The Associated Press-AOL News poll on public attitudes about angels and Santa Claus was conducted Dec. 12-14 and is based on telephone interviews with 1,000 adults from all states except Alaska and Hawaii. The poll was conducted by Ipsos, an international polling firm.

Results were weighted to represent the population by demographic factors such as age, sex, region, race and income.

No more than one time in 20 should chance variations in the sample cause the results to vary by more than plus or minus 3 percentage points from the answers that would be obtained if all people in the U.S. were polled.

There are other sources of potential error in polls, including the wording and order of questions. Results may not total 100 percent because of rounding. An "X" signifies less than 1 percent.

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1. As a child, did you ever believe in Santa Claus, or not?

_Yes, 86 percent

_No, 14 percent

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(Question 2 asked only of those who said 'yes' to question 1.)

2. How old were you when you stopped believing in Santa Claus?

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_4, 2 percent

_5, 7 percent

_6, 13 percent

_7, 14 percent

_8, 15 percent

_9, 12 percent

_10, 18 percent

_Older than 10, 15 percent

_Never believed in Santa Claus, 1 percent

_Not sure, 3 percent

AVERAGE AGE TO STOP BELIEVING _ 8

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(Questions 3 and 4 asked of all)

3. How important a role does Santa Claus play in your holiday celebrations?

_Very important, 21 percent

_Somewhat important, 30 percent

_Not too important, 21 percent

_Not at all important, 28 percent

TOTAL VERY/SOMEWHAT IMPORTANT _ 51 percent

TOTAL NOT TOO/NOT AT ALL IMPORTANT _ 49 percent

4. Do you think the Santa Claus tradition does more to ...

_Enhance the religious significance of the Christmas holiday, 36 percent

_Detract from the religious significance of the Christmas holiday, 47 percent

_Neither, has no effect (volunteered), 13 percent

_Both equally (volunteered), 2 percent

_Not sure, 2 percent

5. Do you believe in angels, or not?

_Yes, 81 percent

_No, 18 percent

_Not sure, 1 percent

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