of Agriculture and CANSIM table 004-0214.

  • 175,066 tons — The amount of cranberries produced in Canada in 2016, with a farm gate value of $135.3 million.

Source: CANSIM table 001-0009.

  • 2.6 kilograms — The amount of fresh cranberries available for consumption per person in Canada in 2016.

Source: CANSIM table 002-0011.

Much to celebrate

Canada is a nation of people with diverse ethnocultural 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 in 2011.

Hanukkah (December 12 to 20, 2017) 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 in 2011.

Buddhists will celebrate Bodhi Day in January.

  • 1.1% — The proportion of people in Canada who reported that they were affiliated with a Buddhist religion in 2011.

Guru Gobind Singh's birthday will be celebrated by those of the Sikh faith in December.

  • 1.4% — The proportion of people in Canada who reported that they were affiliated with a Sikh religion in 2011.

Eid-ul-Adha, the Islamic Feast of Sacrifice, is the most important feast of Islam and will next be celebrated in August 2018. There is also Eid-al-Fitr in June 2018 and the Islamic New Year, Al-Hijira, in September 2018. Ramadan will next be observed in May and June 2018.

  • 3.2% — The proportion of people in Canada who reported that they were affiliated with a Muslim religion in 2011.

Diwali, the festival of lights (celebrated by those of the Sikh and Hindu faiths) will next be observed in November 2018.

  • 1.5% — The proportion of people in Canada who reported that they were affiliated with a Hindu religion in 2011.

Sources: 2011 National Household Survey: Data tables: Religion.

Burning off those holiday calories?

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

  • $31.3 million — The value of sales of exercise and fitness equipment at large retailers in Canada in January 2016. In December 2015, the value of sales of exercise and fitness equipment at large retailers was $29.0 million.
  • $17.1 million — The average monthly sales of exercise and fitness equipment at large retailers in Canada in 2016, for comparison.

Source: CANSIM table 080-0009.

Outdoor activities close to home

  • 3% — The proportion of Canadian households that went cross-country skiing or snowshoeing in 2015.
  • 3% — The proportion of Canadian households that went skiing, snowboarding or telemark skiing in 2015.
  • 3% — The proportion of Canadian households that went skating in 2015.
  • 1% — The proportion of Canadian households that played ice hockey or broomball, or went curling in 2015.

Source: CANSIM table 153-0153.

Welcome, 2018!

As the clock strikes midnight on the last day of December 2017, many people across Canada will ring in the New Year with a glass of sparkling wine.

  • $363.2 million — The value of sales of sparkling wines in Canada in 2015/2016. Canadian products made up one-seventh of this amount.
  • 17.2 million litres — The volume of sparkling wines sold in Canada in 2015/2016. This represents the equivalent of 5.9 million 750 mL bottles of domestic sparkling wines and 17.1 million 750 mL bottles of imported bubbly in 2015/2016.

Source: CANSIM table 183-0024.

Please enjoy responsibly

  • 70,500 — The number of incidents of impaired driving reported by police in 2016, about 1,400 fewer than in the year before.

Source: "Police-reported crime statistics, 2016," The Daily, Monday, July 24, 2017.

  • 100 — The number of incidents of impaired driving (drugs/alcohol) causing death in 2016, down from 122 incidents in 2015.

Source: CANSIM table 252-0051.

Festively named places in Canada

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

  • Candyville
  • Champagne
  • Chimney
  • Christmas Island
  • Christ-Roi
  • Cranberry
  • Cranberry Junction
  • Cranberry Portage
  • Evergreen
  • Garland
  • Goose Cove
  • Ice Lake
  • L'Enfant-Jésus
  • Gift Lake
  • Holly
  • Holly Park
  • Marie Joseph
  • Noel
  • Noëlville
  • Reindeer Station
  • Sled Lake
  • Snowflake
  • Snow Lake
  • Snowball
  • Snow Peak Trailer Court
  • Snow Road Station
  • Star
  • Stocking Harbour
  • Sugarcane
  • Toyes Hill
  • Turkey Point
  • Winter
  • Winterland

See also: Census Geography.

Merry Christmas!

Happy New Year!

For more information about this page or for help finding more data, contact Media Relations.

See features on many other subjects in By the numbers.

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