Over the Wire

The Morning After

Post by Kathy Steinberg, Research Manager, Public Relations Research

If you’re one of the 13% of U.S. adults who planned to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day by drinking a pint of Irish beer or taking a shot of whiskey, you may be feeling the ramifications this morning… in which case, my condolences are with you. Thankfully, the plurality of adults (50%) planned to commemorate the holiday simply by wearing green, according to a survey commissioned by CafePress.com, a website specializing in custom T-shirts and gifts.

The CafePress.com survey found that the majority of U.S. adults (64%) planned to observe St. Patrick’s Day somehow this year, with adults of Irish descent being significantly more likely to do so (80% Irish vs. 56% not Irish). Among adults who planned to celebrate, Irish and non-Irish adults were equally likely to say they would celebrate by:

• Wearing something green (78% Irish and 76% non-Irish);
• Eating corned beef and cabbage (38% and 32%, respectively);
• Going out to a bar or pub (19% and 17%, respectively);
• Attending a St. Patrick’s Day parade (8% and 5%, respectively);
• Carrying a lucky charm (7% and 4%, respectively); and,
• Playing hooky from work or school (3% and 1%, respectively).

However, Irish adults were more likely than non-Irish adults to plan to celebrate by:

• Drinking a pint of Irish beer (19% Irish vs. 12% non-Irish);
• Taking a shot of whiskey (13% vs. 8%, respectively); and,
• Kissing someone Irish (16% vs. 7%, respectively).

So, I guess you don’t have to be Irish to wear green, but it may help if you’re trying to catch the eye of that lass at the other end of the bar. 

What about you? Did you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day? How? And perhaps more importantly, why?

Data Snapshot

Regardless of their heritage, nearly two in three American adults (64%) plan to celebrate St. Patrick's Day this year. Not surprisingly, those of Irish ancestry are significantly more likely to observe the occasion (80% of adults who are Irish or part Irish vs. 56% of those who are not Irish).--- commissioned by CafePress.com and conducted online between March 2nd and 4th, 2010 among 2,073 U.S. adults 18+, of whom, 708 are Irish and 1,224 are not Irish

Seven Score and Nine Years Ago...Our Fathers Brought Forth...Our Favorite President

Post by Mark MacAdam, Public Relations Research

With President’s Day weekend upon us, it’s no surprise to learn Americans think Abe Lincoln is the best overall president in our history.  Also, not much of a surprise that Ronald Reagan is regarded by Americans as the best president since World War II. 

But that’s pretty much where the Republican accolades end.

According to The Harris Poll, of the five top-rated presidents since World War II, Reagan is the only Republican. Democratic presidents FDR, Kennedy, and Clinton take the #2, #3, and #4 spots, respectively. And, interestingly, President Obama, after only being in office for just over a year, comes in at #5 with 4% of Americans believing he is the best president since World War II.

Barack, Schamrack: Let’s get to the good stuff…where’s Dubya ranked?? He comes in near the bottom of our “America’s best presidents since World War II list” with a mere 1% of American’s selecting him as the our best president since World War II.  In fact, check out this picture: apparently America’s answer is “no.” And just to rub more salt in the wound, his father, George H. W. Bush, also only garnered 1% of the vote as the best president in recent times.

So it seems America respects and admires some Republican stand-out presidents like Lincoln and Reagan, but may view our Democrat presidents as “good” more consistently.

Do you think these rankings really have anything to do with party affiliation?

Please share your thoughts, as you dwell on this topic over your President’s Day holiday.

Wishing For A Silent Night?

Classics in literature, art, music... you typically either love them or hate them... but in the case of holiday songs, perhaps it’s both.  It appears that we look forward to these hits coming around at this time of year, but by the end of the season, we hope we never hear them again.  According to The Harris Poll,

• Silent Night – both our #1 most beloved and our #8 most irritating (is it heresy to say that about a holiday song?)
• White Christmas – both #2 beloved and #4 irritating
• Jingle Bells – both #4 beloved and #1 irritating
• Little Drummer Boy - #5 beloved and #5 irritating

Which songs top your list of good and bad?

Data Snapshot

"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" is Americans' favorite animated TV show during holiday time. ---The Harris Poll, conducted online between November 2nd and 11th, 2009 among 2,303 U.S. adults ages 18+

The Holidays: Cheer or Chore?

What’s not to love about the holidays? According to a recent Harris Poll, 86% of Americans say there is something delightful about the holidays that they look forward to most, including: 

• Spending time with family and friends (62%); 
• Holiday dinners and parties (8%);
• Finding and giving presents (7%); 
• Watching television specials and hearing holiday songs on the radio (4%);
• Putting up holiday decorations (3%); or,
• Getting presents (2%).

But of course there always seem to be a few Scrooge-ish elements of the holiday season…and about one quarter (27%) of Americans say the one thing they dislike most about the holidays is spending too much money. A similar number (23%) say they most dislike the holiday shopping crowds.

However, about one in five (21%) say they like everything about the holiday season (and my bet is that these folks were the ones who learned early on to embrace Cyber Monday over standing in line on Black Friday).
 
Where do you come down?  Do you love the holidays more than not?  Or, do most things make you downright Grinch-y this time of year?

Data Snapshot

Nearly 1 in 10 (8%) Americans say they are not looking forward to the upcoming holidays. --- The Harris Poll, conducted online between November 2nd and 11th, 2009 among 2,303 U.S. adults ages 18+

 

Took Some Time To Celebrate... At Home

Are we as a nation growing up -- or has the economy just tempered our need to party til the sun comes up?

According to the latest Harris Poll, most Americans will still go to the same number of parties and spend the same amount of time with family this year as they did last year...

But for a significant minority, the thought of building a fire, grabbing a Scrabble game board, and just hanging out has become even more appealing:

• 38% will spend more family time at home (only 7% will spend less family time at home);
• 23% will spend less time doing family activities away from home (17% more);
• 30% will spend less time attending holiday parties (12% more); and,
• 38% will spend less time hosting holiday parties (10% more).

Why the increased focus on family? Is it the holiday spirit? The economy? Or just a good old fashioned "family first" mentality?

Whatever the reason, and however you choose to spend it, to all: may you and your family have a great Thanksgiving!

Data Snapshot

When it comes to holiday shopping, 27% of Americans plan to spend more time this year than last year shopping online, while only 11% plan to spend more time shopping in stores.---The Harris Poll, conducted online between November 2nd and 11th, 2009 among 2,303 U.S. adults 18+

The Economic Grinch

If you dread holiday gift shopping (and 18% of us do), then the economy is a double whammy...because now you don't even have the money to buy that robotic dinosaur that your cousin never wanted. Now you actually have to shop smarter...what a buzz kill!

According to the latest Harris Poll, almost 1 in 2 Americans who will be doing holiday shopping this year say they will be spending less this holiday season, and the majority of holiday shoppers say that finding the best sales and discounts is their #1 priority...more important than finding the hottest products, receiving good customer service, or having a calm and enjoyable experience.

So, the winners are (not surprisingly) discount retailers like Walmart and Target: 26% of Americans plan to spend more at discount stores than they did last year, while significant proportions of Americans expect to spend less at:

• Top-tier department stores (52%);
• Specialty stores (49%);
• Electronics stores (41%);
• Off-price stores like TJ Maxx and Nordstrom Rack (40%);
• And even warehouse stores like Costco and B.J.'s (35%).

Our immediate family will still make out relatively the same, but everyone else on our shopping list from friends to colleagues to service providers are significantly more likely to get less than more...though Kathy, my daughter will still sooner see flying pigs than get her badly-craved puppy.