Survey after survey says that the best thing about the Christmas season is spending time with family.

Hard to disagree.

It doesn’t come from a store. It comes from the fellowship of family and close friends.

 logo
Get our free mobile app

When it comes to the holiday season, from the twinkling lights to the shared warmth of a kitchen filled with baking aromas, all represent a cherished moment with loved ones.

Spending time with family during the holiday season is indeed a joyous experience.

Or maybe it’s not.

Here is the staggering fact about Mainers at Christmas.

1 in 5 Adult Mainers face a lonely Christmas.

And Christmas is ranked as the worst time of the year to spend time alone from a mental health standpoint.

Getty Images
Getty Images
loading...

Doesn’t that number of people sound like a lot?  It equates to around 100 thousand adults being alone for the day.  Not necessarily lonely, but alone on a day when the focus is on family and close friends.

However here is another statistic that will make you proud to be a Mainer.

When the question was asked:

Would you extend an invitation to a neighbor known to be spending the holiday alone?

88% of Mainers affirmed that they would welcome their neighbor into their home to share in the Christmas spirit.

Nice to know. And if you are dreading being alone for Christmas, reach out. Odds are in your favor that someone would welcome you for their celebration.

LOOK: What Christmas was like the year you were born

To see how Christmas has changed over the last century, Stacker explored how popular traditions, like food and decorations, emerged and evolved from 1920 to 2021 in the U.S. and around the world. 

Gallery Credit: Stacker

LOOK: Holiday gift crazes and fads of the past century

Stacker compiled a list of toy crazes from the past 100 years. 

Gallery Credit: Jennnifer Billock

LOOK: Can you guess the world-famous actor from a childhood photo?

Stacker used Getty Images to compile photos of beloved actors from when they were children. How many can you guess from their childhood picture alone?

Gallery Credit: Stacker

More From