Free Republic

Venezuela price regulators on Friday seized almost 4 million toys from warehouses around greater Caracas and said they’d distribute them to low income children ahead of the Christmas holiday. With the nation's currency hyperinflating faster than a CNN Russian hacking story, this confiscation of 'unfairly-priced' toys is likely the only way to keep the Grinch from the door of this socialist nirvana.

Michelle Obama kicked off her family's final Christmas season at the White House on Friday by receiving a 19-foot Balsam-Veitch fir from Wisconsin as the official White House Christmas tree. Joined by two young nephews instead of her teenage daughters, the first lady said she's ready and excited for the holiday. . . . Mrs. Obama explained that the appearance by her nephews "is what happens when you get teenagers," referring to 18-year-old Malia and 15-year-old Sasha, the daughters who in past years have joined her for the tradition of receiving the Christmas tree on the morning after Thanksgiving. "One's...

God became a man to save us from our sins, which he did finally and completely on the Cross. We commemorate his death and resurrection on Easter, but his suffering on our behalf began much earlier than that. We would do well to remember that at Christmastime, when we celebrate our savior's birth. Seminary professor Bob Tuttle, in his 2006 book, "Shortening the Leap," puts that in perspective poignantly: "The Jesus of glory still bears the marks of the Incarnation, and not just in his hands, his side and his feet, but in his navel, because the suffering began in...

The history of Christmas dates back over 4000 years. Many of our Christmas traditions were celebrated centuries before the Christ child was born. The 12 days of Christmas, the bright fires, the yule log, the giving of gifts, carnivals (parades) with floats, carolers who sing while going from house to house, the holiday feasts, and the church processions can all be traced back to the early Mesopotamians.

www.catholicnewsagency.com German diocese creates ‘Santa-free zone’ Related articles: Santa ClausAdvent Christmas Tree BlessingHail to Thee, True BodyChristmas Tree Speyer, Germany, Nov 11, 2009 / 05:09 pm (CNA).- In an effort to encourage people to replace the commercialization of the Christmas season with a true devotion to Advent, Christmas and the “true Santa Claus,” several groups within the German Diocese of Speyer have initiated a “Santa-free campaign.” The Federation of German Catholic Youth (BDKJ) of Speyer has partnered with other organizations to champion the cause of St. Nicholas of Myra, a friend and helper of children and those in trouble....

'In theaters this holiday." That's part of the advertising campaign that preceded the recently opened movie, "The Polar Express." Which holiday? Veterans Day? In that case, I missed it. Strange that a movie would play only one day. But of course, that's not what the marketing folks meant. The movie opened Nov. 12, the day after Veterans Day, and it will be playing for some time — maybe even through Presidents Day. All this "holiday" stuff is driving me nuts. "Buy our product this holiday." Which holiday? It doesn't make sense. I know what you're thinking. Just another rant from...

Each year we must be refreshed in our logic concerning the wrapping of gifts. This is, of course, for the Brothers of our group. The Women will already know these things and can attest to their veracity. This is the time of year when we think back to the very first Christmas when the Three Wise Men, Gaspar, Balthazar, and Herb, went to see the baby Jesus, and according to the Book of Matthew, "presented unto Him gifts; gold, frankincense, and myrrh." These are simple words; but if we analyze them carefully, we discover an important, yet often-overlooked, theological fact:...