“It looks like a Christmas tree losing hair,” one Londoner said of the fir in Trafalgar Square. It did not put everyone in the holiday spirit.
Tag: Christmas
One of World’s First Printed Christmas Cards Goes on Display
The card, dating from 1843, is a symbol of an enduring holiday tradition in an era of e-cards and GIFs. Only 21 of the originals are known to have survived.
As China Cracks Down on Churches, Christians Declare ‘We Will Not Forfeit Our Faith’
China this year banned online sales of the Bible, burned crosses, demolished churches and forced at least a half-dozen places of worship to close.
Lebanon Dispatch: Christmas in Lebanon: ‘Jesus Isn’t Only for the Christians’
Few seasons frame the everyday give-and-take of religious coexistence quite like Christmastime in Lebanon, where hijab-wearing women snap selfies in front of Beirut’s colossal Christmas tree.
Santa Arrested in Iraq? Social Media Says Yes, Police Say No
The Iraqi police said that a widely shared photo had been taken not in Iraq but in Syria, and that the officers in the picture with the Santa were helping distribute presents to children.
Secret Santa Leaves 2-Year-Old Girl Gifts for the Next 14 Christmases
A man in Wales regaled Twitter with the tale of a now-deceased neighbor organizing presents for his daughter until she is 16.
Chinese City Bans Christmas Displays Amid Religious Crackdown
In this Chinese city, the War on Christmas is over. And Christmas lost.
German Activists Use Coca-Cola, and Santa Claus, to Denounce the Far Right
A sign showing Coca-Cola’s jolly Santa Claus with a bottle of Coke in each hand wasn’t what it appeared to be. It drew a boycott online, and soda brands into politics.
Rome Gets a New Christmas Tree, Sponsored by Netflix. Will It Weather Social Media?
After last year’s tree became an international laughingstock because it was mangy, the government turns to Netflix to put on a better show.