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As the deployment of active-duty military members to the U.S.-Mexico border continues, the newest form of criticism is that the troops will not be home for Thanksgiving and they could possibly miss Christmas as well. Secretary of Defense James Mattis also responded to the holiday criticism while he was en route to visit the service members deployed in Texas. “Rain or shine, light or dark, cold weather or hot weather — we have an all-weather force that's on duty 24/7,” Mattis explained. “Drive around the Pentagon on Thanksgiving Day, and look at the number of cars in the parking lot...

“I don't think the term Happy Holidays will ever annoy me so much again.” My dearest of friends Ralph and Margaret may have unknowingly ignited a Christmas trend that puts Christmas Greetings into a proper perspective that originates from natural order. Watching television is sometimes the only link to the outside world when small towns like the one where we live become snowbound when the main highway leading out of it is shut down. Like many others, Ralph and Margaret turn to Fox News when blizzards keep them house bound. Though Fox is their standby network, they were disconcerted to...

I found out this afternoon that the son of a business friend was killed in a car wreck which travelling to see family for the holidays. Safe holiday travels for FReepers and their family & friends. Just one more reason for me to have a different view of the holidays than most, ironically-reinforcing a ritual spanning over 2 decades due to tragedy closer to home long ago.

A person who gives a gift featuring his or her sacred religious iconography is reaching out, showing kindness and sharing his or her faith with others.For years I have been one of the only Jewish people at my places of employment. I am currently the only Jew who wears a kippah at my office every day. In my heavily Southern Baptist and rural town, one would think I would be quite familiar with the consequences of being such an outsider.But, as any honest minority will tell you, that singular idea of what America must be like simply is not accurate....

And now for something completely different: A December story totally free of forced kis****, fondl***, gro**** and humiliating resignat****.As the Trump family approaches its first holiday season in the White House, we are learning more about the new First Lady. She put her personal touch on some of this year’s Christmas decorations, then hung around the unveiling to thank adult volunteers who helped and to play with their children.On Wednesday Melania Trump was in Texas with Karen Pence to thank more first-responders for their relief work during and after the hurricanes.And Thursday, as often seems to happen, Mrs. Trump was...

Early Thanksgiving travelers are expected to stuff Interstate 15 with heavy traffic and delays this week. The Utah Department of Transportation is predicting heavy delays — of up to 45 minutes — on Interstate 15 along the Wasatch Front during the evening commute on Wednesday, as many people head out of town or escape from work a bit early for the holiday. UDOT said its engineers expect a 25 percent increase in traffic on both Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, compared to a typical weekday commute of about 200,000 cars per day. It expects heavier than normal traffic on Tuesday from...

It’s a November sort of day…A good day for raking leaves and making soup. The leaves are easy, but what kind of soup? Beef barley?Borscht?(the only way MOTUS will eat beets, as many of you know)Split pea?Carrot ginger?Aren’t the colors and textures of fall awesome?  Today I’m just going to enjoy them, and when the early darkness creeps in I’ll dine on whatever soup emerges from my simmering pot before curling up to re-read Ann of Green Gables. “We couldn't enjoy its loveliness any more if we had millions of dollars and ropes of diamonds.” Posted from: MOTUS A.D.

French authorities warn farmers of Jewish thieves ahead of Yom Kippur Municipal veterinary service says Jews and Muslims may try to steal chickens and sheep to use in ‘unauthorized sacrifices’ for holidays Veterinarians in a municipality near Paris warned farmers of an elevated risk of theft of sheep and fowl ahead of the Muslim and Jewish holidays of Eid al-Adha and Yom Kippur, respectively. Get The Times of Israel's Daily Edition by email and never miss our top stories FREE SIGN UP! The warning, which provoked angry reactions on the part of communal leaders who felt it was discriminatory, came...

"Saint Valentine, priest and martyr, lived nearly 1,700 years ago in pagan Rome. Father Valentine answered God’s call to the priesthood at a time when it wasn’t easy to be a Catholic, and it was downright dangerous to be a priest or bishop. The infant Catholic Church was being brutally persecuted by Emperor Claudius II. But that didn’t scare young Valentine! He knew that the Christian Faith was the only remedy for the sick and permissive society in which he lived. Especially when it came to Her teachings about the relationship that should exist between a man and a woman...

Happy Holidays no more?

Merry Christmas, to all! Your Christmas tree, no matter how scraggly, how bare or empty of gifts is far better than any of the Obamas’ ‘holiday’ ones! Not even a latter day version of the iconic Charles Dickens could ever make the Ghost of Christmas Past (2008) dwarf Christmas Present (2016). We the People are now writing the Christmas script and laying to rest the ghosts of Christmases Past. Christmas under Obama was sadly bereft of the Christ Child, tradition, and sincere goodwill, with all things Christmas far more Marxist than Merry.

You know it from the first few notes of Thurl Ravenscroft's barrel-chested performance — singing "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" with the same flair he brought to playing Tony the Tiger in Kellogg's cereal commercials — Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas is a holiday classic. The animated film turns 50 this year, airing on NBC about three weeks before its actual birthday. And it is, admittedly, a little weird to call a 26-minute cartoon about a green guy who learns not to steal Christmas presents an enduring masterpiece. But The Grinch, which CBS debuted on Dec. 18,...

The holiday garment that became cool for being anything but cool has now crept into German culture from overseas. But does that make it uncool once again? It’s taken on almost cult status in the United States and the United Kingdom, but now this more horrid than haute couture fashion statement has made it to the Bundesrepublik: the ugly Christmas sweater. While for years anglophones have thrown parties and declared official days for the often sparkling, gaudy, snowflake-bedecked knitwear, Germans have only recently picked up on the trend, which ever more stores are starting to have on offer. “You see...

Another Christmas is quickly approaching and with it yet another round of insults to the Christian faith. Increasingly we are afraid to utter the “C” word in public places, or in seasonal advertising. We wouldn’t want to offend those people of other faiths, you know. Before I go any further, let me explain: I’m not one of those self-righteous fire-breathing religious types who reflexively seek vengeance over the smallest slight. I don’t argue endlessly over subjects like school prayer, or a cross on a government building. I refuse to accept the notion, held by so many, that my religion entitles...

My friend Priscilla reminded me that tonight (tomorrow night in the continental US) is the Mid-Autumn or Moon Festival. Since everyone needs another holiday have a happy Moon Festival and go out and look at the moon. A full moon. A full life.

The Philadelphia School District will add two Muslim holidays to its calendar, placing it among the first in the nation to do so. In what would be an even rarer step, Mayor Kenney said Tuesday he also hopes to adopt the holidays for city workers. He has created a task force to determine how the change can be accomplished. A spokesman from the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Washington said his group is not aware of any cities that have included the holidays, Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, in their municipal calendars. "Philadelphia's history is based on being a place...

I have been in a few face-to-face debates with Muslims, and all of them were polite and respectful. One question from my Muslim friends kept popping up, however: "Why did Jesus have to die on the cross for our sins? If we sin, God just forgives! He does not need for someone to take our place." Muslims have told me that this substitutionary sacrifice is actually very unfair of God. God would never let a righteous man die for the guilty. They illustrate it this way: "Would God allow an innocent baby to die for the crimes of murderers? Of...

The resolution was presented by a Hindu deputy. Activists working on behalf of minorities appreciate the decision. Others point out some shortcomings: the holidays will be reserved only for religious minorities and not to the entire population. Focus needed on concrete respect for minority rights.Islamabad (AsiaNews) - The Pakistani National Assembly has passed a resolution that grants holiday time for Christians to celebrate Easter and Hindus and their Holi and Diwali celebrations. The resolution is the work of Vankwani Ramesh Kumar, an Assembly member of the Hindu faith. While some minority rights activists appreciate the initiative, others point out that...

March 15th celebrates Everything You Think Is Wrong Day, a day where decision making should be avoided, as your thoughts are (according to the founder of this holiday) wrong. It is also a day created for some people to realize that they are not always right. While starting a conversation, one might want to avoid using the words “I think.” Everything You Think Is Wrong Day may be a time for all to contemplate our own lack of knowledge. It is okay that one does not know everything, and if there is a need to feel as if you do,...

If you have beer sitting in the back of the fridge you can't bring yourself to drink or dump, have I got some ideas for you. This time of year brings a multitude of holiday parties to the calendar and gifts under the tree. This inevitably means ending up with "crap" beer in the fridge. Perhaps it's after a get-together with friends, when everyone brought a little something to share, or a well-meaning relative got you a six-pack thinking you might like it. Or maybe it's after picking something new at the store that you ended up hating. Or, let's...