Christmas
Of Light and Darkness – The Catholic Thing
Yesterday was the winter solstice, the point at which, because of variations in the way that the Earth orbits the Sun, night is longest, the “darkest day of the year.” (It’s also my birthday, and for some who have followed me over the years, I…
President Trump Expands Christmas to 3 Day Federal Holiday
Thanks to President Trump, federal workers will have an extended Christmas holiday this year. In an executive order signed on Thursday, President Trump declared: All executive departments and agencies of the Federal Government shall be closed…
Strong and Free Christians Make for a Strong and Motivated Military
Christmastime at the Pentagon looks a bit different this year. On Wednesday, Admiral Carey Cash, Chaplain of the Marine Corps and Deputy Chief of Chaplains of the Navy, opened an event at the headquarters of the United States Department of War,…
A Pro-Life Christmas – The Catholic Thing
Let’s start with the “O Antiphons.” They began yesterday. There are seven of them, and they end on December 23. Then, with Christmas Eve and Christmas, they make nine – a novena – which is a period of expectation, the same in number as the…
Rabbi Jason Sobel: Christmas Miracles
By The Stream Published on December 10, 2025 Jewish teacher Rabbi Jason Sobel explores the myths and misunderstandings related to the birth of Christ. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igmM33dHYgY Like the article? Share it with your friends! And…
At Christmas, Charlie Brown and Coca-Cola Remind Us of Culture’s Sway
Tuesday marks the 60th anniversary of the television debut of “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” the animated classic that continues to charm both children and adults and communicate the true meaning of Jesus’ birthday. By the mid 1960s, Charles…
President Trump: “With the birth of Jesus, Human History Turned from Night to Day
It was just over a hundred years ago when the first “National Christmas Tree” was erected and lit on the White House lawn. The 48-foot Balsam fir was a gift of Vermont’s Middlebury College, a school from the new president’s home state. Coolidge…
The Pagan Roots of Christmas? Bah, Humbug!
By The Stream Published on December 5, 2025 Is Christmas A Pagan Holiday? Some are convinced Christmas is a beautiful celebration of Jesus. Others are convinced it’s a dark conspiracy from Babylon involving Nimrod, pagan trees, etc. In this…
Advent and the ‘Before Christ’ vs. ‘Common Era’ Debate
An excellent history of Christians in the early church has me thinking about how we mark time. This is a very pertinent exercise as we welcome Advent, the four weeks leading up to Christmas day where we celebrate Jesus’ incarnational birth and…
The Christmas Season as Gift – Religion & Liberty Online
In her new book, The True Gifts of Christmas: Unwrapping the Meaning Behind Our Most Cherished Traditions, TV’s Megan Alexander shares the origin of her love for the Yuletide season and the meaning behind many of its most beloved traditions.…