Christmas
Gay ornament pulled from store after protest
By Kimberly Winston — December 21, 2016
(RNS) Jesus had two mommies -- until a Christian group protested.
Hanukkah overlaps with Christmas this year. But why not every year?
By Josh Hafner — December 21, 2016
Hanukkah begins this year on Dec. 24, a.k.a. Christmas Eve. Why does it move around the calendar from year to year?
Rice and chicken: Bringing Nigerian Christmas to the US
By Kimberly Winston — December 21, 2016
(RNS) Nigerian-American author Okey Ndibe recalls how, during a civil war, his family plowed all of its available resources into a single meal of rice and -- that rarest of treats -- chicken.
Suspect in Christmas market massacre was meant to be deported
By Jerome Socolovsky — December 21, 2016
BERLIN (USA Today) — A massive manhunt is underway Wednesday for the driver of a truck that was intentionally crashed into a Berlin Christmas market, leaving 12 people dead and 48 injured.
Berlin attack piles pressure on Germany’s Merkel over refugees
By Jerome Socolovsky — December 20, 2016
BERLIN (USA Today) Merkel has faced sharp criticism over her decision to allow nearly 1 million asylum seekers to enter Germany from conflict zones in the Middle East and North Africa.
‘Merry Christmas’ or ‘Happy Holidays’? What these preferences reveal
By Emily McFarlan Miller — December 19, 2016
(RNS) — Americans remain split on on how to greet others at stores at this time of year. Their answers reveal religious and partisan divides.
Amid Middle East gloom, Christmas brings some cheer in Bethlehem
By Jerome Socolovsky — December 19, 2016
BETHLEHEM, West Bank (Reuters) - This Christmas, for once, Bethlehem really can boast again that there is no room at the inn, as relative calm in the Israeli-occupied West Bank brings pilgrims and tourists flocking to the town of Jesus's birth.
’Tis the season for animal rights
By David Gibson — December 18, 2016
Live Nativity scenes aren't even historically accurate. We don't need to exploit our four-legged friends to keep the magic of the holiday season.
Holidays on fire: When Christmas trees and candles lead to 911 calls
By Lauren Markoe — December 16, 2016
(RNS) Light up the holidays. But don't ignite them.
Anti-Christmas cards: 11 suck-it sentiments for 2016
By Kimberly Winston — December 14, 2016
(RNS). Ferocious beasts. Orange combovers. Santa Jesuses. Must be Holiday Hostility Syndrome time again.
Christmas reminds us that Jesus was a migrant like today’s refugees, says Pope Francis
By Josephine McKenna — December 9, 2016
VATICAN CITY (RNS) The pontiff made his remarks as he officially opened this year’s Christmas Nativity scene in St. Peter’s Square.
The ‘Splainer: Advent, not just another Christmas countdown
By Emily McFarlan Miller — December 2, 2016
(RNS) Advent has its own songs and symbols and traditions, distinct from Christmas.
Holiday gifts for Christians, Jews and none-of-the-above
By Lauren Markoe — December 1, 2016
(RNS) Twenty reverent and irreverent presents you won't see on every other gift guide.
This Advent devotional uses language you won’t find in Scriptures
By Emily McFarlan Miller — December 1, 2016
(RNS) But the language of 'F*** This S***: An Advent Devotional' isn’t all that different from the harsh words of the prophets, according to the Lutheran pastors behind it.
No, Natalie — I don’t want a Christmas tree
By Jeffrey Salkin — December 1, 2016
Memo to Jews: don't imitate Natalie Portman's Christmas tree.
