Christmas trees collected at 10 sites around Tucson will be turned into compost for city parks. Read more»

Among the most common Christmas traditions are small sets of figures depicting Joseph, Mary and Jesus that are displayed in individual homes, and around the world, it is common to see particular cultural and religious traditions incorporated into the Nativity scene. Read more»

The holidays often involve jubilant gift exchanges, renewed connections with family and friends, and treasured traditions, but can also be accompanied by a host of stressors - perhaps people can find balance by taking a few cultural cues from the Danes. Read more»

It might be getting just cold enough in Tucson to gather around the hearth, but here are some holiday songs to warm your heart whether you have a fireplace or not — and some to make you nod your head and play air guitar. With hours of music spread over dozens of songs, these Christmas classics will liven your spirits, even if we're not gathering in festive crowds again quite yet. Read more»

The writers who created Mrs. Claus were not just interested in filling in the blanks of Santa’s personal life - the poems and stories about Mrs. Claus spoke to women’s central role in the Christmas holiday and also provided a canvas to explore contemporary debates about gender. Read more»

While Europeans participated in religious ceremonies to celebrate the birth of Jesus for centuries, Christmas trees and gift-giving on Dec. 24 in Germany did not spread to other European Christian cultures until the end of the 18th century and came to North America in the 1830s. Read more»

I don’t know why, but I love NORAD’s Santa Tracker. I open it on Christmas eve and watch Santa and his reindeer fly around the planet. Maybe it’s because I’m a geography buff or I just love the imagination with it. Read more»

A crowd of more than 100 people congregated outside a border crossing in downtown Nogales this weekend, walking to an aid center almost two miles away during a Christmas season posada highlighting the travails of migrants. Read more»

Un grupo de más de 100 personas se congregaron fuera de un cruze fronterizo en el centro de Nogales el fin de semana, caminando a un centro de ayuda casi dos millas de distancia durante una posada navideña sobresaltando los viajes de migrantes. Read more»

The continued spread of RSV, influenza and COVID-19 has caused an increase in the number of area hospital beds in use, the Pima County Health Department warned. People should wear masks and socially distance during holiday gatherings, and get vaccinated, officials said. Read more»

Nothing says Christmas quite like a fruitcake – or, at the very least, a fruitcake joke - and haters and disrespect aside, fruitcake is still a robust American tradition: The website Serious Eats reports that over 2 million fruitcakes are still sold each year. Read more»

Come celebrate the holiday season with a few drinks, a bite to eat and lots of healthy conversation, as we observe whatever it is you/we/they celebrate this time of year — especially the 231st birthday of the Bill of Rights (Dec. 15), or the impending 13th (!) birthday of TucsonSentinel.com (Jan. 22). Read more»

The holidays are upon us and Tucson offers up a veritable cornucopia of festive events to help you enjoy the season: Read more»

The Fourth Avenue Winter Street Fair is back next month from Friday, Dec. 9 through Sunday, Dec. 11. For 53 years now, the street fair has been a seasonal event that drew the community into a space full of art, food, music and care. Read more»

The first Krampus Holiday Market will take place Friday, Dec. 9 to Sunday, Dec. 11 at the Grand Luxe Hotel and Resort, 1365 W. Grant Rd. Read more»