Christmas

Read the most recent news stories about Christmas on Newser.com

Stories 21 - 40 | << Prev   Next >>

Poinsettia Namesake Comes With Thorny Past

US official Joel Roberts Poinsett spotted the plant in Mexico 200 years ago, popularized it in the US

(Newser) - Like Christmas trees, Santa, and reindeer, the poinsettia has long been a ubiquitous symbol of the holiday season in the US and Europe. But now, nearly 200 years after the plant with the bright crimson leaves was introduced north of the Rio Grande, attention is once again turning to the...

Have You Gotten &#39;Whammed&#39; Yet This Holiday Season?
39 Years Later, Wham!
Tops UK Christmas Chart
updated
Dec 23, 2023 5:45 PM CST

39 Years Later, Wham! Tops UK Christmas Chart

George Michael wanted a holiday No. 1, Andrew Ridgeley says

(Newser) - The avoidance game that's all the rage apparently is not hurting the popularity of "Last Christmas," released by Wham! 39 years ago. For the first time, the song is top of the Christmas chart in the UK, the BBC reports. Andrew Ridgeley said the other half of...

This Is America's Most Christmas-y City

Atlanta is No. 1 on WalletHub's list of where the spirit of the season shines, affordably

(Newser) - Looking to get your Yule on? WalletHub has sought out the cities across the US where celebrating Christmas doesn't have to break the bank. The site looked at 100 of the nation's largest cities, tapping into more than two dozen metrics in five main categories: traditions and fun,...

Bing Crosby Would Be Disappointed This Christmas

Prospects aren't good for a white Christmas across much of the US—except in Alaska

(Newser) - For most Americans dreaming of a white Christmas, this year's prospects aren't good. Although parts of the Rockies and Midwest already have snow or could get a fresh dusting by Monday, other parts of the country that are normally coated in white this time of year are still...

With Sale of This Tree, 'the Magic of Christmas Lives On'

'Humblest Christmas tree in the world' is 100-plus years old, just sold for $4.3K

(Newser) - If you've always had a soft spot for Charlie Brown-style Christmas trees , this story will warm the cockles. An auction for what's been deemed "the humblest Christmas tree in the world" has come to a close, though the final price tag was far from humble itself. The...

Retailers Steel for What May Be a Holiday Mixed Bag

Consumers seem set to spend on Black Friday, but how much, how long after that remains a question

(Newser) - The holiday season is a critical one for many US retailers, and with Black Friday just two days away, it appears consumers are gearing up for a shopping spree: According to the National Retail Federation, about 182 million people are expected to open their wallets online and at brick-and-mortar stores...

Taylor Swift Isn't Only One in the Relationship With a No. 1 Song

Turns out boyfriend Travis Kelce can also carry a tune, as heard on Christmas tune with brother Jason

(Newser) - Watch out, Taylor Swift— your new man can apparently sing. The BBC reports that a Christmas song recorded by Travis Kelce, tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs, along with his older brother, Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce, shot to the No. 1 spot on Apple's iTunes, just hours...

The Holy Land Cans Christmas Festivities

With a war raging, church leaders in Jerusalem, Bethlehem say it's no time to celebrate

(Newser) - Each year around Christmas, a tree is set up, lights are strung, and a nativity scene is arranged in Bethlehem's Manger Square, home of the 6th-century Church of the Nativity, which is said to mark the spot where Jesus Christ was born. There will be none of that this...

How the Grinch Got a Sequel
How the Grinch Got a Sequel
Feb 23, 2023 10:54 AM CST

How the Grinch Got a Sequel

This time, he's lost Christmas

(Newser) - Dr. Seuss fans might find their hearts growing three sizes this coming holiday season with the release of a sequel to the 1957 classic children's book How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The new book picks up one year after the original, and like the first, it teaches a valuable...

Here Are the Most Festive US Cities
Here Are the Most
Festive US Cities
Dec 24, 2022 10:01 AM CST

Here Are the Most Festive US Cities

New York tops LawnStarter's list

(Newser) - Do you don your party hat on Dec. 1 and not take it off till the new year? You might want to seek out cities where you'll find like-minded festive souls. LawnStarter gathered public data from 200 of the nation's largest cities to see where those in a...

For Millions, This Might Be the Coldest Christmas in Decades

Arctic air set to chill central, eastern US

(Newser) - Something big from the Arctic will sweep into the US in the days before Christmas, and it's not Santa Claus. Forecasters say that thanks to a dip in the jet stream, a huge mass of cold air from the north is making its way south and will bring some...

Woman Wins $175K at Office Gift Exchange

Kentucky woman's first choice at the white elephant gift exchange was a $25 gift card

(Newser) - A Kentucky woman was disappointed when somebody "stole" a $25 TJ Maxx gift card from her during a holiday party gift exchange game, but she ended up with a gift worth 7,000 times more. Lori Janes, an office manager at a dental center in Louisville, chose $25 in...

Sorry, Mariah, You're Not the Only 'Queen of Christmas'

Trademark office denies singer's claim for rights to the phrase

(Newser) - Mariah Carey isn't getting the holiday gift she wanted from the US Patent and Trademark Office. The office on Tuesday denied the singer's request to trademark "Queen of Christmas," after rejecting her applications for "QOC" and "Princess Christmas" earlier this month, per the Washington ...

A Christmas Story House Up for Sale
An Iconic Ohio
Home Is Up for Grabs
Nov 15, 2022 10:19 AM CST

An Iconic Ohio Home Is Up for Grabs

Cleveland house used in 'A Christmas Story,' plus a museum and gift shop, has been listed

(Newser) - You could spend Christmas—and every other day of the year—in the house made famous by A Christmas Story. The century-old home in Cleveland, used to house the family of Ralphie Parker in the 1983 film, is up for sale as part of a listing that includes a museum,...

This Christmas Ad 'Will Leave You Staring Into the Abyss'

Mostly in a good way, though reaction is mixed to John Lewis & Partners' poignant holiday promo

(Newser) - It's that time of year when Christmas ads start flooding the landscape, and some retailers are trying to take a "more muted approach" as people continue to struggle with inflation and the cost of necessities, reports the BBC . One promotion in particular, by the John Lewis & Partners...

Pope Francis Accidentally Declared Dead

ITV news anchor Kylie Pentelow made the false announcement on Christmas Day

(Newser) - Christmas came with a shock announcement for British television viewers when an anchor reported that Pope Francis had died. It would have been a major holiday tragedy... had it been true. Luckily for the pontiff and his billion followers worldwide, it wasn't. Per the Mirror , it all unfolded Saturday...

Queen Joins Those Finding ‘Christmas Can Be Hard’

Elizabeth says she'll still find joy in holiday after her husband's death

(Newser) - In her Christmas address to her subjects, Britain's Queen Elizabeth II had a message for those who, like her, suffered a loss in the past year. "Although it's a time of great happiness and good cheer for many, Christmas can be hard for those who have lost...

Christmas Eve Celebrations Around the World
Christmas Eve Celebrations
Around the World
photos
Dec 25, 2021 5:46 AM CST

Christmas Eve Celebrations Around the World

They're more muted than usual because of omicron

(Newser) - From Bethlehem and Frankfurt to London and Boston, the surging coronavirus put a damper on Christmas Eve for a second year, forcing churches to cancel or scale back services and disrupting travel plans and family gatherings. Details, per the AP :
  • Drummers and bagpipers marched through Bethlehem to smaller than usual
...

Yes, There Is a Santa Claus. No, COVID Won't Stop Him

NORAD is tracking St. Nick for the 66th year

(Newser) - Rest assured, kids of all ages: Santa’s coming this Christmas Eve, and a second holiday with COVID-19 won’t stop him. That’s the word from the joint US-Canadian military operation that for 66 years has been tracking Jolly Old St. Nicholas on his global mission and has assured...

These US Cities Have the Most, Least Holiday Spirit

New York City is the most festive of all, while Enterprise, Nev., is a bit of a Grinch

(Newser) - With 2022 almost upon us, it's the time of year when we wind down and kick back, which often includes a fair bit of festivities. LawnStarter wanted to know which places boast the most spirit of the season, so the site looked at the 200 largest cities in the...

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