Poll: Christmas more important than Easter

MANILA, Philippines - Six of every 10 Filipinos consider Christmas more important than Easter Sunday, results of the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey show.

The First Quarter 2011 SWS survey, conducted from March 4 to 7, found 57 percent of Filipinos preferring Christmas over Easter Sunday and 36 percent choosing the latter. Four percent did not make any choice.

Christmas is preferred over Easter Sunday in all areas, the SWS said. In the Visayas, Christmas is preferred by the majority or 65 percent; in Mindanao, 55 percent; 52 percent in Metro Manila; and 55 percent in the rest of Luzon.

Preference for Christmas over Easter Sunday is also higher among the lower classes at 61 percent in class E and 57 percent in class D as against the 51 percent in classes ABC.

By age group, 67 percent of 18 to 24 year olds consider Christmas more important. The same position was taken by 64 percent among 25-34 year old respondents; 57 percent among 45-54, and 51 percent among those interviewed aged 35-44 year old.

Half of respondents 55 years old and above chose Christmas and 46 percent picked Easter Sunday. Fifty eight percent of women and 57 percent of men interviewed made the same choice.

The March 2011 survey involved interviews with 94 percent Christian respondents and five percent non-Christians.

Sixty one percent of Roman Catholics and Aglipayans, and 57 percent of other Christian denomination chose Christmas over Easter Sunday.

Opinion is mixed among Iglesia ni Cristo members, 37 percent of whom chose Easter Sunday over Christmas. Twenty four percent of the members of the religious group interviewed preferred Christmas over Easter.

A majority 60 percent of Muslims did not choose any of the two, 19 percent chose Christmas, and five percent chose Easter Sunday.

Among other non-Christians, 79 percent also chose Christmas and the remaining 21 percent chose Easter Sunday.

The survey used face-to-face interviews with 1,200 respondents.

Catholic bishops have been urging Filipinos to spend much of the Holy Week in prayer and reflection instead of going to resorts.

For Christians, Easter Sunday marks the resurrection of Jesus Christ.