Topic: Holidays

Top galleries, list articles, quizzes

American moms: What makes a mom in the US? Take our quiz

Mother's Day began on May 10, 1908, as the project of Anna Jarvis. Observed only in Grafton, W. Va., and Philadelphia at first, Ms. Jarvis asked Congress to set aside a day to honor mothers. It took four years, but finally in 1914, little over a month before Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria was assassinated, President Woodrow Wilson signed the Mother's Day proclamation on May 14. What made a mom then is certainly different than what makes a mom now. In the pursuit of understanding who our mothers are in America today — their age, their marital status, how many babies they have — take our quiz and expand your understanding of the American Mom.
Mother's Day: 20 breakfast and brunch recipes

Make an elegant and delicious breakfast or brunch this year for Mother's Day.
Mother's Day 2013: 10 best books

Mother's Day 2013: 10 best new books for all kinds of moms
Earth Day 2013: 5 gadgets that help make going green easy

With Earth Day 2013, here are five ways to head down a greener path. Sometimes, setting goals to shrink your carbon footprint are like New Year's resolutions. They don't last, and you move on. However, if you're serious about leading an eco-friendly lifestyle, there are some green gadgets that can help make the transition easier.
On Earth Day 2013: 13 excellent books to consume

It's Earth Day. Check out these 13 books for the literary equivalent of a green boost of antioxidants and protein.

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Shopping procrastination? Tips for last-minute Christmas gifts online.

Some people had all of their holiday shopping done a month ago. But there's still time for procrastinators who want to snag last-minute Christmas gifts online.
Bestselling books the week of 12/20/12, according to IndieBound*

What's selling best at independent bookstores across America.
The Monitor's View: Christmas in Newtown: restoring childlike innocence

A big Christmas tree in Newtown, Conn., has become a memorial site for the Sandy Hook children killed at their elementary school. Many faiths use a Christmas-like embrace of an innocent child to help them in troubled times and restore the promise of purity.
Decoder Wire Michelle Obama: What's she doing to get ready for Christmas? (+video)

Calling herself the 'hostess-in-chief,' first lady Michelle Obama puts a positive spin on preparations for the annual Christmas deluge of visitors to a decked out White House.
The top 25 celebrity baby names of all time

Many celebrities are creative people, but seldom does their creativity get more free rein than when they’re naming their own offspring. From Beyonce and Jay-Z's firstborn Blue Ivy to Frank Zappa's daughter's avante-garde moniker Diva Thin Muffin Pigeen, there are plenty of unusual names.
How well do you know global Christmas traditions? Take the quiz

Test your knowledge about how the Christmas holidays are celebrated from the Philippines to Mexico.
8 holiday tips for dealing with difficult relatives

You can’t change what your difficult relatives are going to do; you can only change yourself. But when you change, a relationship changes. Here are eight tips for doing that.
McDonald's open on Christmas? Yes, burger chain tells owners.

McDonald's is urging its US restaurant owners to remain open on Christmas Day, a major break for a company that usually closes on major holidays. The decision comes after a successful Thanksgiving Day for McDonald's.
Modern Parenthood Holiday tipping: Don’t forget those who help your family function

Holiday tipping tips: A tchotchke made by your kids is not a tip. Cold cash, in a nice warm note, is something many in the service industry depend on – from your day care worker to your dog groomer.
Modern Parenthood Holiday feasts: A time for families to talk about reducing food waste

The average family of four discards $2,000 worth of food annually while 1 in 4 Americans struggles to buy groceries. Parents and their children can become a part of the solution by making slight changes of habit and reducing food waste.
Hasbro to make gender-neutral Easy-Bake Oven

After shopping for an Easy-Bake Oven for her brother and finding only purple and pink models, a 13-year-old New Jersey girl petitioned Hasbro to make a gender-neutral version of the toy.
Christmas shopping: Did retail season already go over the 'fiscal cliff'?

Holiday retail sales were hampered initially this year by the the aftermath of hurricane Sandy and more recently by shoppers' fiscal cliff fears. The run-up to Christmas will make or break the season.
'Pilgrims' pour into Sandy Hook Village after massacre (+video)

As church bells pealed in Sandy Hook Village Sunday, people from across the region came to the site of the school shooting to offer teddy bears and roses as they tried to sort out a national tragedy.
Saving Money Free Shipping Day is a bust. Here's why.

Free Shipping Day sounds like a sweet deal, but many retailers have already been offering free shipping during the holidays. In fact, waiting for Free Shipping Day to finish your holiday shopping could mean you end up spending more.
Hear the angels sing!

A Christian Science perspective.
Top Picks: Songs of Christmas cheer, Jeremy Renner as The Bourne Legacy, and more

Two e-readers work well with little lighting, the 'Charlie Brown Christmas' soundtrack is the perfect accompaniment to any holiday, and more top picks.
Retail sales buoyed by autos, holiday shopping in November

Retail sales rose 0.3 percent last month in the US, buoyed by car sales and the effort to rebuild after superstorm Sandy. The start of the holiday shopping season also contributed to the rise in retail sales.
Ten great car-related gifts

Car-related gifts are a great way to say thank you during the holidays. Click through this list for some great ideas for all ages and budgets.
Why no new Christmas carols?

We're still singing songs from the nineteenth century. Why nothing newer?
'How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is given'

A Christian Science perspective: Why you don't have to be stressed at Christmastime.
10 coffee table books that make great gifts

Stuck for a present for that friend that's hard to shop for? Check out one of these gorgeous coffee table books.
Diggin' It How to keep a holiday topiary alive

Tips on how to care for a holiday topiary
Saving Money Slow shopper? Avoid these stores.

Finding great deals on gifts is important,but so is ensuring they arrive in tome for the holidays. If you procrastinate on your holiday shopping, steer clear of these retailers with shipping policies that will cut it close to Christmas.
Stir It Up! Cherry Winks Christmas cookies

Crunchy cereal cookies topped with festive red and green maraschino cherries are a retro Christmas treat.
Mall Santa fired for being naughty, not nice

Mall Santa fired from his job at The Maine Mall after parents reported that he was rude and grumpy. Santa was fired after a local TV station aired a story and parents posted complaints about him on Facebook.