Study: Iowa Loves Christmas Music and Lands in Top 20 Most Festive States

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

With the holiday season quickly approaching, a new study has ranked Iowa the 19th most festive state in the country and found that Iowans show a strong love for Christmas music during the holidays.

The report from Innerbody Research analyzed search trends and holiday-related topics to see which states are most in the Christmas spirit.

The Most Festive U.S. States

Who Tops the Festive List?

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According to the study, West Virginia takes the No. 1 spot as the most festive state, followed by Utah (2nd) and South Dakota (3rd).

READ MORE: Christmas Light Displays in Eastern Iowa

At the other end of the list, Washington, D.C., ranks 51st, with New York (50th) and Hawaii (49th) also landing in the not-so-festive category.

Innerbody created a visual breakdown of the most and least festive states, available here: innerbody festive states bar graph image link.

What Are People Searching for This Christmas

Some classic traditions are cooling off.

The term "mistletoe" rose to the top of the least popular holiday search topics this year. Meanwhile, Santa hats remain the most searched holiday item nationwide for the second year in a row.

The study also found that several states, including Illinois, Maine, Michigan, and Washington, are especially interested in Advent calendars, while Oklahoma and Utah stand out for their love of The Grinch.

A map of festive trends by state is available here.

What Americans Want for the Holidays

Are Americans Less Focused on Stuff?

While 56% of Americans say they expect to spend about the same as last year during the holidays, the study notes that searches related to Christmas presents, decorations, lights, and gift exchanges are not as prominent as you might expect, hinting that materialism may be trending down slightly, or at least shifting.

READ MORE: Check Out Iowa's Christmas-Themed Bars

Even though New York shows a bit more holiday effort this year, it still ranks as one of the “Grinchiest” places in the U.S.

And whether it’s Washington state or Washington, D.C., neither scored particularly high on the festive scale.

For Iowans, though, the data suggests something simple: when it comes to getting into the Christmas spirit, turning up the Christmas music is still the go-to move.

If you are looking for gift ideas this year, check out some great local businesses!