NPR Series: Spirit Of The Season http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=96539922&ft=1&f=96539922 NPR brings you stories of holiday cheer. Copyright 2009 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.93 Wed, 24 Dec 2008 00:05:00 -0500 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif Spirit Of The Season http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=96539922&ft=1&f=96539922 Matchless: A Christmas Story Every year, NPR asks a writer to compose an original story with a Christmas theme. This year, Gregory Maguire reinvents the Hans Christian Andersen classic "The Little Match Girl" for a new time and new audiences. Sun, 21 Dec 2008 14:43:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98143170&ft=1&f=96539922 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98143170&ft=1&f=96539922 Every year, NPR asks a writer to compose an original story with a Christmas theme. This year, Gregory Maguire reinvents the Hans Christian Andersen classic "The Little Match Girl" for a new time and new audiences.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> Atlanta's Pink Pig Brightens Spirits, 55 Years On The Pink Pig debuted in 1953 at Rich's, a downtown Atlanta department store. It was a monorail ride back then. Today, it's a short train ride at Macy's department store, but the new Pink Pig carries much of the same sense of wonder as the old one. Wed, 24 Dec 2008 00:05:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98524579&ft=1&f=96539922 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98524579&ft=1&f=96539922 The Pink Pig debuted in 1953 at Rich's, a downtown Atlanta department store. It was a monorail ride back then. Today, it's a short train ride at Macy's department store, but the new Pink Pig carries much of the same sense of wonder as the old one.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> No Gelt, No Glory: A Dreidel Champion Is Crowned Dreidel spinners like Debbie Does Dreidel and Jewbacca take on defending champion Pamskee in the Major League Dreidel Championship in New York City. The target? To beat 17.8 seconds. Mon, 22 Dec 2008 16:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98610612&ft=1&f=96539922 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98610612&ft=1&f=96539922 Dreidel spinners like Debbie Does Dreidel and Jewbacca take on defending champion Pamskee in the Major League Dreidel Championship in New York City. The target? To beat 17.8 seconds.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> A Wonderful Life? Not In Every Holiday Classic Not thrilled about the annual viewing of Frank Capra's family favorite? Here are eight alternatives &mdash; not "holiday movies" <em>per se,</em> but films with timeless scenes <em>set</em> at the holidays. That, and some classic family dysfunction, too. Sun, 21 Dec 2008 02:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98396125&ft=1&f=96539922 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98396125&ft=1&f=96539922 Not thrilled about the annual viewing of Frank Capra's family favorite? Here are eight alternatives — not "holiday movies" per se, but films with timeless scenes set at the holidays. That, and some classic family dysfunction, too.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> Pass The Foie Gras: Christmas Menu Hard To Digest Forget the picturesque tree and perfectly arranged presents. Christmas means blending old customs with new traditions, even if the result is messier than a bag full of carrot jam. Sun, 21 Dec 2008 00:01:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98453490&ft=1&f=96539922 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98453490&ft=1&f=96539922 Forget the picturesque tree and perfectly arranged presents. Christmas means blending old customs with new traditions, even if the result is messier than a bag full of carrot jam.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> Selling The Bawdy Side Of Christmas Amid risque Santa suits and foul-mouthed holiday movies, is Christmas becoming more naughty than nice? Some people celebrate the season in provocative ways. Others look for deeper meaning despite the rowdy behavior around them. Thu, 18 Dec 2008 00:01:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98389061&ft=1&f=96539922 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98389061&ft=1&f=96539922 Amid risque Santa suits and foul-mouthed holiday movies, is Christmas becoming more naughty than nice? Some people celebrate the season in provocative ways. Others look for deeper meaning despite the rowdy behavior around them.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> More Virgin Mary, Less Virgin Islands This week, millions of American will send Christmas cards. James Martin, a Jesuit priest, isn't a fan of cards that display family photos on the cover. "Even devout Christians have been replacing Jesus, Mary and Joseph with themselves," he observes. Wed, 17 Dec 2008 12:14:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=97854252&ft=1&f=96539922 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=97854252&ft=1&f=96539922 This week, millions of American will send Christmas cards. James Martin, a Jesuit priest, isn't a fan of cards that display family photos on the cover. "Even devout Christians have been replacing Jesus, Mary and Joseph with themselves," he observes.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> Companies Say 'Bah, Humbug!' To Holiday Parties Scores of U.S. businesses plan to forgo their annual bash as a response to the slumping economy. One business consultant says the decline in parties doesn't bode well for the futures of the companies cutting back. Wed, 03 Dec 2008 15:01:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=97761317&ft=1&f=96539922 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=97761317&ft=1&f=96539922 Scores of U.S. businesses plan to forgo their annual bash as a response to the slumping economy. One business consultant says the decline in parties doesn't bode well for the futures of the companies cutting back.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> Back In Vogue: The Retro Way To Pay For Presents This season, stores like TJ Maxx and Sears are offering customers the option to buy on layaway &mdash; make a deposit, and the store keeps the goods until the price is paid in full. Layaway had been discontinued decades ago, but it's making a comeback because credit cards are no longer cheap or easy to use. Wed, 26 Nov 2008 14:58:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=97541421&ft=1&f=96539922 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=97541421&ft=1&f=96539922 This season, stores like TJ Maxx and Sears are offering customers the option to buy on layaway — make a deposit, and the store keeps the goods until the price is paid in full. Layaway had been discontinued decades ago, but it's making a comeback because credit cards are no longer cheap or easy to use.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> Thanksgiving Travelers Brave Holiday 'Traffic' When you hit the road this Thanksgiving, take a look at the driver who honks at you: Tom Vanderbilt, author of <em>Traffic</em>, has a theory that men honk more than women, and expensive cars honk more at less expensive cars. Wed, 26 Nov 2008 11:21:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=97518352&ft=1&f=96539922 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=97518352&ft=1&f=96539922 When you hit the road this Thanksgiving, take a look at the driver who honks at you: Tom Vanderbilt, author of Traffic, has a theory that men honk more than women, and expensive cars honk more at less expensive cars.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> In Dark Economic Times, Christmas Tree Sales Shine While there might not be as much under the trees this year, customers say they don't want to leave the holiday symbol out of their celebrations. Tue, 25 Nov 2008 15:47:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=97481141&ft=1&f=96539922 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=97481141&ft=1&f=96539922 While there might not be as much under the trees this year, customers say they don't want to leave the holiday symbol out of their celebrations.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> More Online Holiday Shopping Expected This Year There should be plenty of deals on Black Friday, the post-Thanksgiving start of the holiday shopping season. While analysts expect retail sales to be way down from a year ago, one shopper survey predicts online sites will see sales increase 12 percent from 2007. Tue, 25 Nov 2008 00:13:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=97407365&ft=1&f=96539922 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=97407365&ft=1&f=96539922 There should be plenty of deals on Black Friday, the post-Thanksgiving start of the holiday shopping season. While analysts expect retail sales to be way down from a year ago, one shopper survey predicts online sites will see sales increase 12 percent from 2007.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> Satire In Your Stocking With 'A Colbert Christmas' Self-proclaimed "broadcasting legend" Stephen Colbert talks about his upcoming Christmas special on Comedy Central. According to Colbert, it will include goats dressed as reindeer and his own original Christmas songs. Wed, 19 Nov 2008 09:25:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=97191965&ft=1&f=96539922 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=97191965&ft=1&f=96539922 Self-proclaimed "broadcasting legend" Stephen Colbert talks about his upcoming Christmas special on Comedy Central. According to Colbert, it will include goats dressed as reindeer and his own original Christmas songs.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]>