Topic: Christmas

Candy cane brittle

A candy cane treat to put you in the holiday mood.

Rockefeller Center sees massive crowds for tree lighting

Rockefeller Center hosted its annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony with special performances from Justin Bieber, Tony Bennett, and others.

Peanut butter fudge

Amazingly simple to put together and makes a great addition to any holiday treat collection.

7 children's picture books we think you'll really like

Samuel Johnson once famously noted that a man who is tired of London “is tired of life.” Some of us feel the same way about children’s picture books. While it’s true that many cover familiar ground – animals, the great outdoors, adventures with family and friends – no two ever do so in quite the same way. And the best of them rediscover the world with such a fresh and inspired gaze that they turn even the most adult of us into children all over again. Some of the gems that have arrived in bookstores this season include a couple of classic winter tales, a retold Aesop’s fable, poetry about dogs, a baby penguin, and a chicken awash in blue ink.

In Arizona, families can get photos with Santa – and an AK-47

The Scottsdale Gun Club in Arizona offered one photo session Nov. 26 and will hold another one Dec. 10. Although the photos are raising some eyebrows, they exemplify Arizona’s thriving gun culture.

Black Friday boom: Perfect start to promising holiday shopping season?

A record 226 million shoppers visited stores and websites over Black Friday weekend, up from 212 million last year. But the mood remains one of caution and strategic buying for the rest of the holiday season.

Holiday shopping online: How to avoid the '12 cyber scams of Christmas'

With more Americans turning to the Internet for more of their holiday shopping needs, good cybersecurity is vital to avoid a raft of scams – from promises of "free iPads" to "holiday screensavers" that install malware on your computer. To shop safely, it's wise to avoid what might be called the "12 cyber scams of Christmas." They include:

Washington holiday season begins with arrival of White House Christmas tree

The Washington holiday season had a festive start Friday when First Lady Michelle Obama presided over the arrival of the White House Christmas tree – a balsam fir from Wisconsin.

Thanksgiving now a Black Friday 'prequel'? Big deals begin Thursday.

To lure Americans away from the Thanksgiving table and into the Black Friday shopping frenzy, US retailers are offering some delectable early-bird specials. 

Debt 'super committee': the Grinch that stole the Christmas stock rally

The apparent inability of the 'super committee' to reach a deal, along with European economic woes, is causing angst on Wall Street. The Dow is down 300 points.

Stocking up the baker's pantry

Planning ahead can help eliminate cooking-related stress over the holidays.

Best buys, worst buys on Black Friday 2011

Black Friday 2011 guide: You'll find great deals on second-tier electronics, apparel, and more, but wait a week for the best buys on all but the most popular toys. Avoid jewelry on Black Friday 2011.

Six Picks: A british classic, parents' funny texts, Michael Bublé Christmas CD, and more

Smithsonian blog brings history to life, new website showcases humorous examples of parents' technological learning curves, Michael Bublé releases 2011 Christmas CD, and more.

Dorothy Rodham remembered for positive influences on Clinton family

Dorothy Rodham, mother of US Secretary of State Hilary Rodham Clinton, passed away early Tuesday morning. The former first lady discussed Dorothy Rodham on the 2008 presidential campaign trail.

Jack-o'-lanterns and more: five symbols in the history of Halloween

Halloween has its own collection of seasonal iconography, much like a Christmas tree or an Easter basket. Since the October holiday straddles the line between celebration and superstition, it's no surprise some of the day's symbols are of a darker origin. Here are five things that are intertwined with the history of Halloween.

Andrew Madoff breaks three years of silence with a book and a "60 Minutes" interview

Andrew Madoff’s book is expected to discuss his parents’ suicide attempt, how Bernie Madoff confessed his crimes to his family, and the suicide of his brother on the anniversary of their father’s arrest.

Cents sense

For a young girl with a head for business, dollars and cents make sense.

Halloween spending: not so spooky this year

Halloween spending should rise this year. Better Halloween spending is a good sign for retailers generally.

Alpine strawberries: Perfect in foliage and in fruit

For presidential candidates, small events in N.H. may matter more than debate

The GOP presidential candidates debate Tuesday night at Dartmouth College in Hanover, N.H. But the state's signature brand of retail politics favors more-intimate gatherings.

Martha Stewart's daughter Alexis: a less-than-gracious look at life with Martha

Martha Stewart insists her daughter's book is all in good fun and encourages her viewers to buy it.

Gears of War 3 tops 3 million sales in one week

Gears of War 3 sold three million copies in its first week on the market. That was enough to push total Gears franchise sales past $1 billion, Microsoft said today.

New Kindle Fire: Amazon introduces tablet for Everyman (and every kid)

The new Kindle Fire's low price aims to vastly expand the tablet-buying population, and positions Amazon for the future of e-publishing and e-commerce. Merry Christmas!

HTC Rhyme, a plum colored phone with matching "charm," set for Sept. 29 launch

The HTC Rhyme gets a plum-color scheme, a svelte shape, and a dangling 'Rhyme Charm.'

Dairy farm chronicles

Pounds of milk, births, plantings, and passings – the wall calendar recorded them all.