Christmas in the News

Christmas Newswire: White Christmas Released on Blu Ray

Just as folks toss the carved pumpkins they will, on November 2nd, be able to buy White Christmas in stunning glory on Blu-Ray. The classic film starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye and Rosemary Clooney is short on story but long on song and dance, featuring the musical talents of Irving Berlin. The White Christmas Blu-ray [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Mariah Carey to Release New Christmas Album

Sixteen years ago Mariah Carey released was has proven to be one of the most popular Christmas albums of all time, simply titled “Merry Christmas”. Now she is about to release a new one. On November 10th Carey’s label will release a new holiday CD featuring six new songs and an all new mix of [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Gatlinburg to Sue Celebrate Santa

DefendingSanta.com and The Mountain Press of Gatlinburg, Tennessee now report the city will be forced to sue Santa festival organizers Joe and Mary Moore for defaulting twice on promises to pay back the city for hosting the events. For two years the couple, who also worked as a mall Santa and Mrs. Claus, have evaded [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Peanuts to Play on ABC for Another Five Years

ABC television recently announced a deal to retain broadcast rights to Charles Schultz’ Peanuts animated holiday features “A Charlie Brown Christmas“, “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” and “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.” through the year 2015. This year marks the 45th anniversary of their first broadcast on television and more than 60 years since Schultz [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: National Christmas Tree Convention Underway

The National Christmas Tree Association is meeting this week at their annual convention in North Carolina. When you walk into the National Christmas Tree Association Convention, you can find a little bit of everything. Christmas lights, of course, along with the tools for pruning and harvesting trees. About 450 growers and suppliers are on hand [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Doris Roberts to Star in New Hallmark Christmas Movie

“Everybody Loves Raymond” veteran Doris Roberts is starring in the Hallmark Channel original movie “Debbie Macomber’s Call Me Mrs. Miracle,” a sequel to last year’s top-rated “Mrs. Miracle.” The Christmas-themed movie, based on Macomber’s novel due to be released in September, is in production in Vancouver for a November 27 premiere. Roberts will reprise her role as [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Trends of Green Christmas: Tree Leasing

Would you lease your Christmas tree? That’s a growing trend on the U.S. West Coast these days. Entrepeneur Joan Grandizio, who lives in Aliso Viejo, California, is hoping to persuade Orange County, California folks to lease their Christmas trees this year rather than buy a cut pine or artificial variety. Her company, To Go Green Live [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Opryland Planning a Christmas Comeback

Despite massive flood damage, Gaylord Opryland Resort officials said they will be reopened and ready for a bigger and better holiday season. On Wednesday, Opryland workers put on Santa hats and started hanging 2 million Christmas lights. Gaylord held an elaborate news conference complete with dancing elves to get the message across that the resort will reopen [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: CBS Christmas Movie in Production

Production has begun in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on the television movie “November Christmas,” CBS announced Monday. Starring Sarah Paulson, Sam Elliott, John Corbett, Karen Allen and Emily Alyn Lind, the holiday-themed drama is to air as a Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation Nov. 28. Set in a small Rhode Island community, it is about what happens [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Manning Featured on Hallmark Keepsake Ornament

New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning is a man of many identities. He’s a Super Bowl champion. A New Jersey resident. A delicious Sandwich. Manning will now and forevermore be a Christmas ornament. Hallmark released the company’s 2010 Keepsake Ornaments “holiday preview” this past weekend (July 10-11). Included are figurines of New York Giants quarterback Eli [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Disney’s A Christmas Carol Blu Ray 3D Details Emerge

Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment came to New York City this week, bringing a sack full of their most anticipated Blu-ray releases for the fourth quarter of 2010. Disney’s A Christmas Carol has been much-vaunted as the studio’s first Blu-ray 3D, and it will take advantage of much of what the format has to offer. [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Tennessee Media Reports Default of Celebrate Santa

Local media in Gatlinburg, Tennessee are reporting that the promised payments by Celebrate Santa to cover costs of two years worth of Claus-related conventions has not been made. WBIR-TV and the Mountain Press both report of the default by Joe and Mary Moore of the promissory note they provided in March as news of the [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Toys R Us Launches Christmas Club

Toys R Us, the nation-wide toy retailer struggling in recent years from relentless competition from Walmart, has launched its Christmas Savers Club, a throwback to depression-era tactics used by many retailers to build holiday sales. The plan is designed to help parents save for holiday toys, and to guarantee that they will spend those [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: National Chirstmas Center to Open New Historic Exhibit

The National Christmas Center will open a new exhibit on Saturday, July 10, 2010 featuring the Santa Claus Oath traveling display and photographs. The new exhibit will include information on Santa Claus portrayers of historical significance throughout the last century. This permanent exhibit will be donated to the National Christmas Center by the Santa Claus [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: NY Times Reports Elf the Musical Coming Soon

The New York Times is reporting that a musical version of the movie “Elf” is headed to Broadway: A musical adaptation of the 2003 film “Elf,” which starred Will Ferrell as a human raised among Santa’s little helpers, will help kick off the holiday season on Broadway in November with a limited run at the Al [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Doris Roberts to Star in New Hallmark Christmas Movie

Christmas Newswire: Trends of Green Christmas: Tree Leasing

Christmas Newswire: Opryland Planning a Christmas Comeback

Christmas Newswire: CBS Christmas Movie in Production

Christmas Newswire: Manning Featured on Hallmark Keepsake Ornament

Christmas Newswire: Disney’s A Christmas Carol Blu Ray 3D Details Emerge

Christmas Newswire: Tennessee Media Reports Default of Celebrate Santa

Christmas Newswire: Toys R Us Launches Christmas Club

Christmas Newswire: National Chirstmas Center to Open New Historic Exhibit

Christmas Newswire: NY Times Reports Elf the Musical Coming Soon

Christmas Newswire: Holiday World Owner Passes Away

Will Koch, owner of Holiday World, the family-oriented theme park, passed away Sunday at the age of 48 due to complications related to Type 1 diabetes. Since the 1997 closure of Nashville’s own Opryland theme park, Holiday World in nearby Santa Claus, Indiana has become a popular alternative, and worth every minute of the three-hour [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Outdoor Decorating Trends Increase

People’s passion for holiday and seasonal decorating is moving outside. In 2009 Americans spent nearly 40 percent of their annual seasonal decorations budget on new outdoor decorations, up from only 22 percent back in 2004, according to a recently released report from Unity Marketing, Christmas and Seasonal Decorations Report 2010 UPDATE. Overall sales of outdoor [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Wilson Phillips Reunites for Christmas Album

One of the best selling female groups of all time, Wilson Phillips is back together and releasing their first ever Christmas album this October 2010 on Sony MASTERWORKS / DRW Entertainment. The award-winning trio consisting of Chynna Phillips, Carnie Wilson and Wendy Wilson will be reuniting with their original music producer Glen Ballard on [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Wilson Phillips Reunites for Christmas Album", url: "http://www.merrychristmasradio.com/?p=318" }); [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Mariah Carey Readies New Christmas Album

Most people don’t start thinking about Christmas in April. For Mariah Carey, though, now is as good a time as ever to prep for the holidays, and prep for her new 2010 album. Although it’s been over 15 years since her last Christmas album, released in 1994, Carey has apparently decided to get back [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Mariah Carey Readies New Christmas Album", url: "http://www.merrychristmasradio.com/?p=316" }); [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Tori Amos Christmas Album Due November 10

After nearly two decades writing and recording some of her generation’s most emotionally powerful music, Tori Amos will release her first seasonal album, Midwinter Graces, on November 10 via Universal Republic. A follow up to Tori’s critically acclaimed studio album, Abnormally Attracted to Sin, Midwinter Graces will find Tori reworking and expanding on classic [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Tori Amos Christmas Album Due November 10", url: "http://www.merrychristmasradio.com/?p=294" }); [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Archuleta’s Christmas From the Heart Previewed

An artwork which will be featured on the front cover of David Archuleta’s upcoming Christmas set “Christmas from the Heart” has been unveiled. Set to be put out for U.S. purchase on October 13, the album has been made available for pre-order on digital retails. “Christmas from the Heart” is David’s second studio album [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Archuleta’s Christmas From the Heart Previewed", url: "http://www.merrychristmasradio.com/?p=291" }); [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Dylan Butchers Christmas

We’re trying to warn you here — Amazon’s UK site has clips from Bob Dylan’s soon-to-be-released Christmas album. Run away — far, far away — as fast as you can. Warn your friends. Just stay home by the fire and think frosty thoughts as you sip from that mug of whatever. Just don’t go [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Dylan Butchers Christmas", url: "http://www.merrychristmasradio.com/?p=287" }); [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Ray Charles’ Spirit of Christmas Digitally Remastered

Concord Records caps a year in which it reissued many of Ray Charles’ classic albums (Genius: The Ultimate Ray Charles Collection, Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music, A Message From the People and The Genius Hits the Road) with the artist’s only Christmas album of his entire career, The Spirit of Christmas. Concord’s [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Ray Charles’ Spirit of Christmas Digitally Remastered", url: "http://www.merrychristmasradio.com/?p=285" }); [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Christmas with Sinatra & Friends to Release Soon

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Concord Records’ upcoming release Christmas With Sinatra & Friends, features both classic and rare holiday songs by some of America’s most treasured vocalists including Mel Tormé, Tony Bennett, Rosemary Clooney, Ray Charles, Betty Carter and of course Sinatra himself singing eight of the collection’s 12 songs, licensed from Frank Sinatra [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Christmas with Sinatra & Friends to Release Soon", url: "http://www.merrychristmasradio.com/?p=283" }); [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Judas Priest Lead Singer to Release Christmas Album

Rob Halford, the iconic lead singer of the pioneering heavy metal outfit Judas Priest, will be releasing his first ever holiday album on October 26th via his own Metal God Records. Titled Halford III – Winter Songs, the singer’s first solo album in more than seven years will not only feature Christmas favorites like [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Judas Priest Lead Singer to Release Christmas Album", url: "http://www.merrychristmasradio.com/?p=280" }); [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Charlie Daniels Announces Annual Christmas for Kids Concert

Charlie Daniels announced his annual Christmas For Kids Concert, sponsored in part by 95.5 The Wolf, the Sumner County office of Bob Parks Realty, and coach manufacturer, Prevost Car Inc. Charlie Daniels & Friends is slated for November 23rd at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee. Joining The Charlie Daniels Band will be CMA Female [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Charlie Daniels Announces Annual Christmas for Kids Concert", url: "http://www.merrychristmasradio.com/?p=278" }); [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Re-Release Christmas for Setzer

Fans of Brian Setzer’s holiday music will have a chance to rock around the Christmas tree again. His record label, Surfdog, is re-releasing Setzer’s “Christmas Rocks! The Best of Collection” on Oct. 13. It includes the Stray Cats frontman’s take on “Jingle Bells,” ”Jingle Bell Rock” and the previously unreleased “Santa Claus Is Coming to [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Re-Release Christmas for Setzer", url: "http://www.merrychristmasradio.com/?p=270" }); [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Mariah Carey to do a Christmas album?

Mariah Carey’s new album of remixes for Memoirs Of An Imperfect Angel, has been shelved, but don’t fret, some of the singles from the album will get released. The album, titled, Angels Advocate, was set for release on March 30, 2010. But her record company has reportedly pulled the plug on the album. Even though [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Mariah Carey to do a Christmas album?", url: "http://www.merrychristmasradio.com/?p=315" }); [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Turkey to Promote Santa Claus Church

A Turkish tourism company will promote the Mediterranean home of St. Nicholas, better known as Santa Claus, to tourists in the United States, including promoting the area as a location for destination weddings. Gülseren Özdemir, the general director of the Wedding City Antalya Company, said the firm has been organizing wedding ceremonies for foreigners at the [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Environmental Group Wants to Replace Rockefeller Christmas Tree

What’s more green than a Christmas tree? Not cutting it down in the first place, says a pro-environment group petitioning Rockefeller Center to end its holiday tree-lighting ceremony. The group, Save a Giant Tree, hopes to collect 10,000 signatures to persuade Rockefeller Center management to replace the tree with artwork fashioned from recycled materials. “We want to [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Environmental Group Wants to Replace Rockefeller Christmas Tree", url: "http://defendchristmas.com/2010/04/28/environmental-groups-wants-to-replace-rockefeller-christmas-tree/" }); [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Forced Christmas Music Measure Dies in California

Californians apparently weren’t feeling the Christmas spirit during Merry Susan Hyatt’s five-month carol initiative signature collection effort. The measure failed Friday when the final signature count turned out to be only half a percent of the required 433,971, according to the secretary of state’s office. In all, 2,176 signatures were collected in California between Nov. 2 [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Forced Christmas Music Measure Dies in California", url: "http://defendchristmas.com/2010/04/20/forced-christmas-music-measure-dies-in-california/" }); [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Is Christmas Next?

A federal judge in Wisconsin has declared that the 50-year standing tradition of a National Day of Prayer violates the “establishment clause” of the First Amendment which creates a separation of church and state. “I understand that many may disagree with that conclusion and some may even view it as a criticism of prayer or [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Is Christmas Next?", url: "http://defendchristmas.com/2010/04/15/is-christmas-next/" }); [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Illinois City to Fine Residents with Christmas Lights Still Up

Officials in an Illinois city said residents slow to take down their Christmas lights have only a little more than a week before they face possible fines. The seasonal decoration ordinance in Aurora, which took effect in 2006, states that outdoor holiday decorations may not be up more than 60 days before or after their celebrated [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Illinois City to Fine Residents with Christmas Lights Still Up", url: "http://defendchristmas.com/2010/02/19/illinois-city-to-fine-residents-with-christmas-lights-still-up/" }); [Link]

Christmas Newswire: FFRF Mockery Prompts Candidate to Action in Illinois

The Freedom From Religion Foundation continues to promote peace of the season by mocking religion — all in the name of freedom of speech. That’s their argument after a candidate for public office in Illinois tried to remove the customary atheist rant from right in front of the Christmas tree at the state capitol a [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "FFRF Mockery Prompts Candidate to Action in Illinois", url: "http://defendchristmas.com/2009/12/26/ffrf-mockery-prompts-candidate-to-action-in-illinois/" }); [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Athiest Complaint Leads to Removal of Angels, Stars from Christmas Trees

There’s no place for angels atop Christmas trees, according to one California man who successfully lobbied for the removal of religious symbols at county buildings after spotting a yuletide decoration last week. Stars and other religious emblems were ordered removed from Christmas trees in all government buildings in Sonoma County on Monday following a complaint by [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Athiest Complaint Leads to Removal of Angels, Stars from Christmas Trees", url: "http://defendchristmas.com/2009/12/23/athiest-complaint-leads-to-removal-of-angels-stars-from-christmas-trees/" }); [Link]

Christmas Newswire: US Government Uses Joseph and Mary Imaging to Promote Census

A poster showing Mary and Joseph heading to Bethlehem for a census and the birth of Jesus is raising eyebrows among some evangelicals, who consider it an inappropriate use of Christian symbolism for the headcount the government will conduct next year. The posters, created by the National Association of Latino Elected Officials (NALEO), have been [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "US Government Uses Joseph and Mary Imaging to Promote Census", url: "http://defendchristmas.com/2009/12/19/us-government-uses-joseph-and-mary-imaging-to-promote-census/" }); [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Idaho Charter School Students Can’t Say Christmas at Talent Show

A Garden City (Idaho) public charter school director asked students singing in a school talent show to replace the word “Christmas” with “holiday” because of the scrutiny Nampa Classical Academy has garnered regarding the use of religious texts in the classroom. Media attention over the lawsuit Nampa Classical Academy has brought against the Idaho Public Charter [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Idaho Charter School Students Can’t Say Christmas at Talent Show", url: "http://defendchristmas.com/2009/12/19/idaho-charter-school-students-cant-say-christmas-at-talent-show/" }); [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Jail Inmates Forced to Listen to Sheriff’s Christmas Music

Sheriff Joe Arpaio – the self-proclaimed “toughest sheriff” in America – likes Christmas music, especially “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and anything by Alvin and the Chipmunks, and apparently he thinks the 8,000 inmates inside his Phoenix jail should, too. So it was with some glee that his Maricopa County office announced Thursday in a red-and-green [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Jail Inmates Forced to Listen to Sheriff’s Christmas Music", url: "http://defendchristmas.com/2009/12/19/jail-inmates-forced-to-listen-to-sheriffs-christmas-music/" }); [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Advent Conspiracy Gains Steam Around the World

A growing number of Christian churches are joining forces with a grass-roots movement known as the Advent Conspiracy, which is seeking to “do away with the frenzied activity and extravagant gift-giving of a commercial Christmas.” The group was founded by Portland pastor Rick McKinley, who with a group of fellow pastors realized that their own, and [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Advent Conspiracy Gains Steam Around the World", url: "http://defendchristmas.com/2009/12/18/advent-conspiracy-gains-steam-around-the-world/" }); [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Leader Calls for Healing and Principles of Integrity in Santa Community

A leader in the Santa community has responded to the revelations uncovered by DefendingSanta.com about recent turmoil surrounding a Santa convention. He is calling for Santas of all groups to rally around the Santa Claus Oath and the core principles promoted by the Oath: “We must have the Belief in ourselves when we undertake challenges [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Mommy’s Little Piggy Comes Home to A Christmas Story House

Ian Patrella, better known in Christmas lore as the kid brother Randy (Mommy’s little piggy) in A Christmas Story, is coming home to the house in Cleveland where the movie was made. During the months of July and August Patrella will be there to greet tourists who pay to visit the house-turned-museum. (No word on [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Santa Community Grapples with Issues of Integrity

Defending Santa.com has published a timeline of events tied to the latest episode of fraud in the community of Santas. The timeline shows how a large gathering of Santas called Celebrate Santa fell apart amidst charges of corruption, mismanagement of funds, and dishonesty that has shaken the Christmas-centric countryside surrounding Gatlinburg, Tennessee. In 2011 Hollywood [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Radio City Announces Christmas Spectacular Open House

Radio City Music Hall will host a public open house in conjunction with the 2010 edition of The Radio City Christmas Spectacular from noon-3pm on Saturday, May 1. This year’s show will run November 5-December 30. The Spectacular features numerous numbers spotlighting the world-famous Rockettes, including “The 12 Days of Christmas” and “New York at [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: National Day of Prayer Ruling Could Be Bad for Christmas

According to DefendChristmas.com a Wisconsin Federal judge’s ruling that a 50-year tradition of a National Day of Prayer is unconstitutional could cause a debate to erupt over the government’s recognition of Christmas as a national holiday. The Freedom from Religion Foundation, long a foe of recogizing Christmas, applauded the ruling based a lawsuit in which [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Santa Group Gloats Over Failure of Santa Convention

Recent news of a convention for professional Santas failing has put most of the professional Santa community up in arms — except for one group, AorbsInc. A Vice President for the group slammed the City of Gatlinburg for saving the 2010 convention and the President of AorbsInc claims competing associations of professional Santas are “cut [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Santa Frauds: Celebrate Santa Saga Worsens

The owners and organizers of Celebrate Santa, one of the largest Santa-related gatherings on record, have deleted Facebook groups and altered event websites in an effort to hide evidence of corruption associated with the latest Celebrate Santa Festival held last month in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. According to DefendingSanta.com, Internet groups of professional Santas are up in [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Martha Stewart to Visit the Simpsons This Christmas

Martha Stewart will guest star as herself on this December’s Yuletide-themed episode of The Simpsons, the longest-running show on television. “Marge Simpson receives a nighttime visit from the most powerful force in the universe who teaches her the true meaning of Christmas: Martha Stewart,” said executive producer Al Jean. When Stewart flies to the family’s home [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Gatlinburg Saves Santa Convention

The Gatlinburg Convention Center has issued a statement to defend against charges levied at them for conditions at a convention of professional Santa Claus’ held last month. Rumors of fraud and corruption aimed at organizers of the Celebrate Santa Festival held in Gatlinburg, Tennessee have circulated online since the close of the convention last month. [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Worlds Largest Santa Parade Makes it Back to Canadian TV

After nearly three decades, the Santa Claus Parade is coming back to CTV. CTV announced Tuesday that it will broadcast the popular parade exclusively on November 21. The last time the parade aired on the network was in 1981. CTV Toronto’s sister station, CP24 will also provide exclusive live coverage of what is known as [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Celebrating the Standards of Santa

Defending Santa.com tells the story of Santa Wendell, a gruff man transformed once putting on the red suit. Sadly, not every man inside the suit acts as Santa should act. This first in a series of articles explores the standards we as parents and children expect of the Santas we see. Click here to read [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Santa: See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Do No Math

DefendingSanta.com follows up on the sad story of corruption in the world of professional Santas. Last year a business running a Santa convention took funds supposedly for a non-profit group through the sale of Santa Claus Oath plaques. The business, Jolly Old Elf LLC who operates the convention under the name of Celebrate Santa, allegedly [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Beware of Santa Scams

A wide variety of media reports indicate that scams using Santa Claus are on the rise. A number of “Santa services” can now be purchased online and offline promising letters, phone calls, emails, videos or personalized chats with Santa. But some parents are reporting that some of these service providers merely take the money and [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Defending Santa.com Warns Against Santarchy

Defending Santa.com is once again decrying a foul portrayal of Santa Claus. This time the offending parties belong to a rowdy San Francisco crowd fueled by alcohol — and each of the participants will be dressed as Santa Claus. “It is a sad commentary on society when a sacred figure can be maligned so completely,” [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Real Christmas Trees Declared Greener Than Artificial Trees

It may not sound like “tree-hugging,” but cutting down a real tree for Christmas is actually greener than going with the artificial kind, one scientist says. “It is a little counterintuitive to people,” said Clint Springer, a biologist at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia. Because of concerns over deforestation around the world, many people naturally [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Brian Stokes Mitchell Christmas Concert with Mormon Tabernacle Choir to Air on PBS

It probably takes a lot to thrill a Tony-winning singer-actor whom The New York Times once dubbed “the last leading man,” but Broadway star Brian Stokes Mitchell admits he was really excited to be part of “Christmas With the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Featuring Brian Stokes Mitchell and Edward Hermann,” a one-hour holiday concert premiering Wednesday, [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Santa Facebook Video Spreads Virus

Apparently Santa Claus has determined that every user on Facebook is naughty, and for Christmas they are all getting a computer virus as opposed to the traditional lump of coal. The spammers are at it again on the popular Facebook social network. According to Panda Security, the new computer virus attack involves the posting of [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: US Postal Service Announces Domestic Shipping Deadlines

The United States Postal Service has released their shipping deadlines to ensure packages get to their destination by Christmas. If you are shipping domestically, this year you must ship by December 16th for parcel post to arrive by Christmas, December 21st for First Class and Priority Mail to arrive by Christmas and December 23rd [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: ABC Says Oprah Will Interview President for Christmas at the White House

The queen of daytime will interview the president of the country during an ABC holiday special that brings together Oprah Winfrey and Barack Obama. The network has announced “Christmas at the White House: An Oprah Primetime Special,” which includes an interview with the president, a conversation with the First Couple and tour of the White House. The [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: More Bad Santas Coming to the Big Screen

Defending Santa.com is starting to report on the reaction from the Christmas world on the news from Variety that a movie project is underway to tell the story of The Santa Wars. Once upon a time a small number of professional Santa Clauses formed an association called the Amalgamated Order of Real Bearded Santas. In [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Disney’s A Christmas Carol…or is it Dumb and Dumber?

The maker of Forrest Gump and The Polar Express now brings us A Christmas Carol, starring Jim Carrey as Scrooge. Is the Walt Disney Company up to remaking a classic done and redone many times before? Read the official review here. Share This [Link]

Christmas Newswire: CBS Announces New Animated Christmas Special

CBS has gone back to a famous story from 1897 for a new animated Christmas Special. “Yes, Virginia,” to air Friday, December 11th (8:00-8:30 pm ET/PT) is based on the true story of Virginia O’Hanlon, an eight-year-old girl who inspired the most famous newspaper editorial of all time by asking, “Is there a Santa Claus?” [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Santa Holds Annual Interview with the Media

Once a year and only once a year Santa Claus sits down with the media. And as usual, Santa has a lot to say. In a year with a troubled economy with folks all over suffering from lost jobs, lower income, and higher prices Santa says the odds for a merrier Christmas are better than [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Natalie Cole Headlines Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concert

The annual Christmas concert of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir this year features guest artist Natalie Cole and historian, writer and narrator David McCullough. The famed holiday program draws 80,000 attendees over four days each December and is featured nationwide on PBS. Free tickets for the event will be distributed by lottery via the events page [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: A Truce in the Santa Wars!

Santa is listening. After enduring days of controversy following a series of articles about turmoil in the world of professional Santas action has been taken by members of the Santa community to remove negative information and promote peace. Please read more at DefendingSanta.com Share This [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Professional Santa Leader Put on Naughty List

Santa is in trouble — at least a Santa known as Jeff Germann. Germann is Vice President of AORBs — officially known as the Amalgamated Order of Real Bearded Santas. For over a year an anonymously operated website called SantaCheck.com has been upsetting many of the folks in the professional Santa world because it would call [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Glenn Beck’s Christmas Sweater — For Kids

Glenn Beck has released 3 books in 5 months — and this may be the best of the set. If only because it gives us a break from the usual Beck fare. This illustrated children’s version of Beck’s Christmas book of the same title tells the story of what Christmas is all about being [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: The Santa Wars: What Santa Can Do About It

The fourth and concluding installment on the fiasco at Celebrate Santa, a major convention for professional Santas that has been mired in controversy and charges of corruption, has been posted at DefendingSanta.com. This article largely discusses the aftermath of a sad week-long examination of the world of professional Santas and what can be done to [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Gift Cards Going High Tech for Christmas

Home Depot, of all people, is going high tech with their new gift card this Christmas. When a customer receives one of the company’s interactive gift cards, he or she can go to a special Web site, enter the gift card amount and hold the gift card up to a webcam. The webcam will show [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Lost Santas: Silent, Sad and Seriously Angry

Anonymous Santas speak out to DefendingSanta.com about the conflicting reports and charges of misdeeds coming out of their largest convention ever, Celebrate Santa. Celebrate Santa was to be a gathering of the red-suited brethren and their Mrs. Clauses to help Santas ply their craft and to take the “Santa Claus Oath”. Ironically, the Oath is [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Professional Santa Claus Community Up-in-Arms

The fallout from a story posted at DefendingSanta.com is rocking the world of professional Santas. Charges of mishandling funds intended for a charity have expanded to include blasphemous talk against the widely adopted “Santa Claus Oath”. The Santa industry has a sad history of infighting between groups vying for leadership — and jobs. This latest [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Celebrate Santa Fractures on Charges of Corruption

Celebrate Santa, a for-profit convention sponsor for the professional Santa Claus industry, is fracturing amidst allegations of fraud and mismanagement of funds. “Santa Joe” Moore and his wife, “Mrs. Mary Claus” Moore, owners of the Jolly Old Elf Company and Celebrate Santa, are documented in a web of conflicting stories that have led to mass [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Kmart Offers Christmas Discounts to the Unemployed

Retailers may be seeing some improvement in their businesses, but they have one big challenge ahead: A lot of their customers are still out of work. So Kmart has come up with a novel way to hang on to those customers until they’re back at work and spending freely by giving them discounts now. The [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Retailers Not Hiring Much for Christmas

Long lines and poorly stocked shelves may well await holiday shoppers this season. According to an annual hiring report from Challenger, Gray & Christmas, a Chicago-based outplacement agency, retailers will be hesitant in adding seasonal employees to their staff this year. Despite some signs of economic turnaround, retailers will look to maintain margins in what is [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Christmas Tree Harvest Up, Prices Down

The Oregon Christmas tree harvest increased last year but prices fell, along with the number of jobs. The National Agricultural Statistics Service reported this week that Oregon growers cut and sold 7.34 million trees with a value of $110.1 million in 2008. Total sales were a slight improvement from $109.3 million in 2007 while the 2008 harvest [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Sears, Kmart Re-introduce the Christmas Club

Sears and Kmart chains are trying to entice customers to start saving for the holidays early with a Christmas Club card program. Shoppers who join the program can add money on a regular basis to their cards and receive a 3% reward, up to a $100 value, based on the value of the balance Nov. 14. The [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Santa Claus, Indiana Getting Serious About Christmas

The southern Indiana town of Santa Claus will be getting serious about celebrating Christmas this year. Organizers say a major addition will be a 1.2-mile light display at Lake Rudolph Campground & RV Resort. It is expected to open Nov. 20 featuring 20- to 30-foot-tall scenes that tell the story of Rudolph the Red Nosed [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Are Shoppers Ready to Buy?

Last Christmas there was no doubt the Scrooge in shoppers took a bite out of merchant merriness. But what will Christmas 2009 be like? A new survey says that shoppers might be willing to loosen the purse strings. “We are seeing for this holiday season a ray of conservative optimism,” said IRI Consulting & Innovation President [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Dates for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Announced

Dates for the 2009 edition of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, held annually at the Magic Kingdom park in the Walt Disney World resort, have been announced. This year’s festivities will include “Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade,” featuring dancing snowflakes, toy soldiers, a horse-drawn sleigh, floats, and holiday-dressed characters, “Holiday Wishes-Celebrate the Spirit of [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Gaylord Texan Tells the Timeless Tale of ‘How The Grinch Stole Christmas!’ in ICE

In celebration of its fifth year hosting the awe-inspiring ICE! exhibit, Gaylord Texan brings to life a brand new attraction – the Dr. Seuss holiday classic “How The Grinch Stole Christmas!” In a series of colorful scenes straight out of the original storybook pages, Gaylord Texan’s ICE! attraction will brilliantly showcase how the “Whoville-hating” Grinch [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Most Popular White House Ornaments Announced

The White House Historical Association has announced the top five most popular White House Christmas ornaments (conveniently reveal in time for the decorating season). They are: 1. The 1989 ornament featuring the presidential seal commemorating the bicentennial of the presidency. 2. 1999’s Abraham Lincoln ornament. 3. From 2000 the ornament celebrating the 200th anniversary of the [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: New Christmas Movie Planned for CBS

Hallmark Hall of Fame has started production on its next presentation for CBS, “A Dog Named Christmas.” Bruce Greenwood (”Star Trek”), Noel Fisher (”The Riches”) and Linda Emond (”Julie & Julia”) are set to star in the holiday movie based on Greg Kincaid’s novel. “Christmas” centers on Todd (Fisher), a developmentally challenged young man with a penchant [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: National Christmas Tree Coming from Arizona

Christmas is already on Ted Bechtol’s mind. He’s now picked the tree that will stand outside the US Capitol this holiday season. Bechtol is superintendent of grounds for the Capitol. He reviewed ten final candidates for the tree and chose an 85-foot blue spruce from Arizona’s White Mountains. Bechtol didn’t spend too long making up his [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Christmas Store Planned for Santa Claus, Indiana

SANTA CLAUS, IN — A new attraction in Santa Claus, Indiana is under construction and is scheduled for an August opening. The Santa Claus Christmas Store will be located in the Kringle Place Shopping Center. Owned and operated by Philip Koch and his Santa Claus based company HO HO HOldings, LLC, the store features over [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Holidays on Blu Ray

It will be a season of classic movies on Blu Ray for Christmas 2009. Three classic must-have/gotta-own Christmas movies — National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, Miracle on 34th Street and Homealone Lost in New York — will all come available in October. The biggest splash is sure to be made by the 20th Anniversary Edition [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Christmas Creep Starts Online

How long will it be before you see mass mounds of Christmas products in stores? The common complaint is that it gets earlier and earlier every year. This year seems to be setting a new standard. Kmart and Sears — that merged entity of retailing mediocrity — has already launched their Christmas Lane, an online [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Memo to Santa: You Better Watch Out!

For anyone portraying Santa Claus – especially in a “professional capacity” – you better watch out! Defending Santa.com, a web site dedicated to restoring honor, dignity and respect to the person of Santa Claus, has recently highlighted the poor judgment of a group of professional Santas who visited a brothel museum while appearing “in uniform” [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Whatever Happened to the Flagpole Licker in A Christmas Story?

The iconic holiday movie “A Christmas Story” has legions of fans and enjoys cult status as replays of the film cover the airways each holiday season. But what of those in the film? Whatever became of those child actors? Scott Schwartz, who played the poor flagpole licker in the film, recently talked about his not-so-storied [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Famed School for Santa Takes Group to Brothel Museum

The International University of Santa Claus has come under fire for taking a group of professional Santas to a brothel museum in Skagway, Alaska during a recent “School4Santa.” In recent weeks the same group received a lot of publicity for their travels to North Pole, Alaska. Now their extracurricular activities are being questioned — as [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: ClausNet Raises Funds for Santa-America

Michael Rielly, founder of ClausNet.com announced today that ClausNet will team with Santa-America for charitable support. Funded solely by private donations, Santa-America’s volunteers support local hospices and children’s hospitals in their hometowns. “We are thrilled to be helping such a wonderful organization like Santa-America and look forward to this opportunity,” said Michael Rielly, founder of [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: American Family Christmas Photo Ends Up in Czech Ad

ST. LOUIS – It’s an international mystery: How did a Missouri family’s Christmas card photo end up in the Czech Republic, splashed across a huge storefront advertisement? Danielle Smith said Wednesday that the photo taken of her family last year got sent to family and friends, and was posted on her blog and a few [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: 13 Year Old’s Winning Design for Celebrates Big Ben

Christmas has come early for a 13-year-old schoolgirl after she won a contest to design a festive card to celebrate Big Ben’s 150th anniversary. Ellie Williams of Cefn Saeson comprehensive school, Neath, beat competition from 2,500 UK schools. Ellie, from Tonna, received her winning certificate during her first ever visit to London where she was [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Muppets Letters to Santa Coming to DVD

A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa will be released on DVD on September 29, 2009. The 2008 Christmas special production features the Muppet gang on a quest to get three misplaced letters to Santa Claus before Christmas Eve. The musical special features appearances by Nathan Lane, Whoopi Goldberg, Richard Griffiths, Jane Krakowski, Petra Nemcova, Uma [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Chenowth to Star in New Christmas Movie

Kristin Chenoweth has been cast as the lead in “Twelve Men of Christmas,” a Lifetime original movie set to premiere in December as part of the network’s annual “Fa La La La Lifetime” programing stint. Based on Phillipa Ashley’s novel “Decent Exposure,” the romantic comedy centers on a down-on-her-luck PR executive who uses her media savvy [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Disney’s Christmas Carol Buzz Begins

The long talked about Disney adaptation of Dicken’s A Christmas Carol — directed by Robert Zemeckis and starring Jim Carrey — will debut (in part) at the Cannes Film Festival on May 18th. The film is slated for general theatrical release on November 6, 2009 and will be a 3-D animation work along the lines [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Christmas 2009 Cautiously Approached by Business

Word on the street is that corporate buyers planning to stock shelves for Christmas 2009 are ordering lower-priced items and ordering smaller quantities. For all the signs indicating a bottom to the recession, retailers appear to be taking a very conservative approach after a disasterous selling season last year. See more here. Share This [Link]

Christmas Newswire: “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” Singer Passes

Jimmy Boyd, the child singer and actor best known for the original rendition of the Christmas novelty hit “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” in 1952, has died. He was 70. Boyd died of cancer Saturday at a Santa Monica convalescent hospital, longtime friend Eleanor Pillsbury said Tuesday. “I Saw Mommy” shot to the top of the [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Mrs. Claus is Coming to Town

Mrs. Claus doesn’t just make cookies. Hundreds of Mrs. Santa Claus portrayers will be attending the upcoming Celebrate Santa 2009 (www.celebratesanta.com) this March in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Unlike Santa conventions of the past, the first annual Celebrate Santa Convention and Expo will have numerous workshops and tutorials specifically for Santa’s better half. A wife of Santa [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Santa Claus Oath to Be Taken by 3rd Generation Santa

Michael Rielly, the grandson of Rhode Island’s famed Santa, James D. Rielly, will take the Santa Claus Oath at Celebrate Santa on March 17 in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. James D. “Jimmy” Rielly’s career as Rhode Island’s most recognizable Santa Claus spanned over 60 years. He began his Santa Claus career in 1927 and was featured on several [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Louise Mandrell to Appear at Celebrate Santa 2009

Country music legend Louise Mandrell will appear at Celebrate Santa 2009 in Gatlinburg, TN on March 16. This past Christmas season, Ms. Mandrell was the featured entertainer for the “Joy To The World” Christmas Dinner & Show at the Opryland Hotel where she sang her hits and songs of the season. “We are thrilled to have Ms. [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Bosnians Rally to Reinstate Santa Claus

SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina — Hundreds of Bosnians have protested against a recent ban on Santa Claus in the city’s kindergartens. The directors of Sarajevo’s day-care centers, kindergartens and preschools banned Santa. They argued that the capital is predominantly Muslim and Santa Claus is not part of the Muslim tradition. A multi-religious mix of parents, children and others [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: 41 Million Haven’t Started Shopping Yet

With just over a week to go until Christmas, consumers have completed less than half of their holiday shopping – and millions have not even started yet, according to a report released Tuesday. According to the National Retail Foundation’s “Holiday Consumer Intentions and Actions” survey, holiday shoppers said they had finished 47% of their gift shopping [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Christmas Tree Thefts on the Rise

With the economy tanking, it may not be a surprise that nuisance crimes like petty theft and vandalism are on the rise. But even police departments are scratching their heads over the latest hot loot: Christmas trees. In recent weeks, police across the country have seen an uptick in the theft of trees from commercial lots. [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Obama Popular as Part of Italian Nativities

President-elect Barack Obama and his wife Michelle are appearing in Italian nativity scenes this year, alongside the baby Jesus and wise men, according to Naples craftsmen selling figurines in the run-up to Christmas. The production of handmade figurines for nativity scenes is big business in this southern Italian city and has been for centuries. But beyond the [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Christmas Music Sales Tank

After two consecutive years of strong Christmas sales, seasonal music has lost favor with U.S. music fans. Some merchants are reporting that seasonal album sales are down as much as 50% from last year. One wholesaler says he has already begun to return Christmas product to the labels because he feels he will have little chance [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Christmas Price Index Rises for the ‘12 Days’

Given the economic downturn, even the most romantic might balk at the $86,609 price tag for the items in the carol, “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” That’s this year’s cost, according to the annual “Christmas Price Index” compiled by PNC Wealth Management, which tallies the single partridge in a pear tree to the 12 drummers drumming, [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Parents, Marketers at Odds over Toy Ads

In a season that inspires earnest letters about toys, one notable batch is being sent not by kids to Santa’s workshop but by parents to the executive suites of real-world toy makers. The message: Please, in these days of economic angst, cut back on marketing your products directly to our children. The letter-writing initiative was launched by [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Christmas Story Fans Celebrate 25 Years

Fans of the holiday classic “A Christmas Story” are celebrating the film’s 25th anniversary with a convention and trips to the house where the movie was made. The 1983 film, an adaptation of Jean Shepard’s memoir of a boy in the 1940s, was set in Indiana but largely filmed in Ohio. The movie starred Peter Billingsley [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Germany Suffering from Santa Shortage

GERMANY is facing a Santa Claus shortage in the run-up to Christmas, as new recruits fail to meet high Teutonic standards of jollity and expertise. Job agencies, which are currently conducting a desperate last-minute recruitment drive, have reported a distinct lack of jolly, rotund, fluffy-bearded Santas with no criminal records. Among the tough criteria are [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Death of Gentle Giant at Wal Mart Black Friday Stuns Friends

Jdimytai Damour was a big man — 270 pounds, by one account — but a gentle giant to his friends, who said he loved to chat about movies, Japanese anime and politics. So on Saturday, they were still reeling from the violent and seemingly inexplicable way Damour had died — trampled before sunrise Friday, the [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Black Friday Stampede Kills Wal Mart Worker

A worker died after being trampled by a throng of unruly shoppers when a suburban Wal-Mart opened for the holiday sales rush Friday, authorities said. At least three other people were injured. Wal-Mart Stores Inc., in Bentonville, Ark., would not confirm the reports of a stampede but said a “medical emergency” had caused the company to close [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Christmas Snafu on White House Hanukkah Cards

Whoops! A picture of a Christmas tree is not the first thing you would expect to see on an invitation to an event celebrating Hanukkah, but that is exactly what recipients of invitations to this year’s White House Hanukkah reception initially got in the mail. The invitation sent to American Jewish leaders on behalf of the [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Santa’s Village to Launch Christmas Season at Grand Bear Lodge

Three years have passed since the Santa’s Village theme park in East Dundee closed its doors. A few attempts have been made on reopening the park at its old location, but without success. Well, now Santa is looking at a potential new location. Santa Claus and officials from Grizzly Jack’s Grand Bear Lodge and Resort in [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Christmas Tree Prices Steady for Nearly 30 Years

For nearly 30 years the price of real Christmas trees has remained virtually unchanged. According to Joe Sharp, President of Yule Tree Farms in Canby Oregon (the fifth largest Christmas tree farm in the country) the median price for a Douglas Fir in 1980 was $25 and a Noble Fir was $45. Today Douglas Firs [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Santa’s Good List Now Officially Online

Santa’s Good List officially went digital this weekend, as Santa Claus unveiled a new website where children can see if they’ve been naughty or nice. For the first time ever, boys and girls from around the world will now be able to view the coveted good list via computer by visiting www.SantasGoodList.org . “Santa’s Good [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: The Year Without Santa Claus

Literally! In some towns there’s not enough money to have a Santa. This is like a Hallmark movie come to life. Just without the happy ending. I mean they even had Santas in the Depression 1.0. They just maybe skipped out on the lifesize blow up snowglobes and the houses covered with enough twinkling lights [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: ABC Family Lines Up 25 Days of Christmas 2008

ABC Family will air its eleventh year of “25 Days of Christmas,” featuring over 200 hours of holiday-themed entertainment, from Dec. 1 to 25, officials said Friday. The network will air new original movies and specials and returning Christmas favorites during primetime as well as weekend holiday marathons every Saturday and Sunday. This year, ABC Family presents [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Christmas Mailing Deadlines Announced

People with friends and relatives abroad need to start thinking about those Christmas cards and gifts. The deadline for sending first-class mail and priority mail to Africa and South and Central America to assure delivery for the holiday is Dec. 4, the U.S. Postal Service said Monday. The deadline for first-class and priority mail sent to other [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: WalMart Cutting Prices Each Week Until Christmas

Wal-Mart Stores Inc will be introducing new rounds of price cuts every week until Christmas as the world’s largest retailer reaches out and appeals to cash-strapped shoppers looking to stretch their holiday budgets. As part of what it is calling “Operation Main Street,” Wal-Mart will be slashing prices on thousands of items that it says are [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Green Christmas: Real or Artificial?

Only the modern Christmas could present such a dilemma: should one use a completely recyclable resource (real Christmas trees) once a year or use the same landfill-unfriendly resource (artificial trees) for many years in the celebration of the season? Every year, some 20 million real fir trees are harvested in the name of Christmas celebration [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Rick Warren Publishes “The Purpose of Christmas”

As Christmas approaches, a prominent South Orange County pastor reminds the world about the holiday’s real meaning. Pastor Rick Warren this week unveils the message in his third book – “The Purpose of Christmas” hitting bookstores Tuesday. Simply written, the book details the true meaning of Christmas – the birth of Jesus Christ and its [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: UK Muslim Leaders Cry Foul Over Christmas Change

Council leaders in Oxford have decided to ban the word Christmas from this year’s festive celebrations to make them more ‘inclusive’. But the decision to rename the series of events the ‘Winter Light Festival’ has been criticised by religious leaders and locals said it was ‘ludicrous’. Sabir Hussain Mirza, chairman of the Muslim Council of Oxford, [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Holiday Towns to Visit in Michigan

Whatever your holiday budget, you won’t feel Scrooge-like for long when shopping in Michigan’s most over-the-top holiday destinations. Just be prepared for the unexpected when exploring the towns of Christmas and Holly on streets such as Jingle Bell Lane. Jokester street actors may haul you off to pick-pocket school. Or snow might fall on your head [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Santa Claus Oath to Be Taken by 3rd Generation Santa

Christmas Newswire: Louise Mandrell to Appear at Celebrate Santa 2009

Christmas Newswire: Bosnians Rally to Reinstate Santa Claus

Christmas Newswire: 41 Million Haven’t Started Shopping Yet

Christmas Newswire: Christmas Tree Thefts on the Rise

Christmas Newswire: Obama Popular as Part of Italian Nativities

Christmas Newswire: Christmas Music Sales Tank

Christmas Newswire: Christmas Price Index Rises for the ‘12 Days’

Christmas Newswire: Parents, Marketers at Odds over Toy Ads

Christmas Newswire: Christmas Story Fans Celebrate 25 Years

Christmas Newswire: Germany Suffering from Santa Shortage

Christmas Newswire: Death of Gentle Giant at Wal Mart Black Friday Stuns Friends

Christmas Newswire: Black Friday Stampede Kills Wal Mart Worker

Christmas Newswire: Christmas Snafu on White House Hanukkah Cards

Christmas Newswire: Santa’s Village to Launch Christmas Season at Grand Bear Lodge

Christmas Newswire: Christmas Tree Prices Steady for Nearly 30 Years

Christmas Newswire: Santa’s Good List Now Officially Online

Christmas Newswire: The Year Without Santa Claus

Christmas Newswire: ABC Family Lines Up 25 Days of Christmas 2008

Christmas Newswire: Christmas Mailing Deadlines Announced

Christmas Newswire: WalMart Cutting Prices Each Week Until Christmas

Christmas Newswire: Green Christmas: Real or Artificial?

Christmas Newswire: Rick Warren Publishes “The Purpose of Christmas”

Christmas Newswire: UK Muslim Leaders Cry Foul Over Christmas Change

Christmas Newswire: Holiday Towns to Visit in Michigan

Christmas Newswire: 1 in 4 Still Paying for Last Christmas

One in four people who ran up debt last Christmas are still repaying the bill, a survey has shown. Four out of 10 people used credit cards or other forms of borrowing to meet festive costs last year, according to price website Savebuckets.com. But only 29% of these people had managed to clear their debt during January, [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Nintendo Says ‘Wii Can’t Make Enough’

Nintendo says that Wii production is at an all-time high, but that massive consumer demand means it still might not be able to satisfy all punters hoping to get their hands on one this holiday. “Nintendo has continually raised the production levels of the Wii hardware,” said Reggie Fils-Aime, the company’s US president. “We’re now producing 2.4 [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Jeff Dunham’s Very Special Christmas Special to Air on Comedy Central

Let laughter light up the tree this year! Jeff Dunham and his puppet pals take the stage for an unforgettable evening of holiday-themed ventriloquist comedy. The World Premiere of “Jeff Dunham’s Very Special Christmas Special” airs on COMEDY CENTRAL Sunday, November 16 at 9:00 p.m. The encore presentations air Sunday, November 16 at 10:00 p.m., Tuesday, [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Retailers, Shoppers Battle Unknowns for Christmas 2008

All the modern computer systems and past performance reports in the world cannot prepare retailers or shoppers for what to expect for the 2008 holiday shopping season. An unusual series of events have combined to create a very uncertain environment on both sides of the cash register. Shoppers have money. While much has been made [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Survey Shows Brit Kids Weak on Christmas

A new survey has revealed that less than three quarters of the kids in Britain know that Christmas is celebrated to mark the birth of Jesus Christ. Some kids even believe that Father Christmas, or Santa Claus, was born on the December 25. The survey led by www.youngpoll.com has revealed that 11 per cent of the youngsters [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Larry the Cable to Air New Christmas Special

Larry the Cable Guy will star in a new, 90-minute Christmas special that will air on CMT on Nov. 21, with a DVD release scheduled for Nov. 25. Guests on the variety program include Toby Keith, Terry Bradshaw, Jeff Foxworthy, Bill Engvall, Lewis Black and Blake Shelton, via pre-taped segments, with many other celebrities taking [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: ‘A Christmas Story’ Convention Planned

A celebration and convention are being planned in Cleveland to mark the 25th anniversary of the classic yuletide movie “A Christmas Story,” organizers said. A Christmas Story House & Museum is orchestrating the events, which are to take place Nov. 28 and 29. Cleveland is where many exterior scenes of the movie were shot and [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Universal Studios to Open Thanksgiving and Christmas

Revenue must be down: Universal Studios Hollywood said Monday it will open on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day this year for the first time in its history. “Universal Studios Hollywood has always been a favorite destination for families to celebrate special occasions and also an ideal place to visit with out-of-town friends and family,” Larry Kurzweil, president [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Santa Descendents Meet to Take Oath

SANTA CLAUS, Ind. – The grandsons of two of the more famous men to don Santa Claus suits plan to meet Sunday in this southern Indiana town to sign and dedicate a newly created oath for the jolly gift-givers. Charles Howard of Albion, N.Y., a famed Macy’s Day Parade Santa, and Jim Yellig, who became [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Neiman Marcus Launches 2008 Christmas Book

The 2008 Christmas Book was unveiled today by luxury retailer Neiman Marcus in Dallas. The 82nd edition of this world-renowned book continues Neiman Marcus’s longstanding tradition of offering its customers the ultimate in awe-inspiring gifts. This year’s edition of the Christmas Book caters to a broad range of consumer tastes and interests with gifts sure to [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Australian Prices Going Up for Christmas

Australians are likely to have to pay more for goods and services around Christmas, as falling company profits force businesses to raise prices. The finding comes in a business expectations survey, by Dun & Bradstreet. Dun and Bradstreet’s Damien Karmelich says people need to prepare themselves for higher prices over the coming months. “Sales and profit expectations [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Package From Santa.com Releases 2008 Affiliate Program

It all started after a really bad experience we had when we ordered a letter from Santa Claus for our 7 year old son Chase. We call it the Santa letter that ruined Christmas. Our son’s Santa Letter arrived and it had Chase’s name and address on it, however when he opened the letter, it [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Office Christmas Parties Fizzling

As the profit party ends on Wall Street, the American impulse to celebrate could lose its fizzle like day-old champagne. Company parties will still go on this holiday season, say caterers, event planners and others, but many businesses are caught between the need to scale back costs and a desire to reward employees who have been [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: HD Prices to Dominate Black Friday Sales

You’ve probably heard this every year this decade at this time, but it may be more true than usual this time around: Between a truly worrisome economy and some serendipitous over-supply of stock, HD products could hit record-low price points for this holiday selling season. So if you’re in the market for that first (second [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: KBToys Joins WalMart in Toy Price Cuts

Let the Black Friday price wars begin! On the heels of Walmart’s announcement that it is slashing prices on toys for the holidays, KB Toys is also cutting back prices. The chain says it will be offering two hundred toys at a reduced price of $10 or less — Walmart is so far only offering [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Online Retailers Expect a Timid Christmas

With credit tightening and consumer confidence shaky, you know this is going to be a tough year for holiday sales. A forecast that came out this morning from Lehman Brothers (now Barclays Capital), puts Internet sales over the upcoming holiday season growing at just 8 percent, compared to 19 percent growth last year (and 26 [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Wal Mart Tries to Jump-Start Christmas Toy Sales

Wal Mart has slashed prices on some toys to get a jump on the Christmas retail season. The Bentonville, Ark.-based retail giant said it also will spend the next 10 days opening Christmas shops in its 3,500 U.S. stores in advance of the Christmas rush. Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) said it hired a third-party to do a survey, [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Yes, West Virginia, There is a Santa Claus

Yes, West Virginia, there is a Santa Claus, and he’s running for president. This jolly old elf, though, doesn’t live at the North Pole but near Lake Tahoe, and was known as Thomas O’Connor until 2005, when his resemblance to Father Christmas helped persuade him to legally change his name. (That, and the fact that O’Connor [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Millions Refuse to Wait for Black Friday to Start Shopping

More than one in three holiday shoppers — or 62.3 million adult consumers — report they begin holiday shopping before Thanksgiving, according to new data from Mediamark Research & Intelligence (MRI). Just under thirty-six percent of holiday shoppers say they begin shopping between Thanksgiving and December 15th and close to 26% start their shopping between [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Publicity Starved Santa Threatens Facebook

Santa has Facebook on the naughty list. Oh, he’s not the real Santa. He’s the publicity hungry Santa who since June has legally changed his name to Santa Claus and has used his position as a monk to draw attention to himself and his many schemes of using the image of Santa to make a [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Forbes Predicts Gloomy Christmas for Retailers

Wall Street’s bloodbath is coming just in time for Christmas. That means little holiday cheer this year, as office parties are slashed and shoppers skimp on gifts at the greatest rate in 17 years. Holiday sales for 2008 are expected to grow an anemic 1.5% from 2007, according to the latest projections from TNS Retail Forward, [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Colbert’s Christmas Special Adds Toby Keith and Willie Nelson

Toby Keith and Willie Nelson will be a part of Stephen Colbert’s holiday special this year. A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All! will air Nov. 23 on Comedy Central. Most of the songs were written by Daily Show executive producer David Javerbaum and Fountains of Wayne bassist Adam Schlesinger. Colbert and Nelson will [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: ClausNet.com Celebrates Anniversary

ClausNET, The Santa Claus Network, is celebrating its one-year anniversary this September by launching its newly redesigned website. The ClausNET.com website went through a redesign that includes a revamped navigation and many new sections, features, and services. The enhanced community portal specifically designed for men and women who portray Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus, provides [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: NBC to Air New Muppets Christmas Special

NBC will air a new Muppets Christmas special this year: LETTERS TO SANTA — A MUPPETS CHRISTMAS, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. Whoopi Goldberg, Tony Sirico and Steve Schirripa (THE SOPRANOS), Richard Griffiths (HARRY POTTER) and Madison Pettis will star alongside Kermit, Fozzie, Gonzo, Miss Piggy and the rest of the gang. The special will be set [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Online Christmas Shopping Set to Grow in Bad Economy

Maybe it is the gas prices. A new report highlights that the internet is becoming increasingly important as a tool for research before purchase and for driving consumer choice. The research asked questions and opinion from more than two million online shoppers across a broad range of retailers about their Christmas shopping habits in 2008. [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Extras from A Christmas Story Called to Reunite

Calling all members of the fictitious Class of ’83! It’s time for a massive 25th reunion for all those who attended the briefly named Warren G. Harding elementary school on Niagara Street in St. Catharines. Those students were witnesses back in 1983 to the transformation of Victoria School from an ordinary place of education to [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: How Facebook Ruined Christmas

Facebook Beacon ruined Christmas and a group of its members are not going to let the social networking site forget it. A group of irked Facebook members filed a class-action lawsuit against Facebook Tuesday that said the company’s controversial Beacon advertising program violates several laws, including the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA), the Computer Fraud [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Johnny Cash Christmas Re-Issued

The Man in Black goes red and green with the coming reissue of two late-‘70s holiday specials featuring Kris Kristofferson, Anne Murray, Steve Martin and Tom T. Hall. The 1978 and ’79 installments of The Johnny Cash Christmas Special, which became a staple of network yuletide programming for a decade, will be released Oct. 7, along [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Seacrest Becoming the Face of New Year’s Eve

Dick Clark is still Mr. New Year’s Eve — but he’ll be sharing the title with Ryan Seacrest. Starting this December, Clark’s longtime end-of-year special will be called “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest,” ABC and dick clark productions said Friday. It was also announced that Seacrest will serve as co-host with Clark and [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Advanced Elmo Predicted Hot Toy for Christmas

He talks, has some serious moves and most likely will be near impossible to find come the holidays. The 2008 version of the talking Elmo doll, which is scheduled for release Oct. 14, is listed as one of Wal-Mart’s top 12 toys for the 2008 holiday season. Fisher-Price, in an attempt to make Elmo Live available [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Will it be a dark Christmas?

There are more ominous signs for a dreary holiday season in 2008. Sources within the Christmas light industry say that shipments of new-technology Christmas LED lights are down in the months of June and July, bucking the trend of a surging upswing over the past 18 months in the category. Some speculate that previous hot [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Nano-Sized I-Phone Could Be Christmas Rage

Every year we see it: some new gizmo becomes the must-have Christmas present. For Christmas 2008 the rumored “next big thing” isn’t the Nintendo Wii — it is a new Apple iPhone, shrunken down to a ridiculously small size. The iPhone Nano will have a 2.75-inch screen (compared to the iPhone’s 3.5-inch), MultiTouch and come in [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Christmas Travel Nightmares Predicted

Travel industry experts world wide have urgent advice for people looking to travel by plane during the 2008 holiday season: buy your tickets now and bring plenty of patience. UK newspaper The Telegraph reports that airlines across the world will cut 60 million seats for the holiday. The U.S. will be hit the hardest, losing [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Elvis Lives! NEW Christmas Duets CD Due Soon

On October 14, Sony BMG Music Entertainment, in partnership with Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc., will release the “Elvis Presley Christmas Duets” CD, which is the first Elvis Presley duet recordings album and the first Christmas compilation of its kind ever produced. This release marks yet another milestone in Elvis Presley’s legacy, 31 years after his [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Faith Hill Christmas Album Previewed on Mobile Phones

Mozes ( www.mozes.com), the service that connects people to what they love from their mobile phones, is powering a mobile listening party for five-time Grammy(R) award winner Faith Hill. The mobile campaign lets mobile fan club members get an exclusive preview and offer feedback on cuts from the multi-Platinum-selling country star’s new Christmas album “Joy [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Publicity-Loving Santa Running for President

There he goes again. A Lake Tahoe monk who years ago legally changed his name to Santa Claus has once again launched a media campaign to draw attention to himself. Mr. Claus, a self-described child advocate, declared himself a write-in candidate for president after the Obama and McCain campaigns to his You Tube request for [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Doris Day Christmas DVD to Release

MPI Home Video has announced the October 28th DVD release of The Doris Day Show – Christmas Memories. This extras-packed disc, costing just $14.98 SRP, will come with three classic Christmas episodes from the series. We’ve got the studio description for you below, including details about all the bonus material you’ll find, followed by the [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Feuding Santas Lead to Industry Meltdown

National and international media outlets broke the story of turmoil within the community of professional Santa Clauses nearly a month ago. The story is one of power-hungry individuals fighting for control of a major Santa-industry trade organization. That feud has continued in online Internet communities during a time of year when Santa Claus is usually [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Most Christmasy Hotel Already Stringing Lights

Donning Santa hats instead of sunhats, Gaylord Opryland Resort’s decorators towered overhead in cherry pickers today, stringing Christmas lights in the July heat as they begin getting the resort all dressed up for Christmas. The “most Christmassy hotel in the nation,” as named by the Travel Channel last year, has started gearing up for its [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: U.S. Christmas Tree Growers Feud with Mexico

Spare a thought, this warm summer day, for Oregon Christmas-tree growers, who are getting a frigid reception south of the border. Like Santa’s elves, the farmers are already sweating the Yuletide season, placing them at loggerheads with Mexico’s embryonic Christmas-tree industry. Oregon growers of the coniferous symbols of peace and hope are locked in a [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Escalating Costs Dampen Christmas Spirit 2008

Consumers will be facing price hikes of up to 15 percent on holiday goods, from toys to European luxury handbags. Many retailers had resisted passing along higher prices to consumers, but escalating costs — fueled by rising energy prices, higher labor costs in China and a weak dollar — are forcing stores, from warehouse clubs [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Classic Christmas TV Show New Releases

It will be Christmas all over again for fans of television shows from the 70s, 80s and 90s this Christmas. In fact, Christmas will be bursting out all over on DVD: November 11th will see the release of several new seasonal offerings: Johnny Carson Celebrates Christmas costs $14.99, and will include 3 “trimmed” Christmas-themed episodes. By trimmed, [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Forget Nintendo This Christmas

It is approaching it’s 2nd birthday and yet anyone wanting a Nintendo Wii for Christmas had better start looking now. The Big Guy at Nintendo says the Big Guy coming down the chimney may have a hard time finding them come the holiday season. “We are really intending to increase the shipments to the U.S., [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Is Your Tree Certified Green?

The Coalition of Environmentally Conscious Growers, a 501-C (6) was founded by two Oregon farms in August 2007. Its mission is to certify that the live Christmas trees grown by its members have been and continue to be responsibly grown. Currently, there are four members of the organization, including the largest and fifth largest tree [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Sneek Peek: A Christmas Story on Blu-Ray

Warner Home Video has revealed final specs and box art for its double dip of ‘A Christmas Story,’ which will hit Blu-ray this November with hours of bonus materials and deluxe holiday-themed packaging. Now the full details of the box set are in, and it looks to be the most full-fledged release yet of the perennial [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Radio City Christmas Spectacular Coming to DVD

One of the greatest and most beloved American holiday traditions, the Radio City Christmas Spectacular Starring The Rockettes, will be available on DVD for the first time on November 4th. Two titans of entertainment, Time Life and Madison Square Garden Entertainment, are partnering to bring this national treasure and American icon to fans everywhere. The [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Bad Santas Tarnishing Christmas

The month of July usually kicks off the flow of news about Christmas in the media thanks to the jolly gathering of professional Santas around the world. In years past we have seen them meet in Branson, Missouri talking about plans to make a reality television series on the life of a working Santa Claus. [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Oldman to Play Multiple Parts in Christmas Carol

It seems to be a trend in Christmas movies made by Robert Zemeckis. Just as Tom Hanks played multiple characters in Polar Express Jim Carrey and Gary Oldman are tabbed to take up several characters in Zemeckis’ adaptation of A Christmas Carol. Gary Oldman revealed that not only will he have a part in the [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: White Christmas Could Hit Broadway in 2008

With the Grinch on the fence about returning to New York this November, producer Kevin McCollum is in talks to bring a stage adaptation of the 1954 Irving Berlin movie musical “White Christmas” to Broadway. McCollum, 46, said he needs concessions from Broadway’s unions to make the $4 million to $4.5 million show viable. “I [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Classic TV Episodes Coming to DVD

Paramount Home Entertainment has announced the October 7th release of T.V. Sets: Holiday Treats, a new single-disc release compiling “8 heart-warming classic TV episodes” from some of the most beloved shows in their library: Family Ties, I Love Lucy, The Honeymooners, The Brady Bunch, The Andy Griffith Show, Frasier, Wings and the stalled-on-DVD series Taxi [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Christmas with the Nelsons (Ozzie & Harriet)

Shout! Factory has announced that The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet – Christmas With The Nelsons will be roasting on an open DVD player in your household this holiday season! This is a 90-minute collection from the longest-running sitcom on U.S. television (well, for now…The Simpsons is set to pass it in episode count next [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Lifetime Networks Show Christmas in July

Lifetime Networks celebrates Christmas in July, all month long. The festive programming on the two most popular women’s networks begins with “Fa La La La Fourth” — Lifetime Television’s Independence Day lineup of Christmas-only movies airing Friday, July 4, from 9AM-11PM (ET/PT). Hosted by Melissa Peterman (”Reba”), “Fa La La La Fourth” features talent including Dylan Walsh, Rob Lowe, Valerie [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Drake and Josh Do Christmas

Nickelodeon Thursday announced that Drake Bell and Josh Peck, stars of the network’s popular teen sitcom Drake & Josh, will co-star in “Drake & Josh: Best Christmas Ever,” an original television movie coming to the network in December. Filming on the new movie, which was announced Thursday by Marjorie Cohn, Nickelodeon’s, executive vice president, development and [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Actor Who Played Young George Bailey Dies

Robert J. Anderson, a former child actor best known for playing the young George Bailey in the 1946 Christmas film classic “It’s a Wonderful Life,” has died. He was 75. Known as Bobbie when he was young and Bob as an adult, Anderson died Friday of melanoma at his Palm Springs home, said Stephen Cox, a [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Canadian City Changing from Christmas to Winter Lights

The plug may be pulled on the candy canes, Santa characters and toy soldiers that have lit up downtown streets for the past two decades. There’s a plan in the works to replace the traditional Christmas decorations with “more general winter-oriented designs” as early as this fall. “In the last few years we’ve got more and more [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Christmas Movie Pushed Back to 2009

The holiday-themed movie that was filmed during a whirlwind production schedule last month now isn’t scheduled to be released until Thanksgiving of 2009. “Last Ounce of Courage,” which will be about a small-town mayor who is fed up with the political correctness of Christmas, originally was planned to be released this Christmas. Officials from Outpost Pictures [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Grinch Starts National Stage Run

Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas will be going on tour starting later this year. The musical played the St. James in 2007 and the Hilton in 2006 but will now be spreading its cheer at Baltimore’s Hippodrome from Nov. 11-23. Patrick Page starred in the Broadway production but no casting has been announced [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Christmas Tree a Headache for Florida City

Poor Port St. Lucie, Florida. For years they have been teased in the media because their Christmas tree kept dying. Season after season the city spent thousands in an effort to replace a beloved city symbol in a tree that had served well for decades but succumbed to a disease. They planted new trees each [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: A Christmas Treasure Returned

When the Hock family Christmas tree goes up this year, one ornament is likely to stand out. The small, silver nutcracker, which marks a child’s first Christmas, was nearly lost. Come December, “We would have wondered where it was,” Meg Hock said last week of the ornament that contains a photo of her oldest son, [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: The Christmas Card of Anne Frank

A Christmas card from Anne Frank has been found in a Dutch antique shop. The card, bearing the signature of the schoolgirl who hid from the Nazis for years in an Amsterdam house before being caught, was sent in 1937 two years before war broke out. It was addressed to Samme Ledermann, one of Anne’s best friends, [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: ‘Best Santa Ever” Arrested on Sex Charges

Sad news for Christmas fans everywhere — the worst kind of predator is also known as “the best Santa ever”. News like this comes as parents and Santa Claus Employment agencies continue to grapple with issues revolving around the backgrounds of professional Santas. A rare international alert seeking a man shown in dozens of raw child [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Christmas Light Regulation Turning UK Humbug

In the name of health and safety many British towns may have to forego festive lighting this holiday season. According to a report in the Telegraph stringent new regulations and huge insurance premium increases could make Christmas lights scarce. This year councils must use a pressure gauge to individually test every bolt holding a cable [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Mrs. Fields Attacked for Avoiding Christmas

The American Family Association took aim at Wal Mart last year — and won. After declaring “an open mind” when it came to the use of the word “Christmas” in their advertising, Wal Mart caved and splashed “Christmas” liberally. This year, the American Family Association is targeting a more upscale outfit: Mrs. Field’s Cookies. Last [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Researcher Claims Scientific Proof of Christmas Star

For centuries, historians, scientists and scholars have debated the existence of the Star of Bethlehem in the Biblical telling of Christ’s birth. Now the existence of this celebrated, yet debated, Star has been proven by Texas lawyer and professor, Rick Larson, in the documentary, “The Star of Bethlehem,” available on DVD Oct. 23 at [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: What We Really Want for Christmas

The votes are in — and we want high tech for Christmas this year. According to Solutions Research Group, 76% of all Americans want some sort of digital gizmo under the tree this year. Their survey of more than 1200 Americans in September 2007 shows that just about any kind of tech product easily beats [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Site of the Week: TERD.org

No, we’re not being crude and we’re not making this up. We’re loudly applauding the efforts of an organization that aims to “to explain the unexplainable, prove the unprovable, and make the mysterious unmysterious.” We’re talking about T.E.R.D. This is what they claim: “There are a lot of websites with a lot of phony [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Did the City Really Steal Christmas?

It all began in the heat of summer — and by asking for permission. Ankeny, Iowa sounds like a reasonable place. Located in the heart of the Midwest, this little town of of roughly 35,000 is reportedly as American as apple pie. But these days it defends itself from anti-Christmas charges. Dave Sanderson, a local [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Michigan Court Battle, Vote Heating Up

Last winter, cowed by threats from the ACLU, the Berkley City Council in Michigan voted to remove a decades-old nativity display from city property. The council’s controversial action ignored the plea from many of this small town’s citizens to keep the display. As a result, a grassroots effort “Berkley Citizens Vote YES to [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Strategies For Planning Early Christmas Shopping

Shopping early for the Christmas is always a good idea because you will find yourself ahead of vast majority of the crowds that only start their shopping when Christmas is just days or weeks away. Shoppers and other people generally will be green in envy this holiday season knowing that you are way ahead [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Bloggers Awaken to Wage Christmas Battle

Let the games begin. Around the world and documented in the blogosphere the war on Christmas 2007 has begun. From the UK, comes this musing about whether or not the war starts a little earlier each year. Here is a recent convert to atheism wondering if she’s selling out to Christians by celebrating Christmas. Here is a sad [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: The Family Christmas Meal

Cooking large meals during the holiday season is basically a holiday tradition in many families. It is part of the fabric of a family. I can remember countless years of gathering the extended family around a large table (children at their own table of course), attempting to put aside the disagreements of the past [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Three Tips for Decorating for the Holidays

You don’t have to work yourself into a frenzy to decorate your home for the holidays. Sometimes the simplest solutions are the best and can help to reduce the stress level of major holidays. First of all, you don’t have to go run out and buy your decorations the same year the holiday comes up [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Fergus Falls Debates the Christmas Tree

News that Fergus Falls will hold a community Christmas tree lighting ceremony on the evening after Thanksgiving Day has switched on an interesting little debate on The Journal’s web site. The topic at hand isn’t really whether the community tree lighting is a good idea. Most seem to think it is a fine plan, a [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Site of the Week: Old Christmas Lights.com

Christmas brings out the best of passions in people. Some folks like to bake, some go crazy for decorating and others even wear Christmas colors all season to show their spirit. This week we’re thrilled to introduce you to George Nelson, a pioneer in celebrating Christmas online through his passion for old Christmas [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: The Legend of the Christmas Flower

The ancient Aztecs considered the poinsettia to be a symbol of purity. Today, poinsettias are the most easily recognized flower symbolic of Christmas. Poinsettias are also known as the “Christmas flower” and “Mexican flame leaf.” Poinsettias originally came from Mexico and Central America. According to legend, one day near Christmas a child who was too [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Canadian Muslims Debate Christmas

Muslims in Canada are speaking out about Christmas. And it is a subject they can hardly agree on. A Canadian mosque has warned followers that wishing someone a Merry Christmas is like congratulating a murderer, reports the Toronto Star. The e-mailed alert went out on the Khalid Bin Al-Walid mosque’s Internet message service on Christmas [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Inexpensive and Creative Christmas Decorating

Christmas decorating doesn’t have to be a bank-breaking event. There are plenty of ways to create a warm and festive environment with limited resources. Begin by pulling out all the family favorites. Homemade ornaments made throughout the years are far more special than anything you could buy in the store. Display them on your [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Town Killing Off Christmas Charity

It is one of those “can’t see the forest thru the trees” scenarios — literally. Springettsbury Township in York County, Pennsylvania, wants to end a 20-year tradition by denying the operation of Glenn Olsen’s Christmas Tree Lot due to a new ordinance dealing with temporary use permits. Big deal, right? After all, old Glenn can [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Sears to Revive Their Christmas Wishbook

Sears Christmas Wishbook was part of the Christmases of my childhood. Every autumn the Wishbook would come out and with it came my dreams of Christmas. I literally once had a dream where I won a Sears contest that gave the winner one item from every page in the Wishbook. I dreamt that I had to [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: 24 Creative Gift Wrap Ideas

The purpose of a present is to make the recipient feel treasured, and with a little special care in the gift wrap, you can do just that. Here are 24 creative gift wrap ideas. 1. Wrap your gifts with another gift. For example, you might wrap a gift with a bright new silk scarf. Wrap a [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: What Guys Really Want for Christmas

Okay, ladies: listen up! I am here to tell you what men want for Christmas. It isn’t cologne and it isn’t some awful looking tie. Please! It could be NFL playoff tickets, but we know that prices for them are through the roof. Instead, us guys want stuff that is both useful and practical [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Ramadan Added to School Holidays

Instead of banning Christmas and Halloween, an Illinois school board decided to add Ramadan to the school calendar. Dozens of parents said at an Oak Lawn school board meeting Tuesday night that while they’re happy to have a student body of varying religions, they want to keep celebrating what they say are traditional American holidays [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Christmas for the Rich and Shameless

Neiman Marcus unveiled its 81st annual Christmas Book Tuesday, boasting everything from a $20 set of four peppermint tins to a $2.3 million getaway to the Ameya Preserve in Montana. The Dallas-based luxury retailer’s catalog, first published in 1926, is seen by many as a harbinger of the Christmas shopping season. The “ultimate wish book” [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Christmas With the Kranks

Based on the best-selling John Grisham novel titled Skipping Christmas, Christmas With The Kranks resembles the book in almost every facet save for the title. Starring Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis, Christmas With The Kranks is an instant Christmas holiday classic. Although not in the same league of Yule tide comedy gems Christmas [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Christmas With the Kranks

Christmas Newswire: Christmas Light Regulation Turning UK Humbug

Christmas Newswire: Mrs. Fields Attacked for Avoiding Christmas

Christmas Newswire: Researcher Claims Scientific Proof of Christmas Star

Christmas Newswire: What We Really Want for Christmas

Christmas Newswire: Site of the Week: TERD.org

Christmas Newswire: Did the City Really Steal Christmas?

Christmas Newswire: Michigan Court Battle, Vote Heating Up

Christmas Newswire: Strategies For Planning Early Christmas Shopping

Christmas Newswire: Bloggers Awaken to Wage Christmas Battle

Christmas Newswire: The Family Christmas Meal

Christmas Newswire: Three Tips for Decorating for the Holidays

Christmas Newswire: Fergus Falls Debates the Christmas Tree

Christmas Newswire: Site of the Week: Old Christmas Lights.com

Christmas Newswire: The Legend of the Christmas Flower

Christmas Newswire: Canadian Muslims Debate Christmas

Christmas Newswire: Town Killing Off Christmas Charity

Christmas Newswire: Ramadan Added to School Holidays

Christmas Newswire: Inexpensive and Creative Christmas Decorating

Christmas Newswire: Sears to Revive Their Christmas Wishbook

Christmas Newswire: 24 Creative Gift Wrap Ideas

Christmas Newswire: What Guys Really Want for Christmas

Christmas Newswire: Christmas for the Rich and Shameless

Christmas Newswire: Christmas With the Kranks

Christmas Newswire: Wal Mart Announces Their Top 12 Toys of Christmas

With its annual list of the “Top 12 Toys of Christmas,” Wal-Mart announced today an added incentive for early holiday shopping — numerous, deep rollbacks on what the retailer considers to be the items on wish lists this year. Starting this week, Wal-Mart will announce rollbacks each week in this aggressive move to lead the [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Four Great Christmas Craft Ideas

Homemade Christmas decorations are some of the most unique. They are also a lot of fun because you can enjoy them with your family. Below are 4 fun and easy to make homemade Christmas decorations: Popcorn Stringing If you like strung popcorn, it’s really simple to make. Start with a big bowl of popcorn (unbuttered, of [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Organizing Your Holiday Baking

There is nothing more comforting than the smell of Christmas cookies fresh out of the oven. As a little girl, I remember eagerly watching my mom, as she would carefully remove the hot cookie sheets from the oven. I couldn’t wait to help decorate with the homemade frosting, the cinnamon candies and the multi-colored [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Christmas Traditions: Manufacturing Memories

What are your favorite memories of the holidays as a child? More than likely those memories include family traditions from, the day you choose to decorate your tree, to the kinds of food you eat at the holidays. Remember that you and your husband came from separate families with different customs and traditions. When creating a legacy [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: A Sneak Peek at This Christmas

Here is the first trailer for Chris Brown’s new movie This Christmas, to be released in November: Share This [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Mr. Finnegan’s Giving Chest

Dick Van Dyke will forever be remembered as Bert in the classic movie “Mary Poppins.” Now he touches a whole new generation of fans with the beautifully illustrated Christmas book “Mr. Finnegan’s Giving Chest” (Shadow Mountain, $19.95). Van Dyke portrays the loveable toymaker Mr. Finnegan, and also reads the book on an accompanying CD. Mr. [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Site of the Week: Why Christmas

In all the years we’ve followed Christmas online we’ve seen just a handful of sites dedicated to Christmas that were non-commercial in nature and that actually stayed online. This week we feature such a site and we dare to say that not only has this site survived the dot com crashes that so [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Christmas and the Salvation Army

The Red Kettle campaign, first started in San Francisco in 1891, has traditionally been The Salvation Army’s most prominent fund-raiser. In 2004, the Salvation Army raised over $100 million in communities nationwide, with the spare change all being put to good use in the towns where the money was deposited into the kettles. The funds [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Frosty the Snowman

A gold member of the Christmas classic elite, Frosty The Snowman has entertained several generations of children and adults with its charming holiday magic. Jimmy Durante narrates this 1969 animated creation that features the birth of Frosty, a happy upbeat snowman brought to life by a magical hat. The story is based on the [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: The Benefits of Christmas Shopping Online

I recently did a radio interview with a station based out of Arkansas and we were discussing the differences between doing your Christmas shopping at the local mall versus shopping online. I made the point that many consumers still like to go the mall to get some of that Holiday vibe and the sense [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: A Modern Christmas Classic

Americans are being inspired to reach out to others in a whole new way by the book Christmas Jars (Shadow Mountain, $7.95, softcover). Bursting on to the national scene in 2005 by selling nearly 90,000 copies in three short months, Christmas Jars unfolds the story of Hope Jensen, a young newspaper reporter who receives [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Tips to Avoid Holiday Weight Gain

If you’re working on a weight loss plan, one of the most difficult times of year can be the holidays. Around Christmas and New Years, the parties and meals you’ll attend will include foods that are high in fat and calories and low in nutrition. Fortunately, by following these five tips you can stick [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Delicious Christmas Pudding

Pudding Recipes given here are easy to cook and absolutely delicious. Properly made Christmas puddings will be extremely tasty and make your Christmas celebrations a memorable experience. Enjoy these Puddings with your loved ones during this Christmas. Christmas Pudding (1). Ingredients of Christmas Pudding:- 1 lb. raisins (stoned), 1 lb. chopped apples, 1 lb. currants, 1 lb. [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: What to Look For in An Artificial Christmas Tree

You walk through the aisles of your big box retailer and you see dozens of Artificial Christmas Trees. It’s hard not to think of the convenience and low maintenance of a fake tree this year. The retailer has a large selection of trees in many price ponts. What’s the difference between the trees. First, be [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Save Your Christmas Tree From Your Cat

How many years have you spent, with your cat finding your Christmas Tree irresistible? Younger cats love to play with the baubles hanging off the tree, as they are shiny and interesting things that they don’t see very often. What normally happens when your cat spots the baubles is that it will tap it [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Starting Inexpensive Christmas Traditions

The Christmas holiday is fast approaching and along with it the overspending and over abundance of stuff, stuff and more stuff. What usually comes after the ‘stuff’ has been devoured destroyed or stashed away? For most families it’s the stress of how to pay the credit card bills. Here’s an idea, keep the cards [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Mormon Tabernacle Choir & Sissel Perform Christmas

Music critics have called her voice “ethereal,” “pristine” and “captivating.” Throughout her career, Norwegian-born singing sensation Sissel has performed with a variety of artists such as Celine Dion and Sting. But for Sissel, singing with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square was “a match made in heaven.” In her first-ever Christmas [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Christmas Left Off School Calendars

When parents and PTA members of Monroe-Woodbury took the district to task last week for identifying some religious holidays in its calendar and not others, they were not alone. Officials of Clarkstown School District in Rockland County (New York) said that it plans to reprint all of its calendars after it was discovered that Christmas [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Sonoma California Re-Ignites Christmas Controversy

Some people were already calling it the “Creche War” before Wednesday night’s City Council convened. There were expectations that angry words would fill the air. But by the time a succession of concerned citizens had each finished their allotted three minutes at the podium during an 80-minute public hearing, there was a minimum of verbal [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Toby Keith Finds Jesus

In a new video message on his website, Toby Keith tells his fans that he made the upcoming Yuletide album, A Classic Christmas, for them so they can have “more of the big dog” during the holidays. Toby says that for him, Christmas is the most important birthday of the year, and he makes [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Reality Christmas Television

First there came word of television cameras following Santas around while doing their duties in the malls at Christmastime. And now this new idea from NBC about choirs trying to outsing each other with Christmas carols in a televised competition. NBC is putting a new twist on the reality singing-competition genre with “Clash of the Choirs,” [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Tony Bennet Re-Issues “Snowfall” as “Deluxe Edition”!

Bennett’s Christmas Album, Snowfall, was first issued as a 10-song LP in 1968 and was a yuletide staple for years. In 1994, it was upgraded to CD for the first time, expanded with a bonus track recorded on The Jon Stewart Show (broadcast at the time by MTV Networks). Ten years later, the CD [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Smithereens to release Christmas CD

New York, NY — Central Jersey favorite rock ‘n’ roll sons The Smithereens wil released their first Christmas CD Oct. 9 on KOCH Records. “Christmas with The Smithereens” is hot on the heels of the smash Beatles tribute, “Meet the Smithereens,” their version of the Beatles debut album. “THE SMITHEREENS set out to re-invent the Christmas [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Jaci Velasquez to Release Christmas EP

Jaci Velasquez will release a 3-track Christmas/New Year’s EP titled Open House on 30 October, A’postrophe Records announced. This EP includes a well-known Christmas song “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear”, an original Christmas song titled “Quiet Christmas Night” and also a Velasquez version of “Auld Lang Syne”, the popular New Year’s song. Velasquez states, “I [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Site of the Week: Christmas Crafts at Kaboose.com

Christmas is hands-on and we found a site — Kaboose.com’s Christmas Crafts — that will show you just how hands-on it can be. It is another winner of our Site of the Week honors. Technically, Kaboose.com isn’t a Christmas site. It is a family/Mom portal featuring a plethora of parenting, schooling and family material. But [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Booking Holiday Travel

Years ago one of my favorite all-time holiday movies was Planes, Trains and Automobiles. This John Hughes late-80s classic still tickles me but there are scenes within it now that just make me cringe. Steve Martin’s rental counter meltdown is one such scene. But holiday travel does not have to be such a drag. And [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Easy Holiday Reading

If there is one thing the Internet is great for it is the rise in popularity of self-publishing. Never in the history of man has it been easier for one to get their opinions and passions broadcast to an international audience. For a topic like Christmas, the Internet is the ultimate sharing device. Take Christmas Town.net, [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Alvin and the Chipmunks — Remastered

Alvin, Simon and Theodore are household names around the world as the mischievous members of a Grammy-winning ensemble that has sold more than 43 million albums. Since first scurrying into the charts in 1958, Alvin & The Chipmunks have put their trademark spin on many of music’s most popular rock, pop, country and standard [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Randy Travis Releasing 2nd Christmas CD

Randy Travis will release his second Christmas album, Songs of the Season, on Sept. 25 on Word Records. It’s his first Christmas album since An Old Time Christmas in 1989. Selections include “Away in a Manger,” “O Holy Night,” “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” “Angels We Have Heard on High” and “Let It [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Kimberley Locke to Release a Modern Christmas Album

KIMBERLEY LOCKE will release a new collection of holiday recordings on November 6, 2007. Simply titled Christmas, the set will include her two Billboard #1 AC hits “Up On The Housetop” (2005) and “Jingle Bells” (2006). Other highlights include classic arrangements of holiday must-hear songs, including “Frosty the Snowman,” “Away In A Manger, “Holly Jolly [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: WOW GOSPEL CHRISTMAS 2007: CD features gospel greats singing popular holiday songs.

The widely popular WOW Gospel compilation synonymous with today’s hottest gospel music continues to build it’s brand, launching the first holiday album-”WOW Gospel Christmas 2007,” which is slated to release September 25. One of the most anticipated gospel holiday albums of this decade, “WOW Gospel Christmas 2007″ is a double disc collection of classic [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: The Year without a Santa Claus Deluxe Edition to be released on DVD

The holidays will indeed be joyous this year when Warner Home Video (WHV) releases The Year Without a Santa Claus Deluxe Edition on DVD October 2, 2007. Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus, Heat Miser, Snow Miser and their pals will surely put consumers in the Christmas spirit with this deluxe, collectible edition of the all-time holiday classic. [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Wood May Record Gothic Christmas Album With Manson

Washington, September 11: Teenage actress Evan Rachel Wood has hinted that she may take out a gothic Christmas album with beau Marilyn Manson. The 19-year-old, who has collaborated with Manson only on the karaoke stage, says that she may enter the recording studio with her boyfriend to rework a few famous Christmas carols. “If we [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Sister Hazel Rocks Christmas 2007

We announced the release of their latest album, Santa’s Playlist – and now we’re going to gush a bit about it. Sister Hazel rocks, folks. And we’re going to hear them a lot this season on MCR. Take a listen at this link. The CD hits distribution on September 25th with these tracks: 1. Merry Christmas Baby 2. Have [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Site of the Week: Hymns and Carols of Christmas

We’re pleased to announce Hymns and Carols of Christmas as winner of our Site of the Week honors. Like all great Christmas sites, Hymns and Carols of Christmas began as a real-life, offline endeavor built upon the love of the season. Way back in 1996 Douglas Anderson was performing guitar as part of a bluegrass [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Dave Koz Releasing Memories of a Winters Night

Deck the halls — multiple Grammy nominee Dave Koz is back with a new holiday CD and the 10th anniversary edition of the Dave Koz and Friends A Smooth Jazz Christmas tour! Capitol Music Group will release Memories Of A Winter’s Night, Koz’s third holiday CD, on September 18th. Memories Of A Winter’s Night — [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Site of the Week: Christmas Recipes

Food is as big — maybe even bigger — an element of the holiday season as music, decorating and Santa Claus. Everyone has their favorite Christmas foods. The great thing about traditional foods is that one can always put a fresh spin on things through unique recipes. And that’s where this site of [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Christmas Tree Growers Promote Benefits of Real Trees

SALEM – Two of Oregon’s largest Christmas tree growers announced this week they are forming a coalition to promote sustainable Christmas tree production and recapture some of the market share growers have lost in recent years to artificial trees. Executives with Holiday Tree Farm of Corvallis, Ore., and Yule Tree Farm of Aurora, Ore., explained in [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Pink Panther Christmas

MGM will release Pink Panther’s Pink Christmas, a single disc release featuring 81-minutes of Pink Panther including “Pink Christmas”. The price will range from about $10 at discounters to $15 at full MSRP. The disc will be released on November 6th, 2007. Share This [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Christmas Hotel Now Open for Business

There’s room at this inn: The Inn at Christmas Place, an entirely Christmas themed hotel, claims to be four-star and full of old world charm. Draped with red bows and garland, The Inn at Christmas Place puts you in the holiday mood the moment you arrive. The lobby features a gigantic Christmas Tree, a [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Mannheim Steamroller Announces New Christmas Release

Mannheim Steamroller solicited ideas from fans in selecting a favorite Christmas tune to be showcased on their newest Christmas CD. The winner? The Christmas Song. On October 9th, 2007 the Steamroller will release The Christmas Song CD featuring a surprise guest vocalist. Announcement of the new CD was followed with a promise that the 2007 holiday [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Christmas Album Coming from Tracy Lawrence

Tracy Lawrence is releasing his first Christmas album this fall. The as-yet-untitled disc will include several traditional holiday songs as well as a few originals. Tracy says that while the recording of the album was pretty simple, finding songs was not. “I did weeks of song search going through the usual piles and piles [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Snow Angels to Be Released October 2nd

Karin Bergquist and Linford Detweiler of Over the Rhine draw on their jazz, blues, and folk influences for the Christmas album ‘Snow Angels’ (Oct. 2nd, Great Speckled Dog). The married couple, who are among PASTE’s “100 Greatest Living Songwriters”, applies their sultry style and witty lyrics to twelve refreshingly new, sophisticated and sometimes dark [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Carrie Underwood spearheads new Christmas compilation disc

Thursday, August 23, 2007 – Carrie Underwood, Brad Paisley, Alan Jackson, Kenny Chesney and Brooks & Dunn contribute holiday songs to an upcoming Christmas compilation disc coming out in October.”Hear Something Country Christmas” drops Oct. 2 from SonyBMG with 14 songs. Six were recorded exclusively for this collection. Underwood, who will release her own CD later in October, [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Brian Setzer Orchestra’s 6th Annual Christmas Extravaganza Coming to Spotlight 29 Casino

Boogie Woogie Holiday Show a Traditional Sellout COACHELLA, Calif., Aug. 21 /PRNewswire/ — Holiday traditions in the Coachella Valley are much like holiday traditions around the country – presents under the tree, twinkling lights, holiday parties and good cheer, a sellout concert by rocker Brian Setzer… Back by popular demand for an incredible sixth straight year, Brian Setzer [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Relient K Releasing Christmas Album Just in Time for Halloween!

Relient K – the band that brought you Five Score And Seven Years Ago, mmhmm, Two Lefts Don’t Make a Right…(But Three Do) and The Anatomy of the Tongue in Cheek – is heralding the holiday season in its own inimitable style with the release of its first-ever, full-length Christmas album: Let It Snow, [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Christmas Eve in Billings, Montana 1954

Early last week, James Carroll of Tyler, Texas, came to Billings for the second time in his life. It was an enjoyable visit, but it was hard to top that first one, on Christmas Eve 1954. Carroll was a 23-year-old Army private at the time, just out of basic training at Fort Bliss, Texas, on his [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: The Munsters Scary Little Christmas

Are we mixing our seasons? Munsters fans know the original 1964 series was followed by two films (now out on DVD) starring the original cast. After that came the second series, The Munsters Today (a.k.a. The New Munsters) in 1988, then the telefilms Here Come the Munsters in 1995 and The Munsters’ Scary Little Christmas in [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: What Goes Around, Comes Around

More than 18 million Mattel toys on recall world-wide Fisher-Price recalls almost 1 million toys Thomas & Friends toys recalled for lead poisoning And thats just a few headlines and in one part of industry; toy manufacture. And its not just the fault of the factories in China and the companies who readily outsource to them. All in [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Time-Life Announces New Christmas CD

On September 25, Time-Life Music and BET J will jointly present “Love’s Holiday: A Gospel Christmas.” The CD features several big-name artists: Whitney Houston, Cristina Aguilera, Mary Mary, Alicia Keys, Gladys Knight and Patti LaBelle, to name just a few. The fourteen-track compilation features both traditional and new gospel-inspired Christmas recordings by both established [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Vickie Winans Offers New Holiday CD

Vickie Winans has been working through the heat of summer to create a very cool CD. She has just finished recording her first Holiday project titled, Happy Holidays from Vickie Winans, the first release on her Destiny Joy Records label. The project releases October 2, 2007 with distribution through Central South Distributors in Nashville, [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Manchester Pa. Light Display Seeks Compromise

Some Manchester Township residents are a little leery of the Christmas season this year, and a neighbor’s seasonal light display, they say, is the reason. This past season, a light and music show – Witte Wonderland – attracted drivers to Burning Tree Court. When people visited the wonderland, vehicles lined the cul-de-sac and spilled around the [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Say Merry Christmas by Finding Toys Made in the USA

Next to “Merry Christmas,” here’s the greeting toy shoppers are most likely to hear and see this holiday season: “Made in America.” After Mattel’s back-to-back recalls of Chinese-made toys — and amid growing, broader concerns about the safety of products from China — some small American toy makers and sellers are gearing up for a “Made [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Christmas Tree Growers Try to Take Back the Market

BANGOR, Maine – Maine tradition took center stage Friday afternoon at the Bangor Civic Center as two competitors raced to be named the fastest wreath maker at the National Christmas Tree Association Convention and Trade Show. More than 50 Christmas tree growers, retailers and vendors from around the United States and Canada witnessed Maria Kingsbury [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Kenny Loggins December — a Review

Kenny Loggins is a man who wears his heart on his sleeve. His songs have feeling, emotion, and one of the great voices of pop music. His career spans decades, his mastery of many styles unparalleled. He is truly one whose voice is an instrument. It is no surprise, therefore, that when he turned [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Town Changes Decades Old Display Due to Legal Threats

Vernon, Connecticut has had a Christmas nativity display for decades. And it appears it will have one this year, too. But this year’s display will be different in that it will be smaller, relocated and surrounded by other winter religious symbols celebrating such holidays as Hanukkah, Ramadan, Kwanzaa, Chinese New Year, pagan winter solstice, [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Niceville Sounds Anything But

Niceville, Florida sounds like a friendly enough place. But in discussing what should be done about the traffic generated by a popular home Christmas display things have reportedly gotten nasty in Niceville. Resident Debbie Lewis, also known as the Christmas Lady, drew more than 5,000 people to her home last year to view her Christmas [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: The (Light) Show Must Go On

Right on schedule, the public debates over Christmas lights on private property is intensifying. Today’s story comes from Manchester Township in York County Pennsylvania. This report from the York Dispatch tells the sordid tale: Todd Witte’s winter wonderland in Manchester Township is not going silently into the night. Despite objections by some neighbors to Witte’s spectacular [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Todd Agnew and NewSong to Headline Christmas Tour

Todd Agnew will co-headline a Christmas tour with group NewSong this year, following his 2006 critically-acclaimed Christmas album Do You See What I See?. Agnew will also prepare for the Christmas season by creating a collection of performance tools for churches, using music from the Do You See What I See? project. The resource collection [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Wham! fan fined for Christmas revel in May

A fan of the 1980s pop band Wham! tormented neighbours by playing their hit song Last Christmas all night. Brian Turner repeatedly played the song at full volume from 1am onwards one night in May this year. Now he has been silenced after becoming the first noise nuisance to be prosecuted by Newcastle city council’s night watch [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Wynonna Touring with New Christmas Material

Country music singer Wynonna is all set for her fall tour that kicks off with an appearance in the 81st annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on Nov. 22. The 43-year-old artist plans to take her first Christmas Album, “A Classic Christmas,” on the tour along with her other hits. “I have always loved the [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Los Gatos Goes PC

The City of Los Gatos, California just can’t fight it any more. A citizen of that fair city has written DefendChristmas.com to inform us that the annual Los Gatos Christmas Parade will now be called the Children’s Holiday Parade. We suspect that the emphasis on “children” is so that the rest of us possibly won’t [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: School Board Keeps Christmas But Suffers Wrath Anyway

NEW HYDE PARK, N.Y., Aug. 13 — The temperature in the room was over 90, and the crowd was angry. The topic at this regular August meeting of the school board: what else? Christmas. When most people complain about the Christmas season beginning earlier and earlier each year, they do not usually mean the [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: A Christmas Carol Goes…Sleazy?

According to MTV Movie Blogs we’re about to see yet another twist on Charles Dicken’s A Christmas Carol. Production begins in early 2008 with Matthew McConaughey starring in a project to be called “The Ghosts of Girlfriends Past”, a so-called romantic comedy where the backdrop of Christmas is used as McCanaughey gets his just desserts for his [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Tim Curry, Jim Belushi Featured in New Christmas Film

Another animated holiday film, a musical tentatively titled “Snowyville” based on Michael Attardi’s animated short Once Upon a Christmas Village will be produced with Tim Curry and Jim Belushi in lead roles. The story premise is not entirely clear on this project. “Santa Claus drops his magical watch under a Christmas tree, bringing to life a [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Vermont Tree Chosen for U.S. Capitol

A 50-foot balsam fir in Green Mountain National Forest has been chosen for holiday duty at the U.S. Capitol. Theodor Bechtol, the Capitol’s grounds superintendent, made the selection Monday from a preselected set of trees. “We’re looking for a tree that looks good 360 degrees around the tree. It has to be uniform in density and it [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Macys to Retire Santa Bear

After 23 years of bringing holiday joy to shoppers, Santa Bear is heading for retirement. Macy’s announced Wednesday that this Christmas will be the last one for the popular holiday collectible made famous by the former Dayton’s department stores, which later became Marshall Field’s before Macy’s took over the chain. “It’s been 23 years, and Santa Bear [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Santa Plans Special Announcement

Santa has something to announce. And he will do it on the Merry Forums next week. [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Say Merry Christmas by Finding Toys Made in the USA

Christmas Newswire: Christmas Tree Growers Try to Take Back the Market

Christmas Newswire: Trans-Siberian Orchestra Announces Holiday Tour Dates

One of the biggest arena attractions in rock music, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra (TSO), will once again take to the road this holiday season for what will be its largest-ever tour, more than 90 cities coast-to-coast over a ten-week period beginning November 1st. Established in 1996 by producer/composer/lyricist Paul O’Neill, TSO has been a true [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Wynonna Touring with New Christmas Material

Christmas Newswire: Toby Keith Releases More Info on New Christmas CD

(NASHVILLE, Tenn.) Show Dog Nashville, the full-service record label owned and operated by entertainer Toby Keith, will release the singer’s first holiday album in more than a decade this fall. The two-disc A Classic Christmas features Keith’s renditions of traditional yuletide favorites. Produced by Keith and Grammy winner Randy Scruggs, the set offers tasteful retellings [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Monster Ballads Christmas to Release September 11th

According to CDUniverse.com and other online vendors, Razor And Tie Records has set a September 11 release date for the “Monster Ballads Christmas” CD. The track listing for the collection, which was spearheaded by TWISTED SISTER, is as follows: 01. I’ll Be Home For Christmas – TWISTED SISTER 02. Christmas Love – BILLY IDOL 03. Blue Christmas [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Bebo Norman Christmas CD Due Soon

Popular Dove Award-winning artist Bebo Norman has recently been signed to Seattle-based BEC Recordings. The first project under the multi-album agreement, Christmas/From The Realms Of Glory, is set for a 2 October release date. Norman is scheduled to release his next studio project in spring 2008. Having recorded six records over his thirteen-year career, Norman is [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Mindy Smith Christmas CD Release Announced

On October 9th, 2007, folk and country singer/songwriter Mindy Smith will release My Holiday, her first Christmas CD, via Vanguard Records. The album was recorded in Nashville and produced by Mindy Smith and Steve Buckingham. It will feature 11 songs, six of which are original compositions written and/or co-written by Smith. Titles of the original [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Darlene Love to Release New Christmas CD

Darlene Love has made her first Christmas album and she had a rule: no oldies. Love will release “It’s Christmas, Of Course,” on October 2. Even though her version of “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” from the 1963 Phil Spector “Christmas Gift to You” album is a holiday standard, Love wanted to stick [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Taylor Swift, Rodney Atkins Will Sing for Kids’ Christmas

Taylor Swift, Rodney Atkins, Montgomery Gentry and Chris Young will join Charlie Daniels for the 11th annual Christmas for Kids Benefit Concert on Nov. 19 at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. Established more than 20 years ago, the Christmas for Kids organization provides financially disadvantaged children the opportunity to celebrate the holiday season by allowing [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: A Twisted Christmas Live DVD

Twisted Sister’s Dee Snider and Jay Jay French recently stopped by the VH1 Classic offices to present Autism Speaks/Cure Autism Now with a check for $17,000. The check represents the proceeds from Twisted Sister’s A Twisted Christmas, the rockin’ holiday album that enamored both critics and fans alike. A Twisted Christmas features rock n’ [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Michael W. Smith Releases It’s A Wonderful Christmas Oct. 16

Michael W. Smith, an iconic artist loved and respected for his immense creativity, leadership and heart for others, announces the release of his 20th studio album It’s A Wonderful Christmas,on Reunion Records, October 16th. Over the years, people have come to respect Smith as a man of many gifts. He’s written and recorded pop music that [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: A Christmas Carol Goes…Sleazy?

Christmas Newswire: Tim Curry, Jim Belushi Featured in New Christmas Film

Christmas Newswire: Vermont Tree Chosen for U.S. Capitol

Christmas Newswire: Macys to Retire Santa Bear

Christmas Newswire: The Christmas Cottage: Movie Preview

Coming this November is the first of three movies about the life of Thomas Kinkade, the self-proclaimed “Painter of Light”. Calling the story this first movie is about a “true Christmas miracle” Kinkade says The Christmas Cottage tells how an aging artist (played by Peter O’Toole) named Glen Wessler stepped in and helped lead a community [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Non-Alcoholic Eggnog

Ingredients: 4 eggs 1/2 cup sugar 1/8 teaspoon salt 4 cups milk 2 teaspoons rum extract 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg 1 cup whipping cream — beaten until stiff Directions: Beat eggs, sugar, and salt in top of double boiler or heavy pan. Add milk; mix and cook, stirring frequently, until mixture barely coats a metal spoon. Chill. Stir in extract and nutmeg. Fold in stiffly beaten [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Beware of Egg-Nog

From: The American Beacon, Norfolk, December 24, 1817: A Song of the Season, To be sung to any tune that suits the measure. -BEWARE OF EGG-NOG- While the little boys cry ‘merry Christmas is coming,’ Shall I be as dull as a water-drunk log? No! I’ll sing you a song (for we bards must be humming) And the burden shall still [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Michael W. Smith Announces Christmas Tour Dates

On the heels of his new release “It’s a Wonderful Christmas” coming October 16th, Michael W. Smith has announced the following tour dates for this fall: 29-Nov Binghampton, NY — Broome County Arena 30-Nov Baltimore, MD — 1st Mariner Arena 2-Dec Erie, PA – Erie Civic Center Complex 4-Dec Dallas, TX — Meyerson Symphony Center 5-Dec Dallas, TX — Meyerson [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: The Star Still Shines

The Christmas Star will shine again. Ken Petschow said the lighted 30-foot star that for years has been seen from Thanksgiving to the first week of January on his hillside property will be back this holiday season. “It’ll make a good Christmas for everyone,” he said. Its return can be attributed to donations, Petschow’s own funds [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Santa Announces Sleigh Naming Contest for 2007

For the first time in recorded history, Santa is asking for help with his sleigh. This is a great opportunity for kids and believers everywhere to help this Christmas — and you could end up with your name in lights around the world on Christmas Eve! [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Gaylord Opryland Announces ‘A Country Christmas’

The temperatures outside might not spur on thoughts of the “most wonderful time of year,” but Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center brought some holiday cheer today, as the line-up for the popular annual A Country Christmas presented by Nissan was announced. A Country Christmas returns to the landmark resort Nov. 15, 2007 through Jan. 2, [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: San Diego Parade in Doubt

A wildly popular civic Christmas event in the San Diego, California area might not be held this year due to a ‘lack of time’. Even though Christmas comes every December 25th and even though the annual parade which draws tens of thousands is as popular as ever the community of Encinitas may not hold their [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Nightmare Before Christmas Returns in 3D

Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas is a movie seemingly without category. Christmas fans call it a Christmas movie while Halloween fans claim it for halloween. Part musical, part animation, and all unique, Nightmare Before Christmas has endured as a popular and cult classic almost since the day it was released. It returns in October 2007 [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Disney’s Christmas Carol to Debut in 2009

Since Bob Hoskins let the proverbial cat out of the bag regarding Robert Zemeckis’ newest motion capture project, a remake of A Christmas Carol with Jim Carrey playing Scrooge, more news has surfaced about the project. Tom Hanks is being tabbed to play Bob Crachit, Christopher Lloyd will be Marley’s Ghost and Michael J. Fox will voice [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Hallmark Christmas Movie Gets Emmy Nod

“The Christmas Card” – a love story filmed in Nevada City, California and aired on the Hallmark Channel in December 2006 – has been nominated for an Emmy Award. Edward Asner is a candidate for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie for his role in the film, which achieved the highest ratings ever on [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: The Star Still Shines

Christmas Newswire: Gaylord Opryland Announces ‘A Country Christmas’

Christmas Newswire: Santa Announces Sleigh Naming Contest for 2007

Christmas Newswire: Nightmare Before Christmas Returns in 3D

Christmas Newswire: Garden City Residents Fight Back

Last week we told you of a Long Island, New York school board who wanted to rename an annual Christmas concert to a “winter concert” and move it to February, citing the reference to Christmas as “offensive”. Citizens are not taking this lying down. Here is a recent letter-to-the-editor: First let me say, I am a homeowner [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Picketing: A Merry Christmas Tradition

The Salt Lake City Council passed an ordinance last week intended to stop animal rights activists from harassing University of Utah researchers with regular picket lines in front of their homes. But a different group of activists is suing because they say the new law silences their Christmas tradition of free speech: “In the past [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: New Christmas Album from Jim Brickman

The magnetism of the year-end holidays goes hand in hand with the evocative musical output that has long defined pianist, composer and producer Jim Brickman and the much-lauded musician has done it again with his new recording for the holiday season, “HOMECOMING.” Brickman who was recently crowned as the #1 Charting Artist at the Adult [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Florida City Won’t Light It Up this Christmas

Port St. Lucie, Florida has made Christmas headlines for years as the city that cannot grow a Christmas tree. Over the past decade the city has attempted several times to plant a tree they could hang lights and decorations on every Christmas season, as tradition has dictated. But they can’t keep a Christmas tree [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Liberty Counsel Takes Up Sea-Tac Christmas Fight

For the second time, the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is considering a ban on religious symbols during the end-of-the-year holiday season. According to the Port of Seattle’s Holiday Decorations Advisory Committee, the airport is expected to be decked out in festival attire during the holidays, but officials will not include religious symbols in the festivities. A Christian [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Brian Setzer Riding a Wave of Christmas Popularity

Even as Brian Setzer tours the country in a reunited presentation of the Stray Cats, Christmas is on his mind. The Brian Setzer Orchestra is a grand holiday tradition and due to their runaway Christmas success Surfdog Records will rerelease their chart-topping Christmas classics ‘Dig That Crazy Christmas’ (”undeniably cool” – Chicago Sun Times) [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Diana Krall Christmas Album Due in Fall 2007

She’s 42, married to Elvis Costello, and mother of twin boys born less than a year ago. And she has a new Christmas album due out this fall. She is, of course, Diana Krall. Precious few details have been provided for Krall’s new Christmas CD but if past holiday offerings are any indication it will be a real [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: XM Radio Gives a Treat to All Fans of Christmas In July

XM’s gone completely crazy with the unveiling a new “Christmas In July” microchannel on XM Live (ch 120), set to air from July 25th through July 26th. Featuring classic holiday hits from Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby, the Ronettes, Amy Grant, Harry Connick, Jr., and many other yule log favorites, the “Christmas In July” channel [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Christmas Music 247 Launches Country Christmas Station

Even in the wake of a nervous Internet radio environment Christmas Music 247 is expanding by adding a new Christmas country music station for 2007. It was only three weeks ago that Christmas Music 247 shut down their all-instrumental Christmas station in advance of an expected ruling against Internet broadcasters that would have raised [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: School Board Mulls Killing Christmas Concert

Another school board wants to cancel a traditional Christmas concert, move it to the end of January and call it a “Winter Concert” out of fear of offending non-Christian citizens. The New Hyde Park School Board of Long Island, New York cast a split vote on the issue in a meeting on July 9th. Under [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Charlie Daniels Plans Christmas Charity Event

Charlie Daniels and friends Rodney Atkins and Taylor Swift will offer their time and talents to perform at the 11th Annual Christmas For Kids Benefit Concert Monday, November 19th at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN beginning at 7:00 PM. The charity event raises money for the Christmas For Kids organization. Tickets to the [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: City Hopes Summer Debate Will Dim Christmas Controversy

Fort Collins, Colorado is going to try this again. Forced into the frenzied annual debate of the “War on Christmas” by a policy allowing only Christmas trees as part of the city’s annual “holiday display”, Fort Collins is looking for a way to placate Christmas traditionalists without offending community religious leaders. Why the controversy? Because Fort Collins [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Disney’s Christmas Carol to Debut in 2009

Christmas Newswire: Hallmark Christmas Movie Gets Emmy Nod

Christmas Newswire: Firehouse, Dokken to Contribute to Twisted Sister Christmas Album

According to PJStar.com, Firehouse will collaborate with various hard rocking bands on a project Twisted Sister is spearheading — a Christmas album. “We did ‘Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree’,” Firehouse guitarist Bill Leverty said. “We’re waiting on Dokken (to finish their song before the album is released before the holidays).” Twisted Sister last year released “A Twisted [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Radio City Christmas Spectacular Popular, Even in July!

TOP 10 THEATRE EVENTS Event This Week Last Week Wicked 1 1 Jersey Boys 2 2 Lion King 3 3 Grease 4 6 Mary Poppins 5 5 Phantom of the Opera 6 7 Radio City Christmas Spectacular 7 n/a Legally Blonde 8 n/a Monty Python’s Spamalot 9 4 Cirque Du Soleil: The Beatles: LOVE 10 n/a “Radio City Christmas Spectacular” [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: City Works to Embrace Christmas Light Enthusiasts

Finally! A good-news story of a city working to keep a tradition of Christmas lights alive. The Grand Haven Tribune reported over the weekend on a move of a popular Christmas light destination from a residential area to a better situated public area for a light display that drew more than 60,000 people last [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Josh Groban Christmas Album Coming

Word on the street is that Josh Groban has spent several weeks in London recording with the London Philharmonic on a new Christmas album to be released this fall. This album, like others from Groban, is evidently being produced by David Foster. Details of a release date and the contents of the new Christmas CD [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Seattle Airport to Deny Christmas Trees Again

They will allow lights, garland and associated decorations of Christmas but not Christmas trees at the Seattle Airport. Late last year controversy ensued when a Rabbi cried foul that Christmas trees at the Seattle Airport violated separation of church and state and demanded that an 8-foot tall Menorah be placed next to the highest tree on display. The [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Breaking News: Net Radio Given Reprieve

This tonight from Wired.com: At today’s Congressional hearing about the new rates for online radio that would essentially destroy it , SoundExchange, which was scheduled to receive the new royalty payments on Monday morning (since the enforcement date falls on a Sunday), made a startling statement. The SoundExchange executive [Jon Simson, executive director] promised — in [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Wynonna Takes Christmas Show on the Road

Wynonna is taking her critically acclaimed holiday album on the road in her first Christmas tour. Spreading holiday cheer across the country, Wynonna will combine her smooth vocals and tremendous live presence in an unforgettable performance that will warm the heart and inspire the spirit. From her Top 10 Billboard album, she will deliver soulful [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Live 365 Vows to Keep Stations Online

While nearly all stations in the fledgling Christmas genre at Live 365 are preparing audiences for a permanent shut down this weekend, Live 365 vows to keep broadcasting. “As the clock winds down during this final week before the July 15th deadline, I wanted to update you on Live365’s service plans and our continued [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: New Edition of Jingle All the Way Due on DVD

Fox is releasing a “family fun edition” of Jingle All the Way, the 1996 Christmas feature starring Arnold Scwarzenegger and Sinbad as fathers battling it out for the hottest toy of the season. The new DVD will be released on October 16, 2007. This DVD will offer: Extended Cut of the film (supervised by director Brian Levant) “Turbo [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Christmas Broadband Doubts Future

Christmas Broadband, the oldest and longest running Christmas station broadcasting from Live365.com, is openly mulling their future: If the retroactive charges are implemented, that would be the end of CB for sure. That would be thousands of dollars. I love CB, but can’t invest that kind of money into it. — Rob Shroeder, owner of [...] [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Bah Humbug for Christmas Internet Radio

Year round Christmas radio online is about to disappear as one independent radio station after another have announced simultaneous closure in just the next few days. [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Fred Claus Trailer Released

November's release of Fred Claus with Vince Vaughn is one of the most anticipated Christmas movies of the upcoming season. But this new trailer makes Fred Claus look suspiciously like Jeremy-the-Wedding-Crasher. [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Minogue Takes Doctor Who Christmas Role

While this is big news in the UK it is not exactly burning up the wires in the US. [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Doherty Filming ABC Family Flick

Shannon Doherty gets to play a Grinch-like character who steals Christmas from her home town. Sounds like as an actress Doherty is really stretching. [Link]

Christmas Newswire: From Grinch to Scrooge: Jim Carrey to Star in A Christmas Carol

Rubber-faced Jim Carrey, who once brought the Grinch to live action film, will reportedly take on another anti-Christmas character that will be animated. Carrey will star in Robert Zemeckis' Polar Express-like production of A Christmas Carol coming to big screens on an undisclosed date. [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Candy Canes!

Delightfully dedicated to one of the great Christmas candies of all time, CandyCane.ws features history, myths, recipes and projects all about candy canes. New for Christmas 2007! [Link]

Christmas Newswire: The World's Biggest Christmas Link Directory

We have an ambitious new project — building the world's biggest Christmas link directory. That's right, we aim to get every Christmas site online added to one massive, organized link directory. Won't you help us? [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Pooh Releases a New Christmas Video

When Pooh and the gang find one of Santa’s reindeer lost in the woods, they fear Santa won’t be able to deliver presents around the world without all of his reindeer. Hoping to save Christmas, they set off to deliver him back to the North Pole. [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Eggnog!

What is so special about that creamy concoction we consume each and every Christmas? Come find out the ancient global history of this festive beverage — and maybe try a new recipe for Christmas 2007. [Link]

Christmas Newswire: The Year Santa Was Nearly Banned

The year was 1918 and America was at war. "The Great War" mobilized the public in ways unseen before in America. That's why nearly no one blinked an eye when the government tried to shut Santa down. [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Clooney 'White Christmas' Dress Found

She's counting her blessings in heaven now but the dress Rosemary Clooney wore as one of the "Sisters" in 'White Christmas' has been found — on eBay of all places. [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Relishing the Role of Santa

How do you beat out 300 other Santas applying for one of the most high-profile Santa assignments in the world? You have to BE Santa. [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Andy Griffith to Voice New Holiday Animated Feature

He's Sherriff Andy no more but he's still got the pipes to play Santa Claus in a new holiday animated featured headed for the big screen. [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Swazye to Star in Christmas in Wonderland Movie

Take it easy, girls. He's playing a grandpa these days. [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Neighbor Goes Postal Over Christmas Lights

What happens when the worlds of a certified Christmas nut and a Grinch collide? Real life holiday violence in California. [Link]

Christmas Newswire: City Debates Ripping the Wings Off Angels

A new low in the Christmas battles of political correctness. [Link]

Christmas Newswire: NBC to Air Radio City Christmas Spectacular

Radio City Music Hall spends Christmas on your television in a 75-year celebration of ongoing holiday events. [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Hallmark Announces a New Holiday Movie for 2007

Klinger plays it straight in "Grandpa's Christmas" airing on December 1st. [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Nelson Brothers to Record 'Monster Christmas'

The sons of Ricky Nelson rock. And this year they're doing a Christmas album. [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Santa — A Reality TV Series?

Every summer we see the pictures of hundreds of Santas who descend on Branson, Missouri for a convention. Now they have a movie in the works and a possible reality TV series. Isn't Santa already a star? [Link]

Christmas Newswire: 'A Christmas Story' Director Killed in Crash

Film director Bob Clark created a large body of work in Hollywood but will be best remembered for bringing Ralphie to the big screen. [Link]

Christmas Newswire: City Plans 39-Day Christmas Festival

With a city name like Bethlehem you've just got to do Christmas right. [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Peter O'Toole to Star in 'Christmas Cottage'

Famed painter Thomas Kinkade is the subject of a new movie starring Peter O'Toole. We're not sure if it has anything to do with Christmas outside of the working title. [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Florida City Kills Christmas Tree — Again!

The City of Port St. Lucie has killed their 8th Christmas tree in eight years. They're giving up. [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Goldie Hawn to "Save Christmas"

She's back — and she wants to save Christmas. Goldie Hawn returns to the big screen to do what we thought Elmo did. [Link]

Christmas Newswire: 'Christmas in Wonderland' Filming at Canadian Mall

Leslie Nielsen is getting into the magic of Christmas. Seriously. [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Mannheim Steamroller to Release New Christmas CD

The fans have spoken. And Mannheim Steamroller will deliver. [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Mannheim Steamroller to Release New Christmas CD

The fans have spoken. And Mannheim Steamroller will deliver. [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Christmas-Themed Hotel Opens

Folks visiting the big Christmas store in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee can now check in for a night of Christmas bliss — complete with sleigh beds. [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Holiday Movie Sets Donated

'Fred Claus', a new Christmas movie starring Vince Vaughn due in theaters for the 2007 holiday season, has wrapped. Furniture, clothes and other items used in the movie have been donated to Chicago area charities. Look to eBay for stray items up for auction. [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Paramount Working on New Santa Movie

Paramount Pictures thinks kids and families will like a fantasic fairy tale about the origins of Santa over the traditional story of St. Nicholas, the performer of miracles. They have purchased the rights to "Kringle", a fictional Santa-tale featuring wizards, warriors and epic battles. [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Jennifer Garner to Remake 'Christmas in Connecticut

The wacky holiday classic 'Christmas in Connecticut' is about to be remade — again. Jennifer Garner will star for a probable Christmas 2008 release. [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Christmas Lights Pose Environmental Hazard

Global warming is coming to your Christmas tree soon. Or so those who oppose Christmas lights want you to think. Just make sure you wash your hands when handling those dastardly lights. [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Billy Bob Wants to Make Bad Santa Worse

In a production both hailed and hated, 2004's Bad Santa was a hit. Billy Bob Thorton wants to do another one. We just can't wait. [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Pregnant Woman Ordered to Take Down Christmas Lights

An Illinois town is sick of seeing Christmas lights after Valentine's Day. Whether you're pregnant or not, you gotta take them down. [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Preview of Hot Toys for Christmas '07

Rock 'n roll, baby. That's what Christmas 2007 will be all about in the toy biz. [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Aspen Debates Christmas Lights in February

The trendy Colorado ski town of Aspen debates whether Christmas lights are "pc" in February. [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Nashville Records Announces Country Christmas Album for 2007

Some of the biggest names in country music are being recruited for a new country Christmas album due out later this year. [Link]

Christmas Newswire: 'The Perfect Christmas' Debuts in November '07

Another remake of 'Miracle on 34th Street' is attempted in this first announcement of holiday movie productions for 2007. [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Sissel Sparkles with Mormon Tabernacle Choir

The 2006 performance of Christmas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir featured the ethereal and unmatched vocal artistry of Sissel in a performance bound for generations of replay on PBS and DVD. [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Soprano Hails "Best Choir"

Norway's Sissel is an international singing sensation. The artist who brought the haunting vocals to Titantic had nothing but praise for "America's Choir" after performing with them in North America's premiere Christmas music event. [Link]

Christmas Newswire: 'The Nativity Story' :: Movie Review

For the first time in nearly a decade we declare a new Christmas movie an instant classic. [Link]

Christmas Newswire: 'Year Without a Santa Claus' :: Made-for-TV Movie

Uh-oh. This doesn't look very good. [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Bad Santa: Sites Exploiting Santa Claus Online

Here's a little naughty list of websites who use and abuse the good name of Santa Claus all for the purpose of making a buck. One of these shameful sites threatened us for refusing to give them free links. [Link]

Christmas Newswire: 95 Percent Approve of "Merry Christmas"

A recent Zogby poll shows that 95 percent of all Americans approve of the phrase "Merry Christmas" while 32 percent are actually offended now by the term "Happy Holidays". [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Christmas Trees Taken Down in Airport

A Rabbi gave Sea-Tac two days to take down the Christmas trees or he threatened to sue. The airport, of course, gave in. [Link]

Christmas Newswire: "Merry Christmas": Who Will Say It and Who Won't

The ongoing battles of Christmas political correctness continue to rage. Here is our annual list of those who will actually use the word "Christmas" in their advertising and while you shop — and a little "naughty" list of those who think it is a bad word and will avoid using it. [Link]

Christmas Newswire: A World-Wide Collection of The Nativity

One Missouri church has gathered more than 80 different Nativity displays from around the world. The stories and traditions of The Nativity by culture are explored. [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Cost of the 12 Days of Christmas Going Up

Hey, those eight maids-a-milking aren't just working for tips, you know. [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Building Christmas — One Little House at a Time

Story of one man's minature house fetish and the Christmas joy it brings to friends, family and neighbors. [Link]

Christmas Newswire: 'The Nativity Story' Gets Booted from Christmas Fair

Political correctness reigns in Chicago where a new movie about the Nativity was going to be featured but was axed for fear of offending non-Christians. [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Santa Claus 3 :: Movie Review

Spousal neglect, relationships with the in-laws, competitive workplace dynamics and the commercialization of the North Pole are dominant themes in Disney's 2006 release of The Santa Claus 3. Oh yeah, this movie is supposed to be for kids. [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Christmas Gifts, Christmas Voices :: A Book Review

We're pleased to recommend a short novel by John Allen that will quickly get you in the Spirit of Christmas. [Link]

Christmas Newswire: The Danger of Santa Spam

Spammers are using the good name of Santa Claus to target parents and children alike in their neverending quest for personal information and to seek channels for constant free bombardment of advertising. This feature includes practical advice for seeking Santa online. [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Santa Banned at International Markets

Anti-Americanism has now taken out Santa Claus, too. Famed Christmas markets in Austria and Germany are banning Santa Claus because "Santa is an English language creation". In a land where the name of St. Nicholas is engraved on more churches than Mary, you'd think they would get the whole Santa Claus thing. [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Santa Updates 2006

The Update from the North Pole for 2006 has been live for more than a week and the kids are sending HUNDREDS of emails a day already. While things appear to be going well there is great concern for the reindeer after Santa canceled the annual reindeer games and sent the reindeer with Elf Victor to a secret training camp far away from the North Pole. The updates continue daily through Christmas Eve, when it turns into tracking of Santa around the globe with updates every fifteen minutes around the clock. [Link]

Christmas Newswire: The Magic of Santa

Only Elf Ed Zachary can fully explain the mysteries and the mystical of Santa Claus. In this new feature, Elf Ed explains how what Santa does really isn't magic at all. It's another sterling defense of Santa by the world's most opinionated elf. [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Little Girl's Christmas: A Christmas Fairy Tale

This classic tale makes for outstanding bedtime reading! Little Girl's Christmas details every child's wish — to visit Santa at the North Pole on Christmas Eve and to ride with him in the sleigh! Print up a copy to read to your kids tonight. [Link]

Christmas Newswire: Christmas Tree Safety

This week marks the busiest of the year for putting up Christmas trees. While it is a festive event not to miss sometimes tragedy is born of missed details when putting up the tree. This feature highlights important safety tips when putting up your tree. [Link]

Merry Christmas Radio

Christmas in the News

Christmas Newswire: White Christmas Released on Blu Ray

Christmas Newswire: Mariah Carey to Release New Christmas Album

Christmas Newswire: Gatlinburg to Sue Celebrate Santa

Christmas Newswire: Peanuts to Play on ABC for Another Five Years

Christmas Newswire: National Christmas Tree Convention Underway

Christmas Newswire: Doris Roberts to Star in New Hallmark Christmas Movie

Christmas Newswire: Trends of Green Christmas: Tree Leasing

Christmas Newswire: Opryland Planning a Christmas Comeback

Christmas Newswire: CBS Christmas Movie in Production

Christmas Newswire: Manning Featured on Hallmark Keepsake Ornament

Christmas Newswire: Disney’s A Christmas Carol Blu Ray 3D Details Emerge

Christmas Newswire: Tennessee Media Reports Default of Celebrate Santa

Christmas Newswire: Toys R Us Launches Christmas Club

Christmas Newswire: National Chirstmas Center to Open New Historic Exhibit

Christmas Newswire: NY Times Reports Elf the Musical Coming Soon

Christmas Newswire: Doris Roberts to Star in New Hallmark Christmas Movie

Christmas Newswire: Trends of Green Christmas: Tree Leasing

Christmas Newswire: Opryland Planning a Christmas Comeback

Christmas Newswire: CBS Christmas Movie in Production

Christmas Newswire: Manning Featured on Hallmark Keepsake Ornament

Christmas Newswire: Disney’s A Christmas Carol Blu Ray 3D Details Emerge

Christmas Newswire: Tennessee Media Reports Default of Celebrate Santa

Christmas Newswire: Toys R Us Launches Christmas Club

Christmas Newswire: National Chirstmas Center to Open New Historic Exhibit

Christmas Newswire: NY Times Reports Elf the Musical Coming Soon

Christmas Newswire: Holiday World Owner Passes Away

Christmas Newswire: Outdoor Decorating Trends Increase

Christmas Newswire: Wilson Phillips Reunites for Christmas Album

Christmas Newswire: Mariah Carey Readies New Christmas Album

Christmas Newswire: Tori Amos Christmas Album Due November 10

Christmas Newswire: Archuleta’s Christmas From the Heart Previewed

Christmas Newswire: Dylan Butchers Christmas

Christmas Newswire: Ray Charles’ Spirit of Christmas Digitally Remastered

Christmas Newswire: Christmas with Sinatra & Friends to Release Soon

Christmas Newswire: Judas Priest Lead Singer to Release Christmas Album

Christmas Newswire: Charlie Daniels Announces Annual Christmas for Kids Concert

Christmas Newswire: Re-Release Christmas for Setzer

Christmas Newswire: Mariah Carey to do a Christmas album?

Christmas Newswire: Turkey to Promote Santa Claus Church

Christmas Newswire: Environmental Group Wants to Replace Rockefeller Christmas Tree

Christmas Newswire: Forced Christmas Music Measure Dies in California

Christmas Newswire: Is Christmas Next?

Christmas Newswire: Illinois City to Fine Residents with Christmas Lights Still Up

Christmas Newswire: FFRF Mockery Prompts Candidate to Action in Illinois

Christmas Newswire: Athiest Complaint Leads to Removal of Angels, Stars from Christmas Trees

Christmas Newswire: US Government Uses Joseph and Mary Imaging to Promote Census

Christmas Newswire: Idaho Charter School Students Can’t Say Christmas at Talent Show

Christmas Newswire: Jail Inmates Forced to Listen to Sheriff’s Christmas Music

Christmas Newswire: Advent Conspiracy Gains Steam Around the World

Christmas Newswire: Leader Calls for Healing and Principles of Integrity in Santa Community

Christmas Newswire: Mommy’s Little Piggy Comes Home to A Christmas Story House

Christmas Newswire: Santa Community Grapples with Issues of Integrity

Christmas Newswire: Radio City Announces Christmas Spectacular Open House

Christmas Newswire: National Day of Prayer Ruling Could Be Bad for Christmas

Christmas Newswire: Santa Group Gloats Over Failure of Santa Convention

Christmas Newswire: Santa Frauds: Celebrate Santa Saga Worsens

Christmas Newswire: Martha Stewart to Visit the Simpsons This Christmas

Christmas Newswire: Gatlinburg Saves Santa Convention

Christmas Newswire: Worlds Largest Santa Parade Makes it Back to Canadian TV

Christmas Newswire: Celebrating the Standards of Santa

Christmas Newswire: Santa: See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Do No Math

Christmas Newswire: Beware of Santa Scams

Christmas Newswire: Defending Santa.com Warns Against Santarchy

Christmas Newswire: Real Christmas Trees Declared Greener Than Artificial Trees

Christmas Newswire: Brian Stokes Mitchell Christmas Concert with Mormon Tabernacle Choir to Air on PBS

Christmas Newswire: Santa Facebook Video Spreads Virus

Christmas Newswire: US Postal Service Announces Domestic Shipping Deadlines

Christmas Newswire: ABC Says Oprah Will Interview President for Christmas at the White House

Christmas Newswire: More Bad Santas Coming to the Big Screen

Christmas Newswire: Disney’s A Christmas Carol…or is it Dumb and Dumber?

Christmas Newswire: CBS Announces New Animated Christmas Special

Christmas Newswire: Santa Holds Annual Interview with the Media

Christmas Newswire: Natalie Cole Headlines Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concert

Christmas Newswire: A Truce in the Santa Wars!

Christmas Newswire: Professional Santa Leader Put on Naughty List

Christmas Newswire: Glenn Beck’s Christmas Sweater — For Kids

Christmas Newswire: The Santa Wars: What Santa Can Do About It

Christmas Newswire: Gift Cards Going High Tech for Christmas