...Here, in reverse order, are the top eight:

8. St Patrick's Day: 7 million cards

...You might not know it but over 10% (36 million people) of the United States population traces its roots back to Ireland – second only to Germany for self-reported ancestral groups...

7. Thanksgiving: 13 million

...It turns out that most cards are given because a family member isn't going to be present at Thanksgiving dinner...

6. Halloween: 17 million

...Halloween the third biggest party day of the year, next to New Year's Eve and Super Bowl Sunday.

5. Easter: 57 million

...Easter is also becoming more commercialized, in terms of seasonal clothing, accessories and jewelry. This suggests that card sales may increase in future years.

4. Father's Day: 93 million

...Children make up 50% of the card givers with 15% being wives and the rest scattered among grandparents, uncles, sons, brothers, etc...

3. Mother's Day: 141 million

Well, mom seems more popular than dads. Even when you take into account that there are 15 million more moms than dads, Mother's Day cards outpace Father's Day cards by more than 30 million...

2. Valentine's Day: 151 million

...Hallmark has been offering Valentine's Day cards longer than for any other holiday listed here, and 151 million actually undershoots the popularity – cards given in classrooms are not counted...

1. Christmas: 1.6 billion

...As it turns out, a higher percentage of consumers say they wrap gifts than send cards. Indeed, card giving is less popular than decorating the home and Christmas tree...