Fun Facts about the Holiday Season

Santa Claus may live in the North Pole according to all those holiday stories, but did you also know that there’s a Santa Claus, Ind. (population 2,303) and a Santa Claus, Ga. (247)? And we can’t forget about Noel, Mo. (1,615); Snowflake, Ariz. (5,686); and, for those reindeer lovers, both the village of Rudolph, Wis. (418) and Dasher, Ga. (821).

Here are some other fun facts to share with your family and friends this season, courtesy of the U.S. Census Bureau:

• Potato latkes are a staple of Hanukkah celebrations, and in 2009 50.9% of potatoes in the U.S. were produced in Idaho and Washington.

• Last year, 14 percent of sales for department stores in all of 2009 occurred in December (the figure was 21 percent for jewelry stores).

• Book store sales jumped 98 percent from November to December, 2009.

• $1.2 billion of candles were shipped in 2008 by U.S. manufactures, and candles play a big part in a variety of holiday celebrations.

• Holly Springs, Miss., and Mount Holly, N.C. are just two of a dozen places named Holly in the United States.

• The U.S. is expected to have a population of more than 311 million once 2011 arrives.

May the rest of your holiday season be safe and joyful, and wishing you a very happy new year!

Information courtesy of AlaskaUSA mortgage