It's a Wrap

30

Number of times the total amount of Scotch tape sold in the United States between Thanksgiving and Christmas would encircle the earth. Just think: that last piece of tape holding the wrap on Uncle Wally’s gift could be the one that crosses the Greenwich Meridian and gets it there a day earlier.

$160

Cost for same-day hand delivery of a package from the Twin Cities to Los Angeles by Bellair Expediting—assuming your oh-so-late, hand-crocheted tea cozy for Aunt Agatha weighs less than 50 pounds.

79,741

Average number of passengers who fly Northwest Airlines to and from Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport each day. If you’re traveling during the holidays, it might seem like this is also the number of folks on your crack-of-dawn flight to Fargo.

1,300

Number of lights on the new third runway at Minneapolis–St. Paul International. For years, the airport was the world’s busiest to have only two runways capable of operating simultaneously; the new addition will ease congestion noticeably.

1,000,000+

Number of light bulbs that’ll put the dazzle in the 2005 TCF Holidazzle Parade.

25,350

Number of Knudsen’s Caramels sold each holiday season at the General Store of Minnetonka. The Red Wing–made confections fuel extended shopping hours—and come in handy during gift-wrapping, should the adhesive square fall off a bow.

339,931

Yards of ribbon used on holiday gifts at Creative Kidstuff stores in 2004. Vibrant, decadently wrapped packages are the retailer’s trademark; Santa’s elves are petitioning the Man in Red to come up with a comparable level of presentation.

St. Paul writer Maria Hidalgo is hoping Santa brings her a La-Z-Boy this year—but not in one of those lazy-boy gift bags.