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From time to time, an event occurs that makes people believe in Christmas miracles. Ed and Lynn Silliman's miracle came a few weeks ago. The Sheppton, Schuylkill County couple's 5-year-old daughter, Delaney, walked for the first time on her own after receiving a special gift from Santa Claus, according to her mom. Delaney has developmental disabilities that make it hard for her to talk or walk more than a few steps by herself. But like most kids her age, Delaney loves visiting with Santa. Last year, Lynn took Delaney to Country Folk, a shop in Nescopeck where Santa was scheduled...

During the 19th century, improvements in various printing technologies, including lithography, chromolithography, and the rotary press, ushered in an era of popular art. Currier & Ives (and others) produced inexpensive prints; L. Prang & Co. (and more) sold Christmas cards; periodicals such as Harper's New Monthly Magazine included drawings by Thomas Nast and others. Because they were mass-produced by the standards of the time, many of these works have survived to the present day, giving us a kind of window on the past -- images of Christmastime in the 1800s.

Welcome to NORAD Tracks Santa

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Police said a man dressed in a full Santa Claus suit robbed a Hermitage bank Tuesday morning. The robbery occurred just after 10 a.m. at SunTrust Bank on Old Hickory Boulevard, just north of Lebanon Road. The thief, described as a white male between 6 feet and 6 feet 4 inches tall, was dressed as Kris Kringle and armed with a 9-millimeter handgun, said police. Witnesses said when two bank managers tried to get him to remove his sunglasses, that's when they said he pulled out the weapon and demanded money. "It was a little unbelievable. He...

WHAT WOULD Santa drink? Listen, kids, contrary to the tales Mom and Dad told you, Father Christmas did not get that round belly and red nose from gulping down glasses of skim milk. Not to destroy your innocent visions of sugar plums and candy canes, but when it comes to treats on a long winter's night, if it's all the same to you, Santa Claus would rather have a beer. Sacrilege, you say? The very symbol of childhood innocence guzzling alcohol? What's next, Frosty the Snowman doing Jell-O shots? In fact, from the very beginning, Santa Claus was a man...

Found this on a web site I frequent.

All Proceeds Donated To Local Charities The Katy Holiday Fun Festival was established in 2008 for the purpose of providing an exciting community based holiday event in the Katy area, to take place during an exciting time of the year, and to creating a venue to raise donations for local charities. All proceeds will go to assist non-profit organizations and local families who are in need of cash, clothing, food, toys and gifts for the holiday’s and much more.

The Congress of the United States of America is consigning you, your children, and your children's progeny to slavery. Maybe it's the Scottish strain in my DNA, but I've been concerned about the national debt since before it breached the $1 trillion mark. That was way back in 1982. So it's heartening to see folks finally getting concerned about this issue. Debt matters. From the installation of America's first government in 1789, it took 193 years to rack up that initial 13-digit debt. To put such an ungodly bar tab in context, here are some key debt benchmarks. Each benchmark...

Trying to rain on Jolly St.Nick? The United States Post Office will not be forwarding letters to Santa at the North Pole this year. Other programs and private efforts go on, but some are questioning why the USPS is unwilling to forward letters to the North Poll where volunteers – not employees – respond to the kids with letters including sought-after North Pole postmarks on the letter.

www.catholicnewsagency.com German diocese creates ‘Santa-free zone’ Related articles: Santa ClausAdvent Christmas Tree BlessingHail to Thee, True BodyChristmas Tree Speyer, Germany, Nov 11, 2009 / 05:09 pm (CNA).- In an effort to encourage people to replace the commercialization of the Christmas season with a true devotion to Advent, Christmas and the “true Santa Claus,” several groups within the German Diocese of Speyer have initiated a “Santa-free campaign.” The Federation of German Catholic Youth (BDKJ) of Speyer has partnered with other organizations to champion the cause of St. Nicholas of Myra, a friend and helper of children and those in trouble....

Well I must say, I had a great time reading the comments, critiques and insults that came in after my last post with its modest attempt to define "atheism". In particular, many self-described atheists took umbrage to my claim that atheism is denial of the proposition that God exists. (Apparently my smarmy attitude was also ripe for verbal assault.) One of my most spirited opponents drew comparisons between belief in God and unicorns as he/she asked: "do you believe in unicorns? Can you disprove the existence of unicorns?" The idea, presumably, is that belief in unicorns and God are equivalent....

"DEAR EDITOR: I am 8 years old. "Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. "Papa says, 'If you see it in THE SUN it's so.' "Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus? "VIRGINIA O'HANLON. "115 WEST NINETY-FIFTH STREET." VIRGINIA, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except [what] they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, VIRGINIA, whether they be men's or children's, are little. In this great universe...

At least in this case study from Absurd Britannia, the backtracking began almost immediately. "Mother told to take down her Christmas lights... in case they offend her non-Christian neighbours," from the Daily Mail, December 16 (thanks to James): A woman has spoken of how she was told to remove her Christmas lights by a housing association worker - in case they offended her non-Christian neighbours. Dorothy Glenn decorates her home in South Shields with hundreds of festive lights every year, including a giant tree and a 4ft Santa Claus. But she was left stunned this year when a South Tyneside...

A staged shootout during a mock train robbery Sunday in Random Lake turned out to be far too realistic when two people were shot with a gun mistakenly loaded with birdshot, according to the Sheboygan County Sheriff's Department. The incident occurred about 11 a.m. as re-enactors were performing the simulated train robbery as part of the weekend-long Santa Steam Train event, said Capt. Dave Adams. The re-enactment unfolded with the actors engaging in a simulated shootout with police on Second Street near Harris Bank, after pretending to steal dynamite from a local hardware store for use in robbing the train,...

PHARR, Texas – A Texas man has been arrested after a 9-year-old girl wrote to Santa Claus asking that a relative stop touching her and her sister. The Monitor of McAllen reports that a man from the town of Pharr was arrested Friday and is in the Hidalgo County jail.

A Kansas-based church that has blamed deaths in Iraq on U.S. tolerance of homosexuality has asked Gov. Christine Gregoire's office to approve a "Santa Claus will take you to hell" message to display among other religious statements in the Capitol's third-floor hallway.

A Muslim lawyer has launched an extraordinary rant against Christmas, branding the celebration 'evil'. Hate preacher Anjem Choudary claimed the festival was the 'pathway to hell' and urged his followers to boycott it. 'In the world today many Muslims, especially those residing in Western countries, are exposed to the evil celebration Christmas,' he raged in a sermon broadcast on the internet. 'Many take part in the festival celebrations by having Christmas turkey dinners. 'Decorating the house, purchasing Christmas trees or having Christmas turkey meals are completely prohibited by Allah. 'Many still practise this corrupt celebration as a remembrance of the...

It’s the time of year when people begin asking the very pertinent question: How does Santa Claus do it? How does he get all those presents to all those kids in just one night? Some people think that the old man still personally hand delivers each and every toy—with the enthusiastic help of Dasher and others, of course. That used to be the case, a very long time ago, but there are too many kids in the world now, and the traditional sleigh-bearing method has become obsolete and even impossible. About a century ago, Santa saw what was coming and...

Having just turned five years old, I was a little young (at least back then) to question the “Holiday” law-of-the-land. Of course five-year-olds believed in Santa Claus! But it was back in the day when several ages of neighborhood kids used to hang around together, and I was running with some seven and eight-year-olds who were feeding me some pretty good reasons not to believe in that benign big man. Most of you are at least vaguely familiar with the various Protestant Reformation (and later secular) traditions that transformed Saint Nicholas into Santa Claus, so it is not necessary to...

President, Savior, or Santa Claus? By Dr. Mark W. Hendrickson FrontPageMagazine.com | Tuesday, January 15, 2008 Let’s consider a simple question: What exactly are we electing when we choose a president of the United States? The traditional answer would be: “Commander-in-Chief of our armed forces and the CEO of the executive branch of government.” Those two roles alone make the president the most powerful person in the world, but for some Americans, the presidency has taken on an overtly messianic character. One of the leading candidates for the next president, Hillary Clinton, once stated, “I can’t save every undercapitalized business...

The original server has been overwhelmed, so I'm using the Fark mirror to post. Watch out, the comments can get a little on the wild side, as most of the members are younger. Still worth posting. 'It was your dad that answered all those letters that the kids wrote to Santa every year' Background: Tim Russert's Wisdom of Our Fathers has hundreds of stories men and women tell about their fathers, including the one below. It's a remarkable book--to learn more, see my co-authored column America's Father Hunger (World Net Daily, 10/13/06). The story below is "The Mail" from John...

New York has given the country and the world many things in its 380-year history — the hot dog, the American musical, the martini, electric signs — but who knew it also gave us what the modern world thinks of as the traditional way to celebrate Christmas? Christmas was originally a combination of the day of worship of the birth of Christ and the Roman winter solstice festival called the Saturnalia. The latter was a very raucous, townwide affair, and its raunchy and riotous ways persisted until nearly modern times. Then the Puritans outlawed Christmas altogether. When it was revived...

We take pleasure in answering thus prominently the communication below, expressing at the same time our great gratification that its faithful author is numbered among the friends of The Sun: Dear Editor— I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says, "If you see it in The Sun, it's so." Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus? Virginia O'Hanlon 115 West Ninety Fifth Street Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except they see....

Executive Order: Closing of Executive Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government on Monday, December 24, 2007 By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows: Section 1. All executive branch departments and agencies of the Federal Government shall be closed and their employees excused from duty on Monday, December 24, 2007, the day before Christmas Day, except as provided in section 2 below. Sec. 2. The heads of executive branch departments and agencies may determine that certain offices and installations of their...

A 70-year-old man working as Santa Claus says he was sacked from a Cairns department store for saying "ho, ho, ho" and singing Christmas carols. In a case of political correctness seemingly gone mad, retired entertainer John Oakes says he was fired from his job at Myer for his rendition of Santa’s famous laugh. His employer, Westaff, last month sparked national outrage when it ordered its Santas to say "ha, ha, ha" instead of "ho, ho, ho" because it could be derogatory to women but denied the words were a factor in Mr Oakes’s case. The word "ho" is also...

School bans Santa from wearing red - because it reminds pupils of Coca-ColaLast updated at 16:37pm on 21st November 2007Santa Claus is being forced to wear a green suit when visiting a school this year, after teachers decided the traditional red outfit would remind pupils of Coca-Cola.  Education chiefs have also banned the annual Christmas grotto - favouring an eastern European version of the festive season instead. Staff at the Steiner School in Brighton, East Sussex, claim the red-suited Santa is a symbol of "modern commercialism" and reminds children of Coca-Cola adverts. Scroll down for more... Father Christmas and...

When kids hear Santa Claus bellow, "Ho, ho, ho," is their first thought prostitution? That concern has prompted an attempt to gag the traditional greeting, and many Santas are now fighting back. According to the Sydney Daily Telegraph, Santas across Australia are rebelling against attempts to change their saying to a more politically correct, "ha, ha, ha." It all started when the recruitment firm Westaff – which has offices both in the United States and Australia – told its Christmas trainees that the "ho, ho, ho" phrase could frighten children and possibly be derogatory to women.

Let's be real, folks. Many of us knew "Santa Claus" was really Mom and Dad by age six, but it was always fun to play along as we knew we'd get something out of it on December 25th. But there are some out there who are so easily "offended", that they could give a damn if they spoil Christmas, a FEDERAL HOLIDAY, for everyone else. And there are more than enough people out there that acquiesce to the "sensitivities" of those who seek to make all of us as miserable as they are.... School ho-ho-hoists Santa Principal cancels trip to...

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Stage and screen actor Harry Frazier, whose full white beard helped him land Santa Claus roles in movies and commercials, has died. He was 77. Frazier died May 26 of complications from diabetes at the Motion Picture and Television Hospital in Woodland Hills. He started on Broadway appearing in various plays during the 1960s. He performed regularly in Shakespeare plays in Southern California and had leading roles in "The Tempest," "A Midsummer Night's Dream," and "Henry IV." Among his TV credits included "Night Court," "Cheers" and "Hill Street Blues." He also played King Neptune on three...

Follow along with NORAD as they track the magical journey of Santa Claus (Father Christmas/Sinterklaas/Pere Noel/De Kerstman/Julenisse etc.) around the world tonight! CLICK HERE TO BEGIN

Watch it here > http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docid=-7709281390847700281 Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (1964) is considered to be one of the worst movies ever made. It is so bad, that it is actually fun to watch. The filmmakers were probably too embarrassed to renew the copyright, so it’s now in the public domain. The story shows how Santa Claus is kidnapped by Martians to cheer up the Martian children. The rumor is that the movie was shot in abandoned aircraft hangars in New Jersey. It is clear that the movie had an extremely low budget, it even has spelling errors in the opening...

Canadian NORAD fighter pilots flying the CF-18 Hornet jet fighter will escort Santa Claus throughout Canada. And meeting Santa Claus in United States of America airspace will be United States NORAD fighter pilots flying F/A-18 Hornet and/or the F-15 Eagle fighter jets. This year, sadly, the F-14 Tomcat is unable to provide protection for Santa's super-secret, high-tech, marvel-of-aviation sleigh; after long decades of noble service the fighter jet is now retired. Based on what we see in the photo below (released by the United States Navy) retirement is far from Santa's mind. He's looking quite comfortable, and physically fit, as...

OPERATION ORDER 12-06 FOR: OFFICIAL VISIT OF LTG SANTA CLAUS 1. An official staff visit by LTG Claus is expected at this post on 25 Dec. The following directives govern activities of all Army personnel during the visit. a. Not a creature will stir without permission. This includes warrant officers and mice. Soldiers may obtain special stirring permits for necessary administrative action through the Battalion S-1. Officer stirring permits must be obtained through the Deputy, Post Plans and Policy Office. b. All personnel will settle their brains for a long winter nap NLT 2200 hours, 24 December. Uniform for the...

The best Christmas movie is? A- It’s a Wonderful Life B- A Christmas Story C- A Christmas Carol (Alastair Sim) D- Scrooged E- Miracle On 34th Street F- White Christmas G- Santa Claus Conquers The Martians H- Elf

Santa Claus always creeped me out when I was small.

Eight-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon wrote a letter to the editor of New York's Sun, and the quick response was printed as an unsigned editorial Sept. 21, 1897. The work of veteran newsman Francis Pharcellus Church has since become history's most reprinted newspaper editorial, appearing in part or whole in dozens of languages in books, movies, and other editorials, and on posters and stamps. "DEAR EDITOR: I am 8 years old. "Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. "Papa says, 'If you see it in THE SUN it's so.' "Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa...

A Christmas-themed event to raise money at a public elementary school in Warwick, N.Y., has been altered to accommodate a parent's complaints that the program would illegally spotlight a "religious" figure - Santa Claus. "Breakfast With Santa" has since been changed to "Winter Wonderland Breakfast," and -- in an effort to be inclusive of all beliefs -- the bearded one will now be joined at the Dec. 9 event by Frosty the Snowman. Organizers made the changes after one parent charged that she and others in the community were offended that the Parent Teacher Association at the Sanfordville Elementary School...

A suburban mall suspended all visits with its Santa Claus Tuesday after learning a photographer taking pictures of children on St. Nick's lap was a registered sex offender, police said. "Knowing that a registered sex offender was potentially working with children at the Santa Claus display we quickly wanted to check into it," ... Yeoman was listed as a "lifetime notification" offender on the Indiana Sheriffs' Sex Offender Registry for a 1992 conviction of child molestation. He served six years of his 10 year sentence...

BERLIN, Germany -- "A German chain of shops has removed miniature wooden Santa Claus figures from its shelves and destroyed them after customers complained it looked like they were giving the stiff-armed Hitler salute that is outlawed." "Josef Lange, a spokesman for the Rossmann chain that has 1,200 outlets, told Reuters on Friday the figures depicting Father Christmas with his right arm stiffly upright towards the sky and holding a sack in his left hand upset some customers." "We were astonished by the reaction," Lange said.

A German chain of shops has removed miniature wooden Santa Claus figures from its shelves and destroyed them after customers complained it looked like they were giving the stiff-armed Hitler salute that is outlawed. Josef Lange, a spokesman for the Rossmann chain that has 1,200 outlets, told Reuters on Friday the figures depicting Father Christmas with his right arm stiffly upright towards the sky and holding a sack in his left hand upset some customers. "We were astonished by the reaction," Lange said. "It looks like he's just pointing up to the sky and we were surprised that anyone saw...

BERLIN (Reuters) - A German chain of shops has removed miniature wooden Santa Claus figures from its shelves and destroyed them after customers complained it looked like they were giving the stiff-armed Hitler salute that is outlawed. Josef Lange, a spokesman for the Rossmann chain that has 1,200 outlets, told Reuters Friday the figures depicting Father Christmas with his right arm stiffly upright toward the sky and holding a sack in his left hand upset some customers. "We were astonished by the reaction," Lange said. "It looks like he's just pointing up to the sky and we were surprised that...

Will the Broncos get an early Christmas present from Santa Claus Indiana?, QB Jay Cutler You can imagine what the sports media storm is like here in Colorado right now after the lackluster performance by the Denver Broncos offense last night in their 19 - 10 loss vs. the Kansas City Chiefs. An interesting fact about the Broncos first round draft choice from earlier this year, QB Jay Cutler is from Santa Claus, Indiana. 6 Jay Cutler, Quarterback Height: 6' 3" Weight: 233 lbs. College: Vanderbilt Born: in Santa Claus, Ind. Acquired: Draft #1 (11th overall), 2006 Pro Year: R...

WASHINGTON, Nov. 3, 2006 – The Alaska National Guard will join Santa and Mrs. Claus tomorrow as they visit St. Mary’s, Alaska, to commemorate the 50th anniversary flight of Operation Santa Claus. About 100 Army and Air National Guard members and other volunteers will fly to the remote village in two Air Guard C-130 Hercules aircraft to deliver toys, clothing, books, school supplies, water and holiday spirit to about 350 children, Kalei Brooks from Alaska’s Department of Military and Veterans Affairs told American Forces Press Service. In addition, a representative of Tastee-Freez will bring ice cream sundaes for as many...

WASHINGTON, Feb. 8 (UPI) -- A group of 86 evangelical Christian leaders are reportedly supporting a major initiative to fight global warming. Warning "millions of people could die in this century because of climate change," the leaders include the presidents of 39 evangelical colleges, aid groups and churches, such as the Salvation Army, and pastors of megachurches, including Rick Warren, author of the best seller "The Purpose-Driven Life," The New York Times reported Wednesday. "For most of us, until recently this has not been treated as a pressing issue or major priority," the Christian leaders said in a statement to...

The institution of Santa Claus has its roots in stories about St Nicholas's generosity and love toward children. But St Nicholas, 4th-century bishop of Myra, had another side. While attending the Council of Nicea in AD 325, he defended orthodox Christology in particularly vigorous fashion:During the Council of Nicea, jolly old St. Nicholas got so fed up with Arius, who taught that Jesus was just a man, that he walked up and slapped him! That unbishoplike behavior got him in trouble. The council almost stripped him of his office, but Nicholas said he was sorry, so he was forgiven.Maybe Santa...

BETHEL — While controversy swirls over a substitute teacher who told first-graders that Santa Claus doesn’t exist, a local dairy farmer and church deacon has put the same message in a very public place. By erecting a sign along the eastbound side of I-78, between the Bethel and Grimes exits, Leonard H. Martin has taken it upon himself to shatter the myth of Santa Claus for any youngster able to read the message from the back seat of a car as their parents drive by. It marks the second consecutive year that Martin has posted what he termed a spiritual...

Since we have been on a Thomas Nast tear lately, it is only right and fitting that we should return to him at Christmas, as he is more or less the inventor of our Santa Claus.Surprisingly, Nast's very first depiction of Santa Claus was a piece of political propaganda, done at the request of President Lincoln himself. Lincoln thought a drawing showing Santa Claus in the Union camp would boost the North's morale and demoralize the South. It is reported to have accomplished both of these goals.Shocking, isn't it? Our one party media's delicate sensibilities would not stand for such...

Grinchy remark sends kids home in tears By RORY SCHULER Staff Writer Lebanon Daily News LICKDALE — Jamey Schaeffer stretched her mouth open wide, showing off a pair of twin gaps in her smile. With a mouthful of fingers, she said she has no interest in two front teeth for Christmas. Instead, she’d like a Barbie doll from Santa Claus — and Santa Claus only. But a substitute music teacher almost came between the 6-year-old and a Christmas Eve spent dancing cheek to cheek with sugar plums. Theresa Farrisi stood in for Schaeffer’s regular music teacher one day last week....

Santa Claus Shot Down by SA-15 Missile over Northern Iran Santa sled fireball TEHRAN (Dec 24)-The Iranian News Agency is claiming that the Doshan Tapeh Air Base commander has reported one of it's newly aquired Russian SA-15 anti-aircraft missile defense batteries engaged and shot down the Santa Claus reindeer propelled flying sled over Northern Iran today. The target was tracked on radar for 10 minutes before the order to fire was given by the regional air defense commander Witnesses report seeing the SA-15 streak skyward erupting in a brilliant flash and then a giant fireball plummeting to the earth. The...