Author Archive for: Editor
Entries by Jeff Westover
Book Review: Good King Wenceslas
By James Keefe If you’re like most people chances are you have heard the annual holiday reference to Good King Wenceslas but you have never quite understood his story or what it has to do with Christmas. Out now from Deseret Book.com is a new illustrated children’s volume that beautifully tells the story in word […]
The Evolution of Christmas
By Jeff Westover Which came first: the chicken or the egg? That is the seeming dilemma when discussing how Christmas began. Most define Christmas as the celebration of the birth of Christ. Historians tie the tradition of a December holiday around ancient celebrations of the Winter Solstice that pre-dates Christ. Theologians claim Christ was celebrated […]
Why is Santa Smoking Controversial?
By Jeff Westover In recent days a Christmas story has unfolded that has just amazed me. It has been everywhere in the media, including on our sites at ChristmasNewswire.com and ChristmasFinest.com. It is all about a new book of an old story. Publisher Pamela McColl has released a brilliantly illustrated new edition of The Night […]
The First Christmas in the Americas
By Max Schilling “In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue…” – and that is about all historians can really agree upon when it comes to the character of Christopher Columbus. Though memorialized in modern times with the celebration of Columbus Day in recognition of his exploration of the Americas there is plenty of historical proof […]
Santa Speaks 2012
It’s October and that can only mean one thing, it’s time for Santa’s annual interview with the media. Every year Santa sits down with a member of the media to talk about what’s going on in the world, how things are going at the North Pole, and the state of Christmas. This year Santa is […]
What is Mrs. Claus’ first name?
Dear Ernest, What is Mrs. Claus’ first name? Thanks, Bill Hi Bill, I’ll tell you, Bill I haven’t the foggiest idea. You see, Mr. and Mrs. Claus are very private people, despite their very public roles. I am in the delicate position of knowing many things and I have been charged with being a spokesperson […]
Grandpa’s Christmas Tree Hunt
By Lawrence Hawkes My father was born when my grandfather was 71 years old. By the time I was born in 1968, my grandpa was well into to his 90s and very hard of hearing. Because he could not hear he did not talk much. But I do recall him telling me once about his […]
Decorating with Wreaths
By Jeanette DiCamillo No matter where you look during the season, artificial Christmas wreaths adorn every door, window, and lamp post. Christmas wreaths are one of the most popular decoration items for Christmas as they work well with other greenery decorations like garland. On top of that, they can match the Christmas tree and tie […]
The Connection Between Halloween and Christmas
By B. Francis Morlan Imagine this: holiday celebrants by the hundreds take to the streets wearing all manner of costumes and masks, going door to door seeking treats in a yearly ritual of fun and frivolity. Halloween, right? Nope — it’s Christmas. The ancient art of “mumming” dates back to before Christ and is eerily […]
Just Say Merry Christmas
By Denise Richardson (As told to MMC Editor Jeff Westover, September 2011) Carla was the strongest woman I had ever known. I once saw her take on a snarling mechanic who attempted to force a brake job on her that she didn’t need. Carla wasn’t a big lady but when she got her back up […]
