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The December solstice happens at the same instant for everyone, everywhere on Earth – and this year the solstice occurs tomorrow, on Thursday December 21st at 16:28 GMT. The winter solstice happens every year when the Sun reaches its most southerly declination of -23.5 degrees. In other words, it is when the North Pole is tilted farthest away from the Sun, delivering the fewest hours of sunlight of the year. The Sun is directly overhead of the Tropic of Capricorn in the Southern Hemisphere during the December solstice and is closer to the horizon than at any other time in the year, meaning shorter...

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LATROBE, Pa. -- Santa can mark himself down as "naughty." A bearded man in a red, fur-lined Santa suit and hat showed a handgun and demanded money from a bank teller Monday, police said. He made off with an undetermined amount of cash, police said. "I'm sure he was a little more menacing than your average Santa at the mall," said state police Trooper Steve Barto.The man fled just after noon carrying a red bag in which he had stuffed the cash, police said. Police said the getaway vehicle was a tan car -- not a sleigh.No one was hurt...

This work, by an unknown author, dates back to the days of the Korean war , and was taught to me by an older brother, who fought there. It requires a narrator, and a small chorus-which will,for the most part, hum the heart-warming notes of Silent Night . Chorus ( hums ) Silent Night.. (Humming is continued) Narrator : 'Twas Christmas in Korea The Soldiers all were there Telling filthy rotten stories And partaking of the fare. Just then, the General wandered by And, gazing into the pit, He cried: " Merry Christmas, Soldiers ! " And the Soldiers answered:...

HoustonChronicle.com -- http://www.HoustonChronicle.com | Section: The News Bizarre Dec. 12, 2002, 2:53PM Santa Claus gets icy reception in Austria Associated Press Associated Press Margit Hammerl and Horst Strauss, members of the Pro-Christkind (Pro-Christ Child) Society, pose in front of a nativity scene at a Vienna Christmas market with Pro-Christkind stickers on their jackets. VIENNA, Austria -- Ho, ho, ho? No, no, no! Santa Claus is coming to town -- and many Austrians wish he'd just stay home. The jolly old elf is getting an icy reception in this alpine country that gave the world "Silent Night" and clings to beloved Christmas...