Behind the Scenes: Holiday Trivia

Information overload is a way of life today -- and sitting at at editor's desk is no exception! In the interest of filing tantalizing tidbits of knowledge somewhere, we thought we'd share with you some of the interesting holiday-related facts that slipped across our desks this week during the first crush of pre-holiday publicity (all things that nudged my Mommy Brain into thinking, "Hmm, maybe I should take care of this now ...").

• 20 billion The number of letters, packages and cards the U.S. Postal Service delivered between Thanksgiving and Christmas in 2006. The busiest mailing day last year was Dec. 18, with more than twice as many cards and letters being processed as the average on any given day. (Source: U.S. Postal Service)
• 12 million The number of packages delivered by the U.S. Postal Service every day during the holiday season last year through Christmas Eve. the busiest delivery day: Dec. 20. (Source: U.S. Postal Service)
  
• $21 billion The value of retail sales by electronic shopping and mail-order houses in December 2006 -- the highest total for any month last year. (Source: Service Sector Statistics)
• Holiday names Places whose names are associated with the holiday season include North Pole, Alaska (population 1,828 in 2006); Santa Claus, Ga. (245); Noel, Mo. (1,555); and for those reindeer fans among you, Rudolph, Wis. (419) and Dasher, Ga. (803).

~ Lisa