Christmas

A line of Spirit Airlines jets sit on the tarmac at Orlando International Airport on May 20, 2020, in Orlando, Fla. A 6-year-old boy who left on a flight for the Christmas holiday to visit his grandmother was put on the wrong plane. When the grandmother, up on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023 at the airport in Fort Myers to greet her grandson who was flying for the first time from Philadelphia, she was told he wasn’t on the Spirit Airlines flight. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara, File)

A 6-year-old boy traveling alone for Christmas was put on the wrong Spirit flight

A 6-year-old boy who left on a flight for the Christmas holiday…

 

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau rises to vote during an overnight session in the House of Commons, Friday, December 8, 2023 in Ottawa. Trudeau’s birthday is Dec. 25. In which year was he born? THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

QUIZ: How much do you know about Christmas customs and traditions?

Christmas, on Dec. 25, is a day steeped in tradition and with plenty of unique elements

 

A nativity scene decorated to honor the victims in Gaza is displayed in Manger Square, near the Nativity Church, which is traditionally believed to be the birthplace of Jesus, on Christmas Eve, in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Sunday, Dec. 24, 2023. Bethlehem is having a subdued Christmas after officials in Jesus’ traditional birthplace decided to forgo celebrations due to the Israel-Hamas war. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)

On Christmas Eve, Israel-Hamas war halts celebrations in Bethlehem

‘This year, without the Christmas tree and without lights, there’s just darkness,’ said one monk

 

Santa gives South Surrey resident Don Bennett a lot of credit for helping out with his responsibilities over the holiday season. Contributed photo

Sharing words and holiday spirit with one of Santa’s best-kept B.C. secrets

Retired pressman Don Bennett has been helping St. Nick for more than 25 years

Santa gives South Surrey resident Don Bennett a lot of credit for helping out with his responsibilities over the holiday season. Contributed photo
Visitors look at a replica of the U.S. Supreme Court adorned with different varieties of poinsettias on display at the Smithsonian’s U.S. Botanical Garden, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

Behind the foliage: the surprising history of the Christmas poinsettia

Botanical holiday tradition emerged from Mexico where it is known as ‘flor de Nochebuena’

Visitors look at a replica of the U.S. Supreme Court adorned with different varieties of poinsettias on display at the Smithsonian’s U.S. Botanical Garden, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
Amazon logo on the facade of one of their office buildings. Dreamstime | TNS

Good news for late holiday shoppers: Retailers are improving their delivery speeds

Haven’t ordered any of your holiday gifts yet? Well, you might find…

Amazon logo on the facade of one of their office buildings. Dreamstime | TNS
Gifts wrapped and ready on Christmas morning. (Philip Wolf photo)

WOLF: Ditch the traditional wrapping paper and go with gift bags

COLUMN: What’s the best way to wrap your holiday presents?

Gifts wrapped and ready on Christmas morning. (Philip Wolf photo)
This Christmas display prompted one person to write and complain to the homeowner. (Screenshot/Facebook)

Neighbours rally after a Grinch calls B.C. display a ‘Christmas abortion’

Sooke’s Cheryl Dinse was sent an angry letter about her Christmas lights display

This Christmas display prompted one person to write and complain to the homeowner. (Screenshot/Facebook)
A gingerbread barn was created in a West Vancouver mall as part of a campaign by BC Dairy to raise money for BC Children's Hospital. (Submitted)

VIDEO: Dairy farmers matching donations to BC Children’s for Christmas

Gingerbread barn display and video drumming up excitement for giving campaign

A gingerbread barn was created in a West Vancouver mall as part of a campaign by BC Dairy to raise money for BC Children's Hospital. (Submitted)
(Pixabay - ellisedelacruz)

Another round of eggnog: 10 more terrible Xmas movies to ruin the holidays

Pour yourself a large glass of eggnog and get ready to ‘enjoy’ some holiday movie cheese

(Pixabay - ellisedelacruz)
Mariah Carey performs at the New Year’s Eve celebration in Times Square, Dec. 31, 2017, in New York. Billboard has posted a list of top seasonal hits since 2010, and Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You” has been No. 1 for 57 of the 62 weeks it has run, said Gary Trust, chart director. The Luminate data company said the song peaked at 387 million streams in 2019, the song’s 25th anniversary, although last year it had 353 million. (Photo by Brent N. Clarke/Invision/AP, File)

Why Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want for Christmas is You’ became so popular – and stayed that way

If anything about Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You”…

Mariah Carey performs at the New Year’s Eve celebration in Times Square, Dec. 31, 2017, in New York. Billboard has posted a list of top seasonal hits since 2010, and Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You” has been No. 1 for 57 of the 62 weeks it has run, said Gary Trust, chart director. The Luminate data company said the song peaked at 387 million streams in 2019, the song’s 25th anniversary, although last year it had 353 million. (Photo by Brent N. Clarke/Invision/AP, File)
A wide array of oranments and decorations can be found to adorn trees during the holiday season. (Black Press file photo)

QUIZ: The festive tradition of the tree

Holiday trees can be found in many homes and public spaces across Canada at this time of year

A wide array of oranments and decorations can be found to adorn trees during the holiday season. (Black Press file photo)
A few kids were given a sneak peak at some of Glow Langley’s 2023 light features, ahead of opening day on Nov. 23. By allowing them to tour the site at night, organizers hoped to gauge their response. (Special to Langley Advance Times)

Enter the Glow Christmas Carnival

Enter the contest below for your chance to win tickets!

A few kids were given a sneak peak at some of Glow Langley’s 2023 light features, ahead of opening day on Nov. 23. By allowing them to tour the site at night, organizers hoped to gauge their response. (Special to Langley Advance Times)
Vernon North Okanagan RCMP has offered up some tips to help safely do online shopping over the holiday season. (Vernon North Okanagan RCMP)

B.C. RCMP unwrap some safe online shopping tips for the holidays

Online shopping can be done safely and securely, if you take these precautions

Vernon North Okanagan RCMP has offered up some tips to help safely do online shopping over the holiday season. (Vernon North Okanagan RCMP)
The O’Grady family, including Kaitlyn, have set up a large walk-through display for the holidays. (Langley Advance Times files)

Halloween twist lets B.C. family get a big jump on Christmas decorating

Nightmare Before Christmas theme means Langley home’s annual Christmas display started in mid-October

The O’Grady family, including Kaitlyn, have set up a large walk-through display for the holidays. (Langley Advance Times files)
3,200 people registered to visit during the first weekend of the Martini Town Merry & Bright Christmas event that has transformed the studio’s Aldergrove backlot into a winter wonderland. (Dan Ferguson/Langley Advance Times)

VIDEO: With movie magic, B.C. backlot transforms into Christmas wonderland

Martini Town Merry and Bright event will be open Wednesdays to Sundays until Jan. 1

3,200 people registered to visit during the first weekend of the Martini Town Merry & Bright Christmas event that has transformed the studio’s Aldergrove backlot into a winter wonderland. (Dan Ferguson/Langley Advance Times)
Klaus is an animated adventure comedy that explores how a simple act of kindness always sparks another. (Movie still)

Best Christmas movies to watch this holiday based on movie taste

From Hallmark heartfelt to a Silent Night of retribution, Christmas time brings noteworthy cinema

Klaus is an animated adventure comedy that explores how a simple act of kindness always sparks another. (Movie still)
Oscar and Libby store owner Teri Hustins reports that the store makes a quarter of of their annual income during the 24 days of the holiday season. (Ella Matte/News Staff)

‘Pinched’ B.C. shoppers using credit cards less amid Christmas season

78% of Canadians plan to cut back on holiday spending, according to survey

Oscar and Libby store owner Teri Hustins reports that the store makes a quarter of of their annual income during the 24 days of the holiday season. (Ella Matte/News Staff)
An RCMP officer came to the rescue of two children stranded at Kelowna International Airport (YLW) on Christmas Eve. (Black Press file photo)

Constable Claus saves Christmas for kids stranded at Kelowna Airport

The 12 and 13-year-olds were trying to make it home to Victoria for Christmas from Alberta

An RCMP officer came to the rescue of two children stranded at Kelowna International Airport (YLW) on Christmas Eve. (Black Press file photo)
A flight departure board at Abbotsford International Airport illustrating the the cancellations and delays that were common through the holidays across Canada. (Jane Bouey/Twitter)

Frustrated travellers turned to Twitter when winter storm slammed Abbotsford airport

Missing luggage, no staff and cancelled flights made travel less than merry this Christmas

A flight departure board at Abbotsford International Airport illustrating the the cancellations and delays that were common through the holidays across Canada. (Jane Bouey/Twitter)