I never did believe in Santa Claus. My parents rejected the materialism that is so often peddled in the name of Christmas and kept the holiday pretty low key. I've always been grateful for this lesson, and rather cynical about those wild eyed Christmas fanatics running amok in the malls. Since the thought of receiving gifts from a fat, bearded...

The smell of freshly baked gingerbread came from the kitchen and the lights on the tree glowed as I sat for a few minutes and enjoyed the moment. But it hasn’t always been this way. There was a time when I simply did not want to have Christmas at all. Just dragging the tree out and decorating the house left me feeling like my body was encased...

Every year, with weddings and new babies, our family seems to grow by at least one. Now, with in-laws, nieces and nephews, my Christmas list has swelled to 18 "immediate" family members. Since we live hundreds of miles away from one another, not only does exchanging gifts mean shopping and wrapping, but also mailing all the parcels. Kinda makes gift-giving...

Oh no! Christmas is almost here! Have you ever had a difficult time trying to decide what to buy for your family at Christmas? If you're like millions of other people, the answer is yes. What if the grandkids simply toss your gift aside and mumble a "thanks"? What if that happens to you this year? What if the cookbook you wrapped so nicely...

Robyn was angry and confused. She had just discovered that her much beloved roly-poly red robed Santa Claus was a marketing ploy invented in the early 20th century by Coca Cola to encourage consumerism. She was angry because she had been duped by the commercialization of what should be the most meaningful season of the year. She was also confused...

Twelve days before Christmas, the mail brought a stack of season’s greetings and a divorce summons. As I gathered the envelopes, I had no idea that a single moment was about to slash decades of family memories and traditions: searching for a fresh, fragrant tree; snuggling by the fire as carols played; reminiscing over snapshots of a growing...

In many ways, entering Annie Armstrong’s living room puts one in mind of a house in another age. Though there is ample evidence of the modern world, the room is brimming with decorative and handmade items. The cozy room’s walls form a gallery - testament to Annie’s legendary skill with a needle. The promise of something delicious floats on...