holidays

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37 Years Later, a Reunion Between 2 of Our Favorite Stars

Xfinity ad starring E.T. and Henry Thomas, aka Elliott, aired during Thanksgiving Day parade

(Newser) - Some are calling it "heartwarming." . Others, like io9 , have a different take on the Xfinity ad that debuted during Thursday's Thanksgiving Day parade on NBC. "What you're looking at is [a] major corporation dipping into a considerable bag of tricks labeled 'Nostalgic Intellectual Property'...

The Annual &#39;Toys Causing Harm&#39; List Is Out
Nerf Gun Makes
Dreaded Annual List
Nov 19, 2019 12:24 PM CST

Nerf Gun Makes Dreaded Annual List

World Against Toys Causing Harm unveils its pre-Christmas warning

(Newser) - A Nerf dart gun, ice cream-scented Nickelodeon slime, and a plastic Power Rangers claw are among the toys topping a consumer safety group's list of worst toys for the holidays, the AP reports. World Against Toys Causing Harm unveiled its annual list Tuesday at a Boston children's hospital....

Family Told to Take Down Early Xmas Decorations

Neighbors put up theirs in solidarity

(Newser) - San Antonio mother Claudia Simonis is eight months pregnant—with a Dec. 25 due date—so the family decided to put out their Christmas decorations a little early this year. "I feel kind of heavy, so the earlier we can put out the decorations, the better. Because probably in...

65K Sign Petition to Change Date of Halloween

They ask Trump to shift it to last Saturday in October

(Newser) - It's late July, and a surprising number of people have Halloween on their minds. A petition asking President Trump to change the date of Halloween from Oct. 31 to the last Saturday in October, which falls on Oct. 26 this year, is gathering steam and now has more than...

Man Wakes From Coma, Goes Home to Celebrate Christmas

Caine's neighbors, family kept the holiday alive for him while he remained unconscious for 6 weeks

(Newser) - If you still have your holiday decorations up, you may not have a great excuse. But a famous street in San Diego has a very good one, and it's heartwarming to boot. The residents of Rancho Penasquitos' Ellingham Drive, aka "Christmas Card Lane," are renowned for their...

Shirtless Putin Takes Icy Dip in Russian Lake

Russian president immerses himself in ice water to celebrate Christian holiday of Epiphany

(Newser) - Vladimir Putin is baring his chest in public again . The Russian president took a dip in icy lake waters to celebrate Epiphany, a major holiday in Orthodox Christianity marking the baptism of Jesus. Russian television stations showed the 65-year-old Putin approaching a hole cut in the ice on Lake Seliger...

The Fingerling Is This Year's Must-Have Toy

The robotic monkey is hard to find on shelves or online

(Newser) - The hottest toy this holiday season might just be a five-inch robotic monkey that grabs onto your fingers, passes gas, and sings a tune. The Fingerling is this year's Beanie Baby or Cabbage Patch Doll. The $15 creature that blinks and snores is coveted by millions of kids, and...

Steve Bannon Declares New Holiday: 'MAGA Day'

From now on, Trump supporters will celebrate Nov. 8 as if it were Bastille Day, he says

(Newser) - Steve Bannon is a busy man these days, given the one-year anniversary of President Trump's election victory. Among the speeches and interviews he's given is a sit-down with the New York Times , in which he declares a new holiday of sorts. "We celebrated today in the Trump...

One State's Top Holiday Gift for 2017: Duct Tape

A look at what's projected to be the hottest gift in each state

(Newser) - Will the holiday season's biggest seller this year be an electronics item, a hot toy, or duct tape? Depends on which state you live in, per a 24/7 Wall St. analysis. The site checked out both the most popular gift items on Amazon.com and projected Google keyword searches...

No One Liked Paul Ryan&#39;s St. Paddy&#39;s Day Pint
No One Liked
Paul Ryan's
St. Paddy's
Day Pint
THE RUNDOWN
Mar 17, 2017 12:08 PM CDT

No One Liked Paul Ryan's St. Paddy's Day Pint

And other St. Patrick's Day minutiae from around the internet

(Newser) - Everyone is said to be Irish on St. Patrick's Day, and even though he hails from Scottish roots, President Trump got into the spirit a day early. Per the Washington Post , Trump hosted Irish PM Enda Kenny at the White House Thursday, and the president celebrated the spirit of...

Odd V-Day Gifts From Around the World
Don't Waste Money on an
Aphrodisiac This V-Day
RUNDOWN
Feb 14, 2017 7:33 AM CST

Don't Waste Money on an Aphrodisiac This V-Day

Carve a wooden spoon instead?

(Newser) - Stumped about what to get your sweetie for Valentine's Day? Do like the Welsh. For 350 years, Welsh men have been known to carve an intricate wooden spoon for their lover, according to Giftcloud . Not one to whittle? You can also take inspiration from Germans, who exchange gifts that...

And Now ... a Hipster Nativity Scene

All yours for $130

(Newser) - It's that time of year when stories about Nativity scenes begin making headlines, and in this case, it involves an oh-so-modern twist. It seems the website Modern Nativity is selling a "Hipster Nativity Set" for $129.99, and it's drawing some attention. Think "Joseph" taking a...

To Be More Inclusive, City Renames 'Good Friday'

Bloomington, Indiana, changes Columbus Day, too

(Newser) - Bloomington, Indiana, city employees will indeed get paid time off for Good Friday and Columbus Day in 2017, but the holidays won't go by those names anymore. Mayor John Hamilton on Friday announced via memo that as a way to "demonstrate our commitment to inclusivity," the days...

Toys R Us Doubles Down With Turkey Day Hours

Retailer announces 30-hour shopping marathon starting at 5pm

(Newser) - Black Friday has in recent years received a black mark as retailers took criticism for slowly pushing back the mega-shopping event until it actually started on Thanksgiving Day. Some retailers and shopping venues have given in to the backlash: Various malls (such as the Mall of America) and chain stores...

Chin Up: This Is the Lightest You'll Weigh This Entire Year

Once you gain those holiday pounds, it'll take about five months to lose them

(Newser) - The good news is you're probably lighter now than you were at any other point so far this year. The bad news is you're about to pack on the pounds again, and it'll take months to lose them. So report researchers out of Cornell and Finland in...

This Might Be Why You Get Sick When You're Off Work

Explaining 'leisure sickness'

(Newser) - There’s a term for that cold you’re going to get when you take a few days off work this holiday season: leisure sickness. And, while there are no medical studies to confirm the phenomenon, a Dutch psychologist published findings in 2002 that 3% of 1,900 people polled...

Guy Grumpy Over Christmas Greeting Thrown Off Plane

Would-be flier didn't like being wished 'merry Christmas'

(Newser) - You may not like it when people wish you "Merry Christmas," but if you're traveling today, you may want to try not to lose your temper over it. One man in New York couldn't quite do that Tuesday, and he got tossed off a plane as...

Tinsel Was Once Dangerous to Kids

FDA took action over lead in the decoration

(Newser) - A harmless symbol of Christmas cheer was once deemed so risky that the FDA had to regulate it. Tinsel once contained lead, which, as scientists realized in the 1960s, made it dangerous to kids. That prompted a deal between the FDA and tinsel makers to alter manufacturing methods, the American...

Let&#39;s Shift Christmas to Feb. 7
 Let's Shift Christmas to Feb. 7 
OPINION
Dec 19, 2014 1:05 PM CST

Let's Shift Christmas to Feb. 7

Slate writer LV Anderson makes her case

(Newser) - There are only six shopping days left til Christmas, but if Slate writer LV Anderson had her way, there'd be more than 40. Anderson makes the case that Christmas should be pushed from Dec. 25 to Feb. 7. She's got all kinds of arguments—it's too close...

Here's How Much Holiday Weight We Really Gain

Research shows the 10-pound figure often thrown around is likely a myth

(Newser) - Plan to enjoy a few extra helpings of mashed potatoes, gravy, and gingerbread men over the coming weeks—but worried about all those pounds you're bound to pack on? Cut yourself some slack, suggests Travis Saunders on the PLOS blog. He points out that while people regularly parrot the...

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