• Most kids ages 6-11 years old say they eat a candy cane by sucking on it (54 percent) But that's not the only way to enjoy this favorite holiday treat
    • Biting/crunching: 24 percent
    • Licking: 19 percent
    • Don't know: 2 percent
    • Other: 1 percent
  • When eating candy canes, boys were almost twice as likely to crunch their candy canes than girls (31 percent v. 17 percent).
  • Of 1,000 adults surveyed, 89 percent said candy plays a role in their winter holiday celebrations.
    • Placing candy in a bowl: 72 percent
    • Giving/receiving a box of chocolates: 70 percent
    • Giving/receiving a holiday stocking filled with goodies: 63 percent
    • Creating a gingerbread house: 19 percent
  • More than 1.8 billion candy canes will be made for the winter holiday season, in traditional peppermint flavor as well as super-sour, fruit and tropical fruit flavors. A typical candy cane contains only 55 calories and no fat/cholesterol.
  • More than 150 million chocolate Santas will be made for the winter holiday season.
  • The winter holidays represent the biggest boxed chocolate selling season.
  • The winter holidays are the third largest "candy holiday" sales season, behind Halloween and Easter. Valentine's Day is fourth.
  • Retail sales overall for the winter holiday season (November-December) account for 20-40 percent of annual retail sales.
  • More than 33 million real Christmas trees will be sold for the season and more than 67 million turkeys will be consumed on Thanksgiving and Christmas.