While preparing to celebrate Christmas with decorations, gifts and family traditions this holiday season, a significant portion of Americans may forgo attending a church service.
According to a new Lifeway Research study, only 47% of U.S. adults typically attend church during the Christmas season, with 48% saying they do not, and 5% unsure. This marks a noticeable divide in how Americans approach the holiday, as 83% of American adults reported in a separate survey that they would be celebrating Christmas in some way this year.
This discrepancy between celebrating Christmas and attending church highlights ongoing changes in religious observance in the United States — and suggests that, for many, the religious nature of the holiday has been supplanted by consumerism and secular traditions.
However, the study also offers this measure of hope: It finds that 56% of those who typically do not attend church services at Christmas would be likely to attend if someone they knew invited them, with 17% indicating they were very likely to go.
Breaking down the data
Unsurprisingly, the Lifeway Research study found that U.S. adults who attend church services more than once a week are most likely to be in attendance during Christmas. Among different faith groups, 56% of Catholics, 57% of Protestants and 53% of individuals from other religions are likely to attend a service at this time of year, compared to 21% of people who are religiously unaffiliated. In particular, those with evangelical beliefs are more likely to attend a church service at Christmas (72%) compared to those who do not hold such beliefs (40%).
Of those who attend church at Christmastime, 60% cited faith and a desire to honor Jesus Christ as their motivation. Other reasons included observing tradition (16%), spending time with family and friends (15%), and entering into the Christmas spirit (8%).
The reason for the season
The Lifeway Research study reflects the larger trend of declining religious engagement in the U.S. Church attendance has steadily decreased across all demographics, and the Christmas season is no exception.
Many Americans now view Christmas exclusively or primarily as a cultural holiday organized around traditions such as decorating trees, exchanging gifts and spending time with family and friends. While these customs can enrich the holiday, they can also shift the focus away from its spiritual roots.
As Advent continues, Catholics should recall that Christmas, at its heart, is the celebration of Christ’s birth and the mystery of his incarnation. Mass is more than a simple obligation; it is an opportunity to step away from the noise of the season and contemplate in awe and gratitude the great gift we have received: God himself.
