A fragment of wood believed to have formed part of Jesus’ manger has been returned to Bethlehem after more than 1,000 years in Europe. Pope Francis ordered the return of the thumb-sized relic from Rome’s Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore as a gift. The relic had been in Rome since …
Christmas remains wondrous, but it arrives at a difficult moment for Christianity in the United States. We still see Christmas trees strapped to the tops of cars, neighbors lighting up their homes, and children getting as excited as ever. And the churches will be unusually full. This last point is …
Source: AAEC – Today’s Political Cartoons
Alexandra Conopoi was shot dead as she awaited the delivery of subsidised pork on Christmas Eve. A Venezuelan soldier who shot dead a pregnant woman on Christmas Eve has been arrested. Alexandra Conopoi, 18, was killed as she waited for subsidised pork that the government had promised to millions for …
They’re sheltering aquatic species, keeping out invasive fish, and holding beaches and swamps together. EVERY YEAR AS THE CHRISTMAS season approaches, celebrants around the world cut down small evergreens and put them in their homes. They cover them in baubles and tinsel, gather around them to exchange gifts, and breathe in …
19th-century urbanisation was central to the festival’s recasting as a family event THERE were no neatly wrapped presents. Nor were there tinselled trees or Santa Claus. Christmas in preindustrial Europe and America looked very different from today’s iteration. Drunks, cross-dressers and rowdy carollers roamed the streets. The tavern, rather than …
Despite Donald Trump’s best efforts, Americans are relaxed about generic holiday greetings THE argument over whether multiculturalism and modernity are eroding the Christian character of Christmas is a cherished annual ritual. A bit like snowball fights, the Christmas culture wars are acted out with gusto by all participants, with a …
RUNGIS, France (Reuters) – If you’re holidaying in France this festive season, you’ll have to pay more for delicacies like foie gras and snails after a turbulent year for agricultural production that saw duck flocks decimated by bird flu and butter shortages in supermarkets. A worker holds a blue …
A bone thought to belong to St. Nicholas, the fourth-century saint on whom the legend of Father Christmas is based, has been dated by Oxford University and is the correct age. Scientists used a radio carbon test to date the relic, and found it dates from the time of the Saint, …
Christmas Day is strictly scheduled, but comes along with charades, party games, and tiaras. Windsor Castle has already been decorated for Christmas, featuring a 20-foot tree and elaborate ornaments. However, the royal family will spend December 25 at their Sandringham residence in Norfolk. Christmas Day is strictly scheduled, but comes …
KANEOHE BAY, Hawaii (AP) — For eight years, Barack Obama has led a military fighting in multiple theaters overseas, becoming the only president in U.S. history to serve full two terms with the nation at war. On Sunday, he sought to pay tribute to the men and women who sacrificed …
How a fast-food marketing campaign turned into a widespread Yuletide tradition for millions. Every Christmas, Ryohei Ando gathers his family together for a holiday tradition. Just like their father did as a child, his two children will reach deep into a red-and-white bucket and pick out the best piece of …