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Here are 10 historical fun facts about the beloved holiday ballet that will have sugarplums dancing in your head! 1. Although The Nutcracker first premiered in the United States in 1944 by San Francisco Ballet, it didn’t gain popularity until ten years later with George Balanchine’s version. By the 1960s, the ballet became a holiday essential across the country. 2. Tchaikovsky died shortly after the original 1892 production in Russia, never knowing the long-lasting impression of his work. He also considered it one of his worst works, thinking The Sleeping Beauty was far superior. 3. In German folklore, it is...

A shooting at a Christmas tree lighting event in Concord, North Carolina, on Friday left four people wounded, according to police. Concord Police said three victims were listed in critical condition and one was in stable condition. All four victims were rushed to a hospital for medical treatment. The shooting happened at the city’s annual Tree Lighting Ceremony on Union Street S near the intersection with Corban Avenue shortly before 7:30 p.m. Police, Concord Fire and Cabarrus County EMS personnel were already at the event and responded immediately with medical aid and evacuation efforts. The remainder of the event was...

Multiple police officers were attacked, including one who was injured, while responding to a shooting in Chicago on Friday in which at least five victims were shot. The incident happened near State and Randolph streets at about 10 p.m., just hours after a Christmas tree lighting ceremony, according to Fox 32. Ald. Brian Hopkins of Chicago's 2nd Ward said at least five people were shot, including one person in critical condition. "300 juveniles rioting in the Loop now, at least 5 victims shot, one critical with life threatening gunshot wound to torso," he wrote on X. "Multiple police officers attacked...

A woman who has organized a local farmers' market for years in the city of Pataskala, Ohio, was prohibited from putting on a live nativity display for a Christmas-themed market until officials backed down. Susan Conley requested in September to be allowed to set up the nativity scene on public grounds this year after previously having it located on private property. The city denied the request, despite allowing other displays that included the Grinch, Santa Claus, and Buddy the Elf. The First Liberty Institute, which represents Conley, said in a press release that city officials backtracked after the organization sent...

The Nutcracker—it’s as synonymous with the holiday season as twinkling lights, candy canes, and fir trees. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s 1892 ballet is performed by virtually every ballet company during the month of December. But it may surprise you to learn that it wasn’t always a holiday staple. In this article, we’ll take a look at the history behind The Nutcracker to see how it came to be the cherished Christmas tradition we know it as today. The history of The Nutcracker dates back to 1816 when author E. T. A. Hoffmann penned Nussknacker und Mausekönig (or The Nutcracker and the...

WASHINGTON — Spirit Christmas is kicking off its holiday season early, with the first of dozens of stores opening over the weekend. Spirit Halloween, known for seasonally popping up in hundreds of locations around the country and offering a wide variety of costume pieces and decorations for folks to prepare for the October holiday, is expanding its spinoff Christmas-themed stores. The company will open 30 Christmas-themed stores across the Northeastern U.S. this year. Spirit Halloween first teased the return of its Christmas-themed pop-up stores in August. The company recently shared on social media a tour inside its newly opened Mays...

President Donald Trump’s tariffs are threatening to put a crimp in Christmas. The United States imports as much as 75% of the toy products it sells from China, according to the U.S. Commerce Department, making it one of the industries most reliant on that country’s supply chain. Along with sports equipment and games, it is the fourth-largest import category from that nation. As a result, toy industry officials are warning U.S. consumers to expect higher prices and fewer choices this year, including for the holidays, as a result of Trump’s tariffs. “Christmas is in danger,” said Greg Ahearn, president and...

Many small businesses are still threatened by the trade war facing the United States, even though President Donald Trump suspended most tariffs for 90 days. The escalating tariffs on China have halted imports — and manufacturing — for many American companies, including mom-and-pop stores and family-owned businesses that cannot easily shift production or sourcing to other countries. ‘This is life or death,” says Rick Woldenberg, the CEO of Learning Resources, a century-old toy manufacturing company that makes educational materials for thousands of American schools. Woldenberg told Breitbart News that the Trump administration’s tariffs on China — which hit 145% as...

Sunday 12 January 2025 The Baptism of the Lord Feast Site historique Marguerite-Bourgeoys, Montreal Readings at MassLiturgical Colour: White. Year: C(I).First readingIsaiah 40:1-5,9-11The glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all mankind shall see it‘Console my people, console them’says your God.‘Speak to the heart of Jerusalemand call to herthat her time of service is ended,that her sin is atoned for,that she has received from the hand of the Lorddouble punishment for all her crimes.’A voice cries, ‘Prepare in the wildernessa way for the Lord.Make a straight highway for our Godacross the desert.Let every valley be filled in,every mountain...

11 January 2025 Saturday after Epiphany SundaySt. Paulin Church, Trier Readings at MassThe readings shown here are for places where the Epiphany is celebrated on Sunday 5 January.If you are celebrating the Epiphany on Monday 6 January this year then these are not the right readings. To see the right readings, you need to set this web site to use your own local calendar. On this web page, find the list of dates. After the last date there is a heading which says “Calendar Used”. Click on the calendar name below this heading, and choose your local calendar from...

10 January 2025 Friday after Epiphany SundaySan Pietro I Orseolo, Venice Readings at MassThe readings shown here are for places where the Epiphany is celebrated on Sunday 5 January.If you are celebrating the Epiphany on Monday 6 January this year then these are not the right readings. To see the right readings, you need to set this web site to use your own local calendar. On this web page, find the list of dates. After the last date there is a heading which says “Calendar Used”. Click on the calendar name below this heading, and choose your local calendar...

9 January 2025 Thursday after Epiphany Sunday Saint Adrian Catholic Church, Adrian, MNReadings at MassThe readings shown here are for places where the Epiphany is celebrated on Sunday 5 January.If you are celebrating the Epiphany on Monday 6 January this year then these are not the right readings. To see the right readings, you need to set this web site to use your own local calendar. On this web page, find the list of dates. After the last date there is a heading which says “Calendar Used”. Click on the calendar name below this heading, and choose your local...

8 January 2025 Wednesday after Epiphany SundaySt. Michael and St. Gudula Cathedral, BrusselsReadings at MassThe readings shown here are for places where the Epiphany is celebrated on Sunday 5 January.If you are celebrating the Epiphany on Monday 6 January this year then these are not the right readings. To see the right readings, you need to set this web site to use your own local calendar. On this web page, find the list of dates. After the last date there is a heading which says “Calendar Used”. Click on the calendar name below this heading, and choose your local...

6 January 2025 Monday after Epiphany SundaySt. André Bessette Parish, Amesbury, MA Readings at MassThe readings shown here are for places where the Epiphany is celebrated on Sunday 5 January.If you are celebrating the Epiphany on Monday 6 January this year then these are not the right readings. To see the right readings, you need to set this web site to use your own local calendar. On this web page, find the list of dates. After the last date there is a heading which says “Calendar Used”. Click on the calendar name below this heading, and choose your local calendar...

7 January 2025 Tuesday after Epiphany Sunday Saint Raymond of Penafort Catholic Church, Springfield, VAReadings at MassThe readings shown here are for places where the Epiphany is celebrated on Sunday 5 January.If you are celebrating the Epiphany on Monday 6 January this year then these are not the right readings. To see the right readings, you need to set this web site to use your own local calendar. On this web page, find the list of dates. After the last date there is a heading which says “Calendar Used”. Click on the calendar name below this heading, and choose...

Sunday 5 January 2025 The Epiphany of the Lord Solemnity the Sanctuary of St. John Nepomuk Neumann, PhiladelphiaReadings at MassThe readings shown here are for places where the Epiphany is celebrated on Sunday 5 January.If you are celebrating the Epiphany on Monday 6 January this year then these are not the right readings. To see the right readings, you need to set this web site to use your own local calendar. On this web page, find the list of dates. After the last date there is a heading which says “Calendar Used”. Click on the calendar name below this heading,...

Saturday 4 January 2025Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, Cedar Rapids, Iowa Readings at MassLiturgical Colour: White. Year: C(I).Readings for the feriaReadings for the memorialThese are the readings for the feriaFirst reading1 John 3:7-10No-one sins who has been begotten by GodMy children, do not let anyone lead you astray:to live a holy lifeis to be holy just as he is holy;to lead a sinful life is to belong to the devil,since the devil was a sinner from the beginning.It was to undo all that the devil has donethat the Son of God appeared.No one who...

Two years ago my 9 year old daughter caught me moving the “Elf on the Shelf” around. So I told her the truth that it has been me. But I asked her would you rather not known the truth and continue to have daddy move the elf? She was thoughtful. Now 2 years later we spent Christmas out of the country and it was too difficult to set up presents for the favorite daughter. So I told Santa could not find us and we’d have to work it out after Christmas. Now it is after Christmas and she’s asking. I...

Friday 3 January 2025 3 January Sainte-Geneviève, in the city of Sainte-Geneviève, MissouriReadings at MassLiturgical Colour: White. Year: C(I).First reading1 John 2:29-3:6Everyone must try to be as pure as ChristYou know that God is righteous –then you must recognise that everyone whose life is righteoushas been begotten by him.Think of the love that the Father has lavished on us,by letting us be called God’s children;and that is what we are.Because the world refused to acknowledge him,therefore it does not acknowledge us.My dear people, we are already the children of Godbut what we are to be in the future has not...

A recent photograph of Steve Bannon, former advisor to Donald Trump, has ignited a media frenzy in Turkey. The image, widely circulated on social media, features Bannon wearing a t-shirt emblazoned with the phrase "Free Constantinople," a message that has been perceived by many in Turkey as provocative. The controversy began when Rahim Kassam, a British political commentator, shared the photo on X (formerly known as Twitter). Kassam captioned the image, "Steve Bannon opened his favorite Christmas present," implying the t-shirt was a gift. Unsurprisingly, the Turkish media reacted strongly, labeling the image a "provocation" and engaging in extensive commentary....