In the name of health and safety many British towns may have to forego festive lighting this holiday season. According to a report in the Telegraph stringent new regulations and huge insurance premium increases could make Christmas lights scarce.

This year councils must use a pressure gauge to individually test every bolt holding a cable [...]

The American Family Association took aim at Wal Mart last year — and won. After declaring “an open mind” when it came to the use of the word “Christmas” in their advertising, Wal Mart caved and splashed “Christmas” liberally. This year, the American Family Association is targeting a more upscale outfit: Mrs. Field’s Cookies.
Last [...]

For centuries, historians, scientists and scholars have debated the existence of the Star of Bethlehem in the Biblical telling of Christ’s birth. Now the existence of this celebrated, yet debated, Star has been proven by Texas lawyer and professor, Rick Larson, in the documentary, “The Star of Bethlehem,” available on DVD Oct. 23 at [...]

The votes are in — and we want high tech for Christmas this year.
According to Solutions Research Group, 76% of all Americans want some sort of digital gizmo under the tree this year. Their survey of more than 1200 Americans in September 2007 shows that just about any kind of tech product easily beats [...]

It all began in the heat of summer — and by asking for permission.
Ankeny, Iowa sounds like a reasonable place. Located in the heart of the Midwest, this little town of of roughly 35,000 is reportedly as American as apple pie. But these days it defends itself from anti-Christmas charges.  
Dave Sanderson, a local [...]

Last winter, cowed by threats from the ACLU, the Berkley City Council in Michigan voted to remove a decades-old nativity display from city property. The council’s controversial action ignored the plea from many of this small town’s citizens to keep the display.
As a result, a grassroots effort “Berkley Citizens Vote YES to [...]

Let the games begin.
Around the world and documented in the blogosphere the war on Christmas 2007 has begun.
From the UK, comes this musing about whether or not the war starts a little earlier each year.
Here is a recent convert to atheism wondering if she’s selling out to Christians by celebrating Christmas.
Here is a sad [...]

News that Fergus Falls will hold a community Christmas tree lighting ceremony on the evening after Thanksgiving Day has switched on an interesting little debate on The Journal’s web site.
The topic at hand isn’t really whether the community tree lighting is a good idea. Most seem to think it is a fine plan, a [...]