Here’s how to track Santa this Christmas with NORAD
Santa Claus and his reindeer have taken off from the North Pole to bring holiday cheer and presents to children across the world. As millions of households await his arrival, hoping to catch a glimpse of Santa and his crew, children can have a heads-up on when the jolly man is heading toward them. To […]
The Baby Jesus Taught Us How to Scream
This piece was adapted from Russell Moore’s newsletter. Subscribe here. Before I begin, let me tell you that I hate what I am about to do. That’s because few things exasperate me more than the people who Well, actually Christmas songs. True, there was no innkeeper in the gospel Nativity accounts. We don’t know how […]
How to be the best gift giver
Are you a good gift … receiver? My school has this program that gives students “high fives.” These are at a boys and girls teachers send to kids to acknowledge any area of their growth and success. I took advantage of sending a few fivers a month ago to a student in French one that […]
How to exit an uncomfortable conversation
The end of the year brings with it a seemingly endless parade of holiday parties. While some gatherings can be perfectly pleasant, many are riddled with uncomfortable situations. One particularly tricky scenario you might encounter is being cornered into a conversation you don’t want to be having: distant relatives chiming in on world politics, a […]
Can We Consume Character? How to Learn Justice by Feasting
In the Old Testament, Israel found herself surrounded by monarchies and empires with powerful rulers and highly stratified societies, and she eventually sought to emulate that kind of system. Such political economies were filled with bureaucrats, professional soldiers, priestly classes, and—down at the bottom of the social pyramid—peasants. The peasants, of course, were expected to […]
More retailers charging return fees: Here’s how to pay less
Take a look at this guide if you want to save on your returns or exchanges this Christmas. ADVERTISEMENT If you’re someone who likes to return and exchange gifts after the holidays, prepare yourself as making returns could feel a little different this year. “It’s going to be hard for consumers to navigate,” said shopping […]
How to serve a filling and festive Christmas meal on a budget
Christmas is a time for love, joy, family and — just as important — food. But between lavish roasts and decadent desserts, the budget for your festival meal budget can blow out fast. While food inflation has simmered down from its eye-watering peak of 9.6 per cent in December 2022, customers are still paying more […]
How to decorate for the perfect English country Christmas
“I like seeing festive elements all over the place, so that you turn the corner and think, ‘Oh yes, it’s Christmas!’” says Paula. “I do the whole house, including upstairs, where there will be more trailing ivy – it sounds a bit naff, but I use faux ivy upstairs, as I don’t want to run […]
‘Ask yourself what you really need right now. It’s usually not alcohol’ – The Irish Times
Christmas parties, college reunions, family gatherings – it’s hard not to drink at Christmas. ‘Tis the season to be jolly after all. Opting out can feel downright uncomfortable. “If you are used to drinking, saying ‘No’ is going to feel uncomfortable. Being aware of that and preparing for it is key,” says Melissa Kelly, founder […]
Should you buy a real Christmas tree or an artificial one? Here’s how to tell which is more sustainable
Curtis VanderSchaaf is an assistant professor of forestry at Mississippi State University. Every year, Americans buy somewhere between 35 million and 50 million Christmas trees, and many more pull an artificial tree out of storage for the season. In all, about three-quarters of U.S. households typically have some kind of Christmas tree, surveys show. People often ask […]