There’s a great divide.
A recent survey by Lifeway Research shows a divided stance among U.S. adults regarding church attendance during the Christmas season. The study, which surveyed over 1,200 Americans in August, revealed that 47% of respondents typically attend church around Christmas, while 48% do not, and 5% were unsure. Despite Christmas’s religious origins, fewer than half of Americans attend church during the holiday season, according to Scott McConnell, the executive director of Lifeway Research.
The likelihood of attending church at Christmas varies across religious affiliations. Protestants (57%), Catholics (56%), and those from other religious groups (53%) are more likely to attend than the religiously unaffiliated, only 21% of whom report attending church. A key factor in attendance is frequency; those who attend church regularly are more likely to participate in Christmas services, with 95% of regular churchgoers attending Christmas services. Among those who follow Evangelical beliefs, 72% attend church at Christmas, compared to only 40% of those without Evangelical beliefs.
Motivations for attending Christmas church services vary. For the 47% who typically attend, the majority (60%) say they do so to honor Jesus Christ. However, tradition plays a larger role for those who attend less frequently. Among individuals who only attend church during holidays or rarely, 22% and 27% respectively cite tradition as the primary reason for attending. McConnell noted that while many attend to celebrate Jesus’ birth, others are drawn by family, tradition, or to embrace the festive spirit.
The survey also revealed that a significant portion of non-attendees might go to church if invited. 56% of those who typically don’t attend church said they would be likely to go if invited by someone they know. However, 36% expressed they would be unlikely to attend, with 24% saying they are very unlikely. The likelihood of accepting an invitation is higher among Catholics, Protestants, and Evangelicals than the religiously unaffiliated.
These findings align with earlier reports, such as a Gallup poll that showed a decline in overall church attendance in the U.S. According to the Gallup poll, 30% of Americans attend religious services weekly, while 56% attend rarely or never. This suggests a trend of declining religious participation, particularly among those who do not regularly attend church.