Readers react to a column by Ezra Klein about the horrors of factory farming. Also: Hospitals and the unvaccinated; unwanted holiday gifts.
Tag Archives: Christmas
How Christmas Changed Everything
The story of Jesus represented “a wholly new way of being human.”
As Covid Disrupts a 2nd Christmas, Pope Prays for Healing and Peace
In his Christmas message, Pope Francis called on world leaders to resolve persisting conflicts and prayed for people across the globe who are affected by the coronavirus.
How Do Saudis Celebrate Christmas? Quietly, but Less So.
“Am I in Saudi Arabia?” Once officially banned, Christmas is coming out of hiding in the kingdom, as its ultra-constrictive religious rules are eased.
Holiday Spirit Glimmers as New York Endures Another Pandemic Christmas
Despite a surge in coronavirus cases that dashed plans for travel and celebrations, New Yorkers did what they could to salvage the season.
When Do We Know Our Life’s Work Is Done?
It’s a time to reflect — and to remember we’re loved.
What to Do With Your Bad Holiday Gifts
These objects haunt us; there’s no returning them, not really.
On bell hooks and the Solace of Ritual
The holidays are off to a rough start. But tradition can help.
Despite Omicron Wave, Britons Are Set on Not Losing Another Christmas
For Christmas shoppers in central London this week, little seemed to dampen their spirits. But there was an undercurrent that the city was bracing for further coronavirus restrictions.
Europeans Ponder Living With, Not Defeating, Covid
On the eve of the biggest holidays in Europe, exhaustion with the pandemic is rising. So is resignation that the virus is endemic.
‘The Nutcracker’ and the Sex Tape
A holiday story about passion and other adhesives (and an ugly Christmas sweater).
Christmas Is Weird
Christmas is the grand miracle that makes space for all the smaller miracles.
How to Handle Omicron Surge Over the Holidays: a Guide
The new variant is going to be disruptive, but we have the tools we need to get through this phase of the pandemic.
Family Stress Intensifies as Omicron Invades the Holidays
Some people are resigned to another season of restrictions and plan to forge ahead with celebrations. Others are trying to overcome a sense of perpetual fear.
Beware the Elf on a Shelf, Privacy Watchdogs Warn
Privacy organizations acknowledge that the elf isn’t the biggest security threat, but they say that he teaches children the wrong lessons about accepting surveillance.
Cecilia McDowall to Debut New Christmas Carol
Each year, the choir of King’s College, Cambridge, commissions an original song for its Christmas service, giving the composer an audience of around 100 million people.
Supply Chain Shortages Are Dimming Christmas Displays
With twinkling lights, inflatable Santas and computer chips in high demand, the disruption has not spared those who turn their homes into illuminated wonderlands each December.
Why Christmas Gifts Are Arriving on Time This Year
Fears that a disrupted supply chain could wreak havoc on the logistics industry over the holiday turned out to be wrong as many Americans ordered early and shopped in stores.
How the Sexy Grinch Spiced Up Christmas
A genre of content that recasts the holiday antihero as a sex symbol has grown from niche into a new kind of Christmastime ritual.
All Anyone Wants for Christmas Is a Covid Test
Up until last week, many Americans were worried about their holiday presents arriving on time. Now, rapid tests are at the top of their list.
These Carol Singers Are Carrying on, Despite Omicron Variant
Last year, most carol singing in Britain was canceled because of the pandemic. This year, a group of roving singers was determined to carry on, despite the Omicron variant.
‘Christmas on Death Row’ and a Stormy Season for a Storied Rap Label
The 1996 holiday album wasn’t a smash. But 25 years later, it tells a vivid story about the label’s aspirations — and its reality in the aftermath of a devastating series of events.
What to Bake on Christmas Morning
Big brunch dishes and holiday-spiced small treats capture the spirit of sharing and can be prepared ahead for effortless snacks.
How Truck Drivers Cook on the Road
Long-haul drivers are under intense pressure this season, but many will carve out the time (and the onboard space) to make steaks, turkeys and charcuterie boards.
Ugly Christmas Sweaters, Explained
A reader has several questions about a holiday tradition.
10 Festive Christmas Eve Dinner Ideas
Ham, soups and stews, turkey and oh so many fishes — New York Times Cooking has a recipe for your holiday, no matter how you celebrate.
Why My Family Loves Giving Leftover Junk
If you’re looking for an antidote to the most expensive time of year, consider giving them the gift of laughter with a “rewrap.”
Italian Bishop Gives Children Harsh News: There Is No Santa Claus
You’ve been lied to, children heard from a bishop, the latest Catholic clergyman to try to take down Santa Claus and consumerism. Many Italians were not pleased.
Santa Claus’s Real Estate Is Booming
Is it any surprise that places where it’s ‘Christmas all the time’ have been attracting a record number of buyers during the pandemic?
Boris Johnson, Facing Omicron and Scandal, Is in Trouble
Britons don’t know whether the prime minister can save himself, let alone Christmas.
What Mary Can Teach Us About the Joy and Pain of Life
In the Bible, we see the mother of Jesus experience great blessings and unimaginable sorrow.
Less Mange, More Frills: Rome’s New Mayor Bets on His Christmas Tree
The annual Christmas tree in the Italian capital has come under scrutiny ever since a 2017 debacle. Will this year’s pass social media muster?
Holiday Tipping for Homeowners
Think about the people who regularly tend to you and your home, but first set a budget to know how much you can afford to give.
13 New Christmas Albums That Reimagine Holiday Songs
Fresh seasonal releases from Kelly Clarkson, Bryson Tiller, Nat King Cole and Pistol Annies span genres and generations.
Finding the Musical Spirit of Notre Dame
The beloved Paris cathedral is still being restored after the devastating 2019 fire, but other churches are keeping its musical traditions alive this holiday season.
New Christmas Movies to Stream on HBO Max, Disney+ and More
A list of quality holiday movies on streaming services other than Netflix.
Readers Share What They’re Grateful for
Giving thanks for everything from stents to foliage to a musical dog.
I’m Not Ready for Christmas. I Need to Take a Minute.
Advent is an ideal time to grieve, reflect and look ahead.
Christmas Tree Questions? Ask the Mayor of Rockefeller Center.
For two decades, Correll Jones has been the man to ask about New York’s most famous tree — and where to find the public bathrooms.
Netflix Holiday Movies Ranked, From Tree Toppers to Lumps of Coal
Is the streaming service delivering goodies in its holiday stockings? We make an assessment.
The New Rules for Hosting That Holiday Party
If the 2020 holiday season was the year to cancel everything, 2021 is about figuring out how to get our groove back.
Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting: How to Watch
The Christmas tree will be lit on Wednesday in a star-studded ceremony, which will be open to the public for the first time since 2019.
Is Holiday Gift-Giving Really Worth It?
December’s materialism can feel perfunctory.
Jill Biden’s White House Christmas Display Looks Very … Normal
You won’t find any blood-red trees this year.
It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Hanukkah
What’s that reindeer doing with menorah antlers? Retailers want inclusive holiday merchandise, but hit a few snags.
Holiday Windows Are Back. And So Are New York Shoppers.
A fabled Christmas tradition continues at a handful of big department stores.
I Feel Weird Lying About Santa
Is it because I didn’t celebrate Christmas growing up?
How to Get Through the Holidays After Loss
If you’re struggling during the festive season, you’re not alone.
Thanksgiving in a Town Built on Lederhosen and Limitless Meals
Bavarian charm, Christmas knickknacks and all-you-can-eat restaurants draw hordes every holiday season to the twinkly streets of Frankenmuth, Mich.
As Virus Cases Rise in Europe, an Economic Toll Returns
A series of restrictions, including a lockdown in Austria, is expected to put a brake on economic growth.