Jeff Jacoby
The gift of giving
- I can’t help seeing that this yearly impulse to shower friends and family with presents is one of our society’s most endearing and heartening traits.
NORAD Santa trackers stand by for another big day
- DENVER - Santa already is piling up big numbers on social networking sites this season, so the volunteer Santa-trackers at NORAD are bracing for tens of thousands of calls and emails when their operations center goes live on Christmas Eve.
(AFP PHOTO/EPA/LEHTIKUVA MARTTI KAINULAINEN)
Toys for Tots overwhelmed by donations, but gifts for teens neededÂ
- Two weeks ago, officials at the Greater Boston Toys for Tots did not think they could meet this year’s demand for toys. But after they appealed to the public for help, donations poured in.
What are kids asking Santa Claus for this year?
- A 19-year mall veteran tells of studying toy catalogs, staying cool in the big red suit, and making sure not to promise too much.
Salvation Army kettle donations down 22%
- The Massachusetts division of The Salvation Army has collected less than $1.2 million, well short of the $3.4 million it collected in 2010.
In Calif. park, secular messages crowd out Christmas theme
- Jesus, Mary, Joseph, and the three wise men have been ousted by atheists.
Holiday decorating that comes naturally
- These days, endless options can make holiday decorating seem nearly as daunting as shopping for gifts. A good way to narrow the focus is to let nature dictate your designs.
Wreck the halls
- The National Retail Federation predicts Americans to spend $46.73 per person on holiday decorations. But the NRF doesn’t keep stats on couples who disagree on how much - if any - should be spent on decking the halls.
GLOBE SANTA
Mother of 4 special-needs children wants gifts for them
- Having just one child with special needs is a challenge. But that challenge is multiplied four times for one South Shore mother who has sent a written appeal to Globe Santa asking his help in providing gifts for her children this Christmas.
THE BIG PICTURE
Christmas approaches
- The Christian religious holiday may not arrive until December 25, but secular and commercial festivities have been in full swing for almost a month already. Gathered here are images of preparations from around the world as it begins to look a lot like Christmas. — (42 photos total)
