Christmas has endured many controversies over the course of its history. Most usually center on religious disputes or how much Christmas imposes of itself on parts of society that do not want it. But in recent years Christmas has seemingly become embroiled in an important ongoing societal dialogue: racism. The biggest story in Christmas and […]
It’s A Wonderful Life has reached such a point of saturation in American Christmas culture we can practically quote it line by line. But even still we cannot get enough of it. Even though Jimmy Stewart has been gone now for many years we can read of his memories and share in interviews he did […]
Walmart is getting the jump on Kmart this year by being the first major retailer to advertise their Christmas layaway. The world’s largest retailer is opening their program in conjunction with a marketing push of their new Toy Week promotion which promises to highlight as many as 500 new Star Wars themed toys. The newest […]
The drought in new, original Christmas movies continues despite trailers for new release titles like Love the Coopers, which dropped today: The movie opens in theaters November 13th. The film follows the Cooper clan as four generations of extended family come together for their annual Christmas Eve celebration. As the evening unfolds, a series of […]
Nobody was much surprised when Mariah Carey announced she was resurrecting her Christmas hit from 1994, All I Want for Christmas is You, for this holiday season. And nobody was much surprised to hear she wanted to star and direct in a television movie based on the song either. But everyone is a bit surprised […]
This stirring combination of Christmas story telling, outstanding music and a true story is an unbeatable way to get in the Christmas Spirit. The late Edward Herrmann tells the tragic true tale of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and the inspiration behind the classic Christmas hymn I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day:
When Bob Wells and Mel Torme wrote The Christmas Song during the golden years of Christmas songs (1944) they had no idea they were penning a tune that would recorded by literally hundreds of artists. It is a song that, like White Christmas, gets reinterpreted almost every holiday season. In one of the most stirring […]
He knew the song was good. Using just 54 words and 67 notes Irving Berlin composed White Christmas over the holiday season of 1940. He liked it so much he told a secretary “I’ve just written a new song. Not only is the best song I’ve ever written, it’s the best song anybody’s ever written.” […]
The US Postal Service always provides something new each holiday season in the images it puts on seasonal stamps. This year the honor goes to Charlie Brown and the Peanuts gang as they celebrate 50 years since the television debut of A Charlie Brown Christmas. The set of 10 stamps will be released on October […]
The gloss is still on the new new backpacks and shoes of back-to-school season but that does not stop the rise of “pumpkin season” — a time of fall-theme products that some say put them in the mood for the holiday season. Starbucks has kicked off pumpkin season this year with the startling news that […]
