The holiday season is over, the decorations have come down (apart from that one house that is still hanging on and really loves Christmas), and people are settling back into their normal routines all over the country. But how did people experience the holiday season across America?

We grew curious to find out, so we surveyed Americans to see just how their holiday season fared. We posed questions around stress, decorating, festive music, and even ugly Christmas sweaters that all provided interesting results.

Holiday Stress

It may be the most wonderful time of the year, but it’s not without plenty to do! Consequently, the first topic we analyzed was holiday stress. The data told us that it’s something almost everyone experienced. In fact, a whopping 71% of Americans felt stressed during the 2017 holiday season.

Women were 1.2 times more likely to be stressed than men. Gift shopping, spending time with family, traveling, and cooking were some of the most common sources.

Regionally, we found differences in holiday stress as well. People in the Midwest felt the most stressed with 75% of respondents saying so. Those in the West were the most relaxed, however, with only 63% admitting they felt a strain from the season.

Favorite Holiday Traditions

Of course, the fun and traditions of the season make all of the stress worth it. When looking at the data, we found that most Americans felt that spending time with loved ones was the most important holiday tradition and the one that makes them the happiest.

Some of us look forward to decorating the house all year. However, 47% of people didn’t decorate the outside of their homes this past holiday season.

Cultural Phenomenons

Beyond the classic traditions, there are a few recent cultural trends about which we wanted to learn more. Luckily, the data gave us some pretty interesting findings. For example, we learned that Mariah Carey still holds onto her crown as the Queen of Christmas, with 2 in 3 people admitting to hearing “All I Want For Christmas Is You” this past season.

Furthermore, the fashion of ugly Christmas sweaters in recent years was undeniable. However, it seems that their popularity may be decreasing, as only 1 in 5 people wore one during the 2017 holiday season.

Even though the holidays can be a stressful time, they are ultimately spent doing activities that bring joy, alongside people we love. Plus, the season includes iconic songs and cozy sweaters. Did your holiday season match up with the survey results? Share your thoughts in the comments below!