Poll: Most Americans Won't Party or Go Out on New Year's Eve, But They Will Say a Prayer

The percentage of those who plan to pray (66 percent) on New Year's Eve is larger than the respective percentage of those who are going to drink (42 percent), attend a party (21 percent), and go out for dinner with friends or family (18 percent) to celebrate the new year, the survey found.

P>WASHINGTON, DC (CNSNews.com) -- A new Rasmussen Report poll shows that while most Americans are not planning to attend a party or go out to dinner on New Year's Eve, a strong majority, 66 percent, say they will say a prayer before midnight that day.

The percentage of those who plan to pray (66 percent) on New Year's Eve is larger than the respective percentage of those who are going to drink (42 percent), attend a party (21 percent), and go out for dinner with friends or family (18 percent) to celebrate the new year, the survey found.

"This New Year's Eve, most Americans don't plan on attending a party or even a dinner, but a sizable number intend to enjoy a drink. Even more will offer up a prayer as 2010 becomes 2011," stated the poll, which was released today.

In contrast, 25 percent of Americans say they will not pray before the clock strikes midnight on New Year's Eve, according to the poll.

While men are more likely than women to party on New Year's Eve, women are more likely than men to say a prayer that day, the poll revealed.

Furthermore, "Black Americans are also more likely than whites to say a prayer before 2011 begins," the survey found.

The national telephone survey of 1,000 adults was conducted December 26-27. It has a +/- 3 percentage points margin of error with a 95% level of confidence.

Christmas is still rated the number holiday by most Americans, according to the poll.

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