Sight-Seeing: In a world darkened by war, Christmas provides hope where there seems to be none
NILS VON KALM says the period of Advent forces us to “live in reality, with all its messiness and uncertain promises”…
Ukrainians prepare for first wartime Christmas on new calendar
Kyiv/Donetsk region, Ukraine Reuters Ukrainians are gearing up to celebrate their first Christmas according to a new calendar, another step towards erasing all traces of Russian influence as their military fends off a Kremlin invasion. Most Ukrainians are Orthodox Christians and the country’s main church agreed this year to move away from the traditional Julian […]
Essay: Christmas celebrations cancelled, Christians in the Holy Land still find hope in the season
Palestinian journalist DAOUD KUTTAB, in an article first published on Religion News Service, looks at how Christmas is being celebrated in a time of war…
Christmas food: Convent-made delicacies help monks and nuns win fans and pay the bills
GIOVANNA DELL’ORTO and MARÍA TERESA HERNÁNDEZ, of Associated Press, report…
Essay: Inconvenient truths at Christmastime
PHYLLIS ZAGANO, in an article first published on Religion News Service, says it seems civility has left the planet…
Postcards: In south Lebanon, conflict casts long shadow over Christmas
Reuters correspondents report from Tyre…
This Life: A wonderful life worth living
US-based CAROL ROUND reflects on our search for meaning with a nod to the Christmas classic, ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’…
Sight-Seeing: Seven tips for ethical shopping this Christmas
SIMON OLDHAM and LAURA SPENCE, of Royal Holloway University of London, provide – in an article first published on The Conversation – some help for those wanting to make ethical choices when shopping…
The Explainer: When is St Nicholas Day? And how did this Christian saint inspire the Santa Claus legend?
With St Nicholas’ Day commemorated around the world this week, LUIS ANDRES HENAO, of Associated Press, looks at who St Nicholas was and his connections with more modern Christmas celebrations …
StrangeSights: A record-breaking 555 Christmas trees for German house; and, kangaroo packs a punch…
DAVID ADAMS provides a round-up of some stories on the odder side of life…