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
Victoria International Airport is almost back to pre-pandemic levels of travel, said Rod Hunchak, and is sitting at 90 per cent of what it was in 2019. (Black Press Media file photo)

‘Stressful’: Victoria International Airport bracing for the holiday surge

Between 5,000 and 7,000 people are expected to pass through the airport during holidays

Victoria International Airport is almost back to pre-pandemic levels of travel, said Rod Hunchak, and is sitting at 90 per cent of what it was in 2019. (Black Press Media file photo)
(Adobe stock photo)

Vancouver Island residents share their best Christmas memories

What they’re talking about in downtown Courtenay

(Adobe stock 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)
Lauren Powell, owner of Buddie’s Toys in Sidney, B.C. holds up some Christmas toys for kids. (Samantha Duerksen/Black Press Media)

Shop local: Here’s what’s trending for holiday gifts at Greater Victoria stores

Sidney shop owners share the 2023 Christmas trends in homeware, kids toys’ and fashion

Lauren Powell, owner of Buddie’s Toys in Sidney, B.C. holds up some Christmas toys for kids. (Samantha Duerksen/Black Press Media)
Winter Wonderland lane celebrates the Christmas holiday shopping season in Sidney B.C. (Samantha Duerksen/Black Press Media)

Sidney holiday event round-up

A look at special Greater Victoria events happening in December

Winter Wonderland lane celebrates the Christmas holiday shopping season in Sidney B.C. (Samantha Duerksen/Black Press Media)
This Christmas display prompted one person to write and complain to the homeowner. (Screenshot/Facebook)

Neighbours rally after a Grinch calls Sooke display a ‘Christmas abortion’

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)
Santa and his entourage make their 19th annual flight aboard a Helijet air ambulance to cheer up sick children at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital on Tuesday, Dec. 12. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)

Santa arrives by helicopter at Island hospitals to cheer up sick kids

Old Saint Nick makes 19th-annual tour of pediatric wards at B.C. hospitals

Santa and his entourage make their 19th annual flight aboard a Helijet air ambulance to cheer up sick children at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital on Tuesday, Dec. 12. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)
(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)
Two workers install Christmas lights in a tree in the 4700-block of Johnston Road on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Lights approval means a merry Port Alberni Christmas after all

Ministry of Transportation expedites temporary approval for ‘limited’ return of main road lights

Two workers install Christmas lights in a tree in the 4700-block of Johnston Road on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
The 39th annual Christmas Lights Across Canada celebration in Victoria. (Jen Zielinski/ Black Press Media)

B.C. Legislature lights up for the holidays in Victoria

The event was held on Thursday, Dec. 7

The 39th annual Christmas Lights Across Canada celebration in Victoria. (Jen Zielinski/ Black Press Media)
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)