Spreading holiday joy by the numbers
If you’re wondering how this holiday season stacks up numbers-wise, here are a few fun facts to share as you gather with family and friends.
$867
According to a Gallup survey, that’s how much Americans estimate they’ll spend on Christmas or other holiday gifts this year. That’s in keeping with the historical estimates, which have ranged from $846 to $886 since 1999.
Haven’t gotten your holiday shopping done yet? No worries, there’s still plenty of time. Woodfield Mall, for example, will be open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily until Christmas Eve, when it is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
53
That’s how many vendors set up shop at Christkindlmarket in Aurora. Wooden huts with candy-cane striped roofs and walk-in booths are packed with their wares: hand-painted and glass-blown ornaments, Nativity scenes, toys and clocks with little birds popping out to say “cuckoo.”
Rooted in the holiday traditions of Nuremberg, Christkindlmarket has loads of German cheer, or more precisely, gemütlichkeit — a feeling of coziness and fellowship.
Shoppers can find last-minute gifts -- or bring home a souvenir mug -- during the final days of the market in Aurora’s RiverEdge Park. Hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Christmas Eve. About 200,000 people are expected to visit this year.
12,137
In 2023, the Schaumburg Township Food Pantry logged 12,137 visits from people who shopped in the pantry.
The pantry partners with the Greater Chicago Food Depository to provide about 1,200 families with ham or turkey for the holidays. The pantry invited 128 families to participate in its adopt a family program and 136 families to shop for toys for the holidays this year. Any toys that remain will be distributed this week.
“Our numbers are not done yet as far as sharing holiday cheer,” said Marianne Rogenski, supervisor of program support services at the food pantry.
To help spread a bit of your own holiday cheer, you can donate to the food pantry at schaumburgtownship.org. Cash donations are always preferred, but some of the more popular food items needed include canned meats, tomato sauce and tomato paste, any type of broth, canned fruit and canned or dried beans.
3,000
For many Lombardians, an outing in Lilacia Park, all aglow with approximately 800,000 light bulbs, has become as much a part of the holidays as dreaming of a white Christmas. Lombard Park District employees spend roughly 3,000 man-hours creating this merry and (very) bright display.
Crews put up twinkling, flashing and cascading lights. Every holiday character imaginable -- toy soldiers, gingerbread men, snowmen, elves, a waving Santa and Santa the train conductor -- populates the park.
The grounds could look even more dazzling in the near future. The park district will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2027, and the goal is to get to a million lights.
This year, lights will be on daily from 4:30 to 10 p.m. through Jan. 1. Park admission is free.
21,000
Graham’s Chocolates in Geneva has helped stuff more than a few stockings over the holiday season.
Since November, the popular chocolatier has gone through 21,000 pounds of chocolate in preparation for its busiest season of the year. That chocolate has gone into the making of more than 10,000 sampler assortments, 1,300 advent calendars, 1,110 gift baskets and more than a few Santa pops.
“About 2,500 kids are going to have a nice Santa pop in their stocking,” said Jayni Wunderlich, CEO of Grahams Chocolates.
Graham’s Chocolates has stores in Geneva and Wheaton and will be open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (sharp) on Christmas Eve.
3
Searching for a fresh Christmas tree? The “sturdy kind that doesn’t mind the snow”? Abbey Farms in Aurora has cut-your-own Scotch pine, white pine or Norway spruce trees. Or choose from three pre-cut types -- Fraser fir, Canaan fir or balsam fir -- in the tree lot.
The monks of Marmion Abbey opened the farm to the public in 1949. The first large-scale planting of pine trees came in 1959.
“We hear stories all the time of people that have cut down Christmas trees from Marmion’s Abbey Farms for 30-plus years,“ said Eric Mott, director of the nonprofit farm.
Cut-your-own trees under 7 feet are still available. Abbey Farms closes for the season on Dec. 23. Hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, with the last car heading out to the tree fields at 6 p.m.
16
Morton Arboretum’s Illumination closes on Jan. 6, leaving you with 16 more nights - the show does not run Christmas Eve or Christmas Day - to see the show.
This year, Illumination, which opened on Nov. 18, has had eight sold-out nights, including Dec. 23. Since Morton Arboretum first debuted its Illumination show in 2013, nearly 2 million people have enjoyed the unique light display.
Tickets for Illuminations can be purchased at mortonarb.org.
2,395
The Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Christmas Campaign enlists 2,395 volunteer bell ringers in the suburbs. Those hardy, cheerful souls in red aprons take their posts, often outside grocery stores, and invite shoppers to fill up red buckets with donations for families in need.
The campaign raises funds for programs such as food pantries, rent and utility assistance, transitional housing, youth empowerment and emergency disaster support. The funds raised not only support people at Christmastime, but year-round.
The Salvation Army counts 385 kettles around the ‘burbs. Donations of gold coins -- there have been seven -- so far have become a tradition within a tradition.
Red kettles will be out until Dec. 23, but folks can make online donations that will stay in the community attached to their zip codes. To contribute, visit SalvationArmyUSA.org.