![[syndicated profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/feed.png){kind=small}
smbc_comics_feed) wrote2025-12-16 11:20 am
Hovertext:
Anyone complaining about the math just needs bigger or smaller pasta.
lh_wayfarer_feed) wrote2025-12-16 04:30 pmWe may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.
The Sonos Era 100 is an improved version of the Sonos One, with much more powerful bass and other upgrades that make it one of the best multi-room smart speakers you can buy. It's currently at its lowest price ever—$169 (originally $249 at launch)—according to price-tracking tools. Most of the other Sonos speakers are also seeing their lowest prices right now.
The Sonos Era 100 came out in early 2023 and received an "excellent" review from PCMag for its ability to create stereo audio with a single device (it has a dual tweeter setup); its balanced audio; the useful companion app that allows you to adjust the EQ; its ability to connect with Bluetooth and wifi; Alexa and Sonos voice integration; and compatibility with most major music streaming services. As it is still a single speaker, the stereo effect won't match a true stereo setup, but it's a good approximation and an improvement over previous Sonos speakers.
The real point of differentiation for the Sonos Era 100 (and most Sonos speakers, for that matter) is the ability to seamlessly group with other Sonos speakers that you own. Sonos makes it easy to handle multi-room pairing (lets you play your music in multiple Sonos speakers in different rooms) without needing to connect to your wifi over and over again.
Back when the speaker first launched, it only supported Apple Music, Amazon Music, Deezer, and Pandora—with Spotify a notable omission. However, Spotify and other music services are now available. The Sonos voice assistant is still limited in capability, with no Google Assistant or Google Cast integration, and the speaker also doesn't support Dolby Atmos, which is disappointing for a device at this price level.
Caveats aside, if you're looking for a stationary smart speaker with great audio that can easily connect with other Sonos speakers you own or might add in the future (they also work as rear speakers with a Sonos soundbar), the Sonos Era 100 is a great choice—especially at its lowest price.
lh_wayfarer_feed) wrote2025-12-16 03:30 pmWe may earn a commission from links on this page.
Though the Hallmark Channel may suggest otherwise, there’s nothing incongruous about pairing Christmas with scary stories.
For centuries in Britain, families would gather around a fire and ward off the winter cold by sharing chilling tales of the supernatural—a tradition that was forgotten, only to be revived by Charles Dickens and M.R. James during the Victorian era. Similar non-Christian traditions go back even further; for ages and across cultures and faith traditions, dark midwinter nights seem to have provided a particularly good excuse to creep out our loved ones.
So grab a warm drink, lock the doors, and fire up the Roku with this list of the best Christmas-themed horror movies. And speaking of fire, please check the chimney before you stoke a blaze. It’s a reasonable safety measure, especially if you’re not sure where dad’s gotten himself off to...
There’s nothing particularly groundbreaking about Silent Night, Deadly Night, a film about a kid who watches his parents get murdered by a man in a Santa suit and then grows up to become a Santa-themed killer himself, as one does. Though not by any means the first Christmas-related horror movie, the Reagan era was not the time for this one. Or maybe it was the perfect time? Anyway, it was boycotted and censored, which of course only generated publicity that worked to its advantage. On its own, it’s a perfectly competent slasher movie, maybe even a cut above the average, with a tiny hint of a message about consumerism. As an enjoyable cultural artifact, though, it’s more than worth watching. You can probably skip the sequels, though the second is enjoyably, howlingly bad (and incorporates a full 40 minutes of footage from its predecessor), while the fifth stars Mickey Rooney (!). And, of course, there's the current remake to carry on the tradition of freaking out the seasonal squares. Stream Silent Night, Deadly Night on Shudder or rent it from Prime Video.
Clearly, I’m not the first to recommend Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale, the Finnish film having become a nouveau holiday classic shortly after its release a decade ago—though It’s a Wonderful Life this ain’t. (But give it time.)
In the film, the research team of a greedy government drills into land best left undisturbed: an ancient burial mound that, legends suggest, is the resting place of Joulupukki, a forerunner to our modern Santa Claus. Old Joulupukki is not dissimilar from Krampus, in that he’s much more interested in punishing the wicked than in rewarding the good. It’s a spectacular, darkly comic, cynical winter’s tale (rather the perfect one for our times) and builds to a wild climax. Stream Rare Exports on Tubi or rent it from Prime Video.
One of the O.G. slasher films, this Bob Clark-directed groundbreaker is also one of the best, with a simple, well-executed premise and a killer cast (Margot Kidder, Olivia Hussey, Andrea Martin, John Saxon, Keir Dullea). The director has legit holiday cred: After this story of a killer stalking a sorority house during winter break, he’d go on to helm holiday cable staple A Christmas Story nearly a decade later. There’s not much here that we haven’t seen, but only because so many later movies cribbed from its style, with less chilling results. Neither of the two remakes (from 2006 and 2019) is bad but neither reaches the horrific heights of the original. Stream Black Christmas on Peacock, Prime Video, and Tubi.
I love a good high-concept movie—it's a big part of the appeal of the seasonal classic It's a Wonderful Life. As you can probably guess, given the title, this one works off a similar central conceit: After a particularly tough year, Winnie (Jane Widdop) stands alone on a bridge and wishes she'd never been born. When her wish is granted, her town turns into hell—not because of a lifetime of good deeds, but because she'd unmasked a serial killer known as the Angel (Justin Long) the previous year, and, without her, that killer has been murdering unchecked. And is also the mayor. Bloody holiday fun. Stream It's a Wonderful Knife on Hulu or rent it from Prime Video.
Christmas carnage, as a genre, is at least as venerable as the holiday rom-com (Black Christmas predates every single one of those cozy Hallmark-style movies), and there's nothing wrong with adding some blood and guts to your holiday display. Here, Riley Dandy plays Tori Tooms, a record store owner closing up for Christmas Eve, and heading out for drinks with her flirtatious employee and a couple of pals. Those friends happen to run a toy store that has in stock a Santa robot—one that's been recalled because of its original military programming. You probably won't be surprised to learn that this particular robot is about to malfunction, and cut a bloody swath through the holiday season. Not quite as scary as more modern AI, but still, best not mess with robot Santa. Stream Christmas Bloody Christmas on Netflix or rent it from Prime Video and Apple TV.
An appealingly low-rent slasher offers up some grisly, gory holiday kills—often to festively horny (or hornily festive?) 20-somethings. Fifteen years after the disappearance of a young girl sent a Santa-obsessed neighborhood into lockdown, Rachel Kimmell returns home just as the missing girl's mother decides she's ready to celebrate Christmas once again. But, as these things go, there's a killer in a Santa costume stalking the neighborhood's conventionally attractive young people, killing the women and castrating the men. Rachel finds herself fighting for her life while uncovering a mystery that ties her back to that missing girl. There's a bit of a Hallmark Christmas movie-vibe here—if those movies had blood and boobs. Stream All Through the House on Prime Video and Tubi.
Do you remember the bizarre viral video phenomenon Too Many Cooks from about 10 years back? Have you ever wondered if the creative team behind it could stretch that short film's utter mania out to feature-length? Well, wonder no more: A few years back, director Casper Kelly and Max quietly dropped Adult Swim Yule Log, a bizarro comedy horror flick that starts out as one of those festive looping videos you put on your TV when you don't have a fireplace, and soon morphs into a wild story about racism, generational trauma, ritual sacrifice, a cursed Airbnb, and a floating demonic log. If you haven't had enough after 91 minutes, a sequel, Yule Log 2: Branchin' Out, is ready for you. Stream Adult Swim Yule Log on HBO Max.
After the first evening home for the holidays with his girlfriend Annji (Neerja Naik), Nick (Sam Gittens) decides that the two of them should make a break for it. Dad's being distant, Mom's being oblivious, while Grandpa and his sister are tag-teaming the subtle (and less subtle) racist comments. Sneaking out seems like the most reasonable thing to do, except that they can't: There's something surrounding the house trapping them inside, while screens just read—that's right—"Await Further Instructions." As the night goes on, the instructions come (do they ever!), with the family dividing over dispositions and belief systems. Glued to our screens as we are, how do we evaluate the information that comes out of the glowing boxes? The Black Mirror-esque scenario gives way to an unhinged last act. Stream Await Further Instructions on Prime Video and Tubi.
When Nell and Simon (Keira Knightly and Matthew Goode) set up to host their annual Christmas party (to strains of Michael Bublé, no less) during the movie's opening, we're given very few clues as to what's coming. It's a particularly special Christmas, apparently, as everyone is dressed in their finest and the kids are being given plenty of extra leeway. Soon we discover it's because they're all gonna die: An environmental catastrophe is slowly overwhelming the world, and with a wave of deadly gas making its way around the globe, the couple's extended family and friends have gathered for one last party before they take the government-issued pills that will end their lives painlessly. It all goes to shit, quite naturally, resulting in a bleak social satire that's also occasionally quite funny (if you don't mind your Christmas movies with a side of assisted suicide). Stream Silent Night on Tubi or rent it from Prime Video.
John Waters called Christmas Evil “the greatest Christmas movie ever made,” and, as recommendations go, you could do a lot worse (he even did a commentary track that you can still find on the DVD and Blu-ray release). Considering the source, that recommendation also gives you a sense of what you’re in for. In the prologue, a boy sees Mommy kissing Santa Claus (and then some), and the experience engenders a lifelong obsession with Santa—and with keeping track of who’s been naughty, and who’s been nice. There’s a bit of social commentary at play amid truly over-the-top death sequences that lead to a genuinely batshit ending. Stream Christmas Evil on Prime Video and Tubi.
In the mid ‘80s, you could buy dolls, action figures, and storybooks with Gremlins on them, which, given how violent and nightmare-inducing the film is, is both impressively twisted and a deep indictment of a consumer culture in which we’ll sell anything to anyone. Hey kids, gather ‘round the TV for a movie in which murderous creatures get chopped in blenders and blown up in microwaves and one main character vividly describes finding her missing dad stuck in the chimney on Christmas day. Regardless, there’s plenty of, uh, holiday cheer to be found, including a truly rousing band of carolers. Delightful! Stream Gremlins on HBO Max and Hulu or rent it from Prime Video.
Your ghoulish guide to the three tortured tales in this Canadian horror anthology is: William Shatner? Sure, why not. The novelty here, aside from the framing device of Shatner as a radio DJ getting reports of local disturbances, is that the four stories here overlap, each building to twists endings at the climax of the film. We get ghosts, changelings, Krampus, and, most memorably, Santa himself facing a horde of zombie elves. The narrative threads are uneven, but that's to be expected, and, in the whole, there's plenty of bloody seasonal fun to be had here from several talented filmmakers. Stream A Christmas Horror Story on Shudder or rent it from Prime Video and Apple TV.
The story of a stepmom gradually losing her grip on reality, The Lodge is a particularly heavy bit of Christmas horror. Some of us enjoy frothy holiday entertainment, while others like to lean into the dark, oppressive atmosphere of the bleak midwinter. Given my own vacillation there, I acknowledge all choices as valid! Riley Keough gives a great performance here as a woman newly married to a father of two children. Their mom died tragically, and the step-kids are in no mood to accept a new family member. Discovering some disturbing truths about her past, they’re perfectly happy to manipulate her emotions after the trio becomes stranded without Dad in a remote cabin full of over-the-top religious iconography. No merry Christmases here, no sirree. Stream The Lodge on Tubi or rent it from Prime Video.
On a lighter note—zombies! In this mash-up of High School Musical and Shaun of the Dead you never knew you needed, the titular Anna just wants to get through the Christmas show at her high school in Little Haven, Scotland. She’s so preoccupied with her own problems that she fails to notice the undead infection spreading around her. It’s a weird blend of styles, no question, but one packed with gory fun and some surprising, seasonally appropriate heart. Stream Anna and the Apocalypse on Prime Video and Tubi.
A woman receives a beautiful but creepy Christmas gift: a cool Advent calendar her friend picked up at a Munich market. That’s nice and all, except that it comes with several explicit instructions that all end with a variation of “...or you’ll die.” It’s a unique and nightmarish movie, full of wild ideas and phantasmagoric imagery. If it doesn’t all hold together perfectly, it’s still an impressive ride, and that centerpiece calendar is as neat as cursed film props get.
Just a note: Though the film gets points for having a disabled protagonist (which is not to say hero), it stars a non-disabled actor, and the character’s central motivation is to walk (and dance) unaided—which is fairly retrograde in terms of representation. Stream The Advent Calendar on Shudder or rent it from Prime Video.
Ignore the genuinely horrible title, which makes the movie sound like something you’d find on the bottom row at your local Redbox. On Christmas Eve, a group of masked assailants storm a grocery store. They take hostages, but it’s clear there’s something more going on (hint: It involves alien raiders). It’s all pretty enjoyable, with better acting and effects than you’d expect, fully deserving of its cult status. Though significantly lower budget, this could serve as your next Christmas-themed, Die Hard-esque action fix. Rent Alien Raiders on Prime Video and Apple TV.
I'm not sure that it breaks a whole lot of new ground, but Better Watch Out boasts a deranged premise and a couple of excellent lead performances from Olivia DeJonge as teenage babysitter Ashley and Levi Miller as her 12-year-old charge. Without giving too much away, I can tell you that Luke has a massive crush on Ashley and is determined to protect her from a violent home invasion, though a series of plot twists reveal something more sinister is afoot. Stream Better Watch Out on Peacock, Tubi, and Prime Video.
Also known as Deadly Games. And Game Over. And, originally, 3615 code Père Noël. The French film represents an impressive blend of genuine horror with sweet holiday themes. It’s the story of a whiz kid who tries to use technology to connect with Santa, but instead makes contact with a murderer intent on getting access to the kid’s (rather posh) home. You’re absolutely invited to think of this as a horror-styled Home Alone, a comparison that this film’s director (René Manzor) made when he threatened a plagiarism lawsuit against Chris Columbus and co. back in the day. Stream Dial Code Santa Claus on Philo.
The holiday imagery is a bit more subdued here than in some of the other films listed, if only because the paranormal researchers gathered at the home of a prolific murderer in the week before Christmas are rather busy being chased by violent apparitions. A solidly festive haunted house classic. Rent The Legend of Hell House from Prime Video.
With similarities to Charles Beaumont’s short story “The Howling Man” (adapted as a Twilight Zone episode), I Trapped the Devil tells the story of a Matt and Karen, a couple who set off for a visit with Matt’s troubled brother, Steve, over the holidays. Increasingly alarmed by his troubling behavior, they soon discover there’s a padlock on the basement door and, behind it, a man who Steve claims is the literal devil. Which sounds entirely fine and reasonable. If the story can’t quite sustain its runtime, it’s still a suspenseful and stylish Christmas mystery. Stream I Trapped the Devil on Tubi or rent it from Prime Video.
There’s a hot new toy out just in time for Christmas: Pooka, the deeply weird, incredibly temperamental doll that mostly does what it wants. The kids love it! An unemployed actor (Nyasha Hatendi) isn’t thrilled when he’s offered the job of hawking the dolls inside a giant Pooka suit, but the money’s good. Naturally, that’s when things start to go from weird to downright surreal. Director Nacho Vigalondo (Colossal, Timecrimes) has a ton of fun veering off in unexpected directions with the concept, which ultimately morphs into a twisted, upside down riff on A Christmas Carol. Stream Pooka! on Hulu.
I have no idea what Blood Beat is about; I’m not sure that anyone does. There’s a young couple home for a family gathering when a samurai ghost (or something) starts murdering people, all set against a sweet-ass synth score. And some people are psychic? The movie’s cult status doesn’t stem from the hidden depths of its plotting, but from its often impressive visuals and hypnotic tone. To that end, I might suggest it as a reasonable pairing with some peppermint edibles, but only if you’re not too easily freaked out. Or afraid of samurai, I guess. Stream Blood Beat on Tubi.
Among the best of a decade’s worth of films reviving ancient, scary European traditions involving far less jolly versions of Santa, Krampus is a Gremlins-esque horror comedy with imaginative creature effects from the folx over at Weta Workshop. It might not be the darkest, nor the goriest, of holiday-themed horror sendups, but it is an awful lot of fun, with effects that evoke a twisted winter wonderland as we follow a family being hunted by the title demon. Stream Krampus on Peacock or rent it from Prime Video.
Have you ever thought about how terrible Santa's job actually is? He has to deliver toys to billions of kids, and he has one night to do it. The ill-advised 1985 would-be blockbuster Santa Claus: The Movie reveals that this is only possible because for Santa, the night stretches on endlessly until the job is done, which is pretty horrific if you stop to think through the ramifications. Clever 2005 cheapie Santa's Slay makes the undesirableness of the position explicit, revealing that Santa (wrestler Bill Goldberg) was actually an unfavored son of Satan who was burdened with the annual task after losing a bet—but only for 1,000 years, and his time is up. Stream Santa's Slay on Tubi or rent it from Prime Video.
This one is probably more action-comedy than outright horror, but if it's Christmas bloodletting you're looking for, it's still a safe bet. Stranger Things' David Harbour plays good ol' Saint Nick, who elects to defend the lives of a wealthy family from murderous intruders (all with holiday-themed aliases like "Mr. Scrooge") on Christmas Eve. The climax is a Home Alone-esque booby trap sequence that takes a far bloodier and more realistic take on the mayhem little Kevin McCallister unleashes in that weirdly brutal holiday classic, and Harbour has good fun with the obvious (but still amusing) Santa-as-depressed-sad-sack shtick. Stream Violent Night on Peacock or rent it from Prime Video.
lh_wayfarer_feed) wrote2025-12-16 01:00 pmWe may earn a commission from links on this page.
You hear people talk about working in a “flow state,” but what does that even mean? before you start thinking of it as one of those corporate jargon phrases that gets tossed around so much it loses any meaning it ever had, it's worth knowing that it's a "real" thing, backed up by a whole lot of psychological research. In essence, being in a flow state enables you to work more efficiently and effectively at whatever you're focused on.
Psychologist Mihály Csíkszentmihályi came up with this theory in 1970, suggesting a flow state is similar to when someone is floating along, being carried by water: Their brains are working so efficiently they’re moving straight ahead on a task with no issues, almost as if they are being propelled forward.
He spent his time interviewing artists and athletes at the top of their game to understand when and how they performed optimally—and how everyday people can tap into a “flow” state, too. He wrote several books on the topic, but for our purposes here, you don't need to ingest all of them. What's most important is to understand the eight main traits of flow theory.
Csíkszentmihályi’s work ultimately describes eight clear characteristics of being in flow:
You’re completely concentrated on your task.
You have clarity around goals in your mind and can get immediate feedback.
Time feels like it's transforming, either speeding up or slowing down.
The work is intrinsically rewarding.
There is a sense of effortlessness or ease.
The work is challenging, but you have the skills for it.
You are not self-conscious; actions and awareness are working together.
You feel you have control over the task.
This may remind you of the concept of “deep work,” which is author/professor Cal Newport’s definition of doing demanding tasks when you’re fully engrossed in them and not distracted. The two concepts are similar, but to achieve either, there are a few things you need to do. It’s clear from the list of flow characteristics above that mastery and resources play a big role in whether you'll feel you’re in a flow state when you're working. Obviously you’ll likely only hit this state if you’re doing something you’re completely prepared for, so don’t aim for it if you’re going to be doing something that requires contributions from other people, resources you don’t have, or skills you don’t possess. You can be ripped from it quickly if, say, you're waiting around for a colleague to email you something you need for the project, which can destabilize your whole day. (For a better understanding of that, it's worth familiarizing yourself with the difference between downtime and idle time.)
When you are trying to hit a flow state, plan around when you need to do a major, demanding task. For instance, when planning your 1-3-5 to-do list for the day, your one big task should be one you’re fully prepared and have all the resources for. Keep Carlson’s Law—the idea that any work you attempt to do while distracted will be suboptimal—in mind, too; you can’t work, let alone flow, if you’re being pulled in multiple directions, so schedule the time you’re going to take on your big task to coincide with a time when you have nothing else going on and can give it your full attention. Use timeboxing to allocate this time in your schedule, minute by minute, and, if you can, make your calendar publicly visible so people in your organization know you’re not available.
When I explored adopting this mindset in my own life, I found that my biggest blocker was dealing with distractions, especially from my phone (no surprise there). Almost counterintuitively, I found two apps to be helpful: Steppin, which blocks my access to distracting apps unless I trade time I've banked by walking around in the real world; and Focus Pomo, which blocks all other apps whenever I'm in a "focus session."
So, if you’re working hard on something but don’t feel like you’re achieving any kind of flow state, refer back to the list of characteristics to see what’s missing. Are you distracted? Do you not have the option to get immediate feedback? Are you lacking a necessary resource? Is the work too challenging for your skills or maybe even not challenging enough to keep your attention? Identifying which characteristic you’re lacking most will help you fix the problem and get you closer to flowing your way to major productivity.
wrongquestions_feed) wrote2025-12-16 06:23 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
melagan) wrote2025-12-16 11:11 am
mikro) wrote2025-12-16 09:39 am
bbcnewsworld_feed) wrote2025-12-16 03:09 pmbbcnewsworld_feed) wrote2025-12-16 11:23 amseekingferret) wrote2025-12-16 10:32 amtomlorenzo_feed) wrote2025-12-16 03:15 pm
Yesterday, the perfect Christmas girlfriend! Today, the perfect holiday wife. You didn’t think we were just going to feature the remake, did you? In director Henry Koster’s The Bishop’s Wife, Loretta Young play’s Julia, the title character, who has become enamored of her husband’s (David Niven) angelic helper Dudley, played by Cary Grant. After providing aid and guidance to the bishop and various parishioners, Dudley decorates their Christmas tree and reveals to Julia that he’s developed feelings for her.
She is shocked by Dudley’s forwardness and rejects him outright, Dudley leaves and all memory of him goes with him. Julia and her husband reunite happily, all problems solved. The point of this dress, from the costume design team of Irene Sharaff and Adrian, is largely the same as the one worn by Whitney Houston in The Preacher’s Wife; it’s supposed to thread the needle on depicting her as a modest woman of faith while at the same time delivering the level of glamour expected of a leading lady in a mainstream film in 1947. It’s very flattering, if nearly featureless on camera, but that delicate lace collar adds just the right amount of conservative modesty while also providing some visual interest near her perpetually soft-focused face. The effect is akin to a glamourous, beautiful nun; a comparison the famously devout Catholic Young almost certainly would have enjoyed.
Next up: Another sad holiday frock!
[Photo/Still Credit: Samuel Goldwyn Productions]
The post Christmas Movie Dress Advent Calendar Day 16: Loretta Young in THE BISHOP’S WIFE appeared first on Tom + Lorenzo.
twocents_feed) wrote2025-12-16 03:00 pmSeason's greetings and all that. In honor of this most special time of the year, I'm taking a look at commonly held Christmas myths and misconceptions. I busted a ton of Jesus myths a couple weeks ago, then got secular and finally revealed the truth about Santa Claus, so this week I'm doing a round-up of seasonal misinformation, both religious and secular.
The Gospels aren't specific about where where Jesus was born, other than "Bethlehem." Here's how Luke 2:4–7 is traditionally translated: "And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn." But that isn't entirely accurate, because it turns out Greek word καταλυμα (kataluma) doesn't mean "inn." It means something closer to "spare room," and since the holy family was in Bethlehem because it was where Joseph was from, it seems more likely that they were crashing at a friend or relative's place, all the bedrooms upstairs were taken, so they were sleeping downstairs, where people kept the animals—hence, the manger. The stable idea likely stuck because it’s visually simple and works well for nativity scenes, and it's in keeping with the point of the story: Jesus was born in humble circumstance.
The Gospel of Matthew says King Herod told an unspecified number of "wise men" (or Magi) to go to Bethlehem, because a star appeared heralding the birth of the Messiah. So they went off to find him to bring him gifts. We don't know how many of said wise men went to Bethlehem or how long it took them to get there, but Matthew 2:11 says they visited a house. The Bible does say they brought gold, frankincense and myrrh, so at least that part is right.
This is a weird one, but a lot of Christians think the use of "Xmas" is part of the ongoing secular War on Christmas, but it isn't. In the Greek New Testament, the word for Christ is "ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ." Using XP or X to indicate Christ dates back to early Christians writing in Greek, and it was used in English writing, too. Something like Xmas (Xp̄es mæsse) was written as early as 1100 a.d. to indicate "Christ's Mass" or Christmas. That was centuries before secular Christmas even existed.
"Jingle Bells" is not a Christmas song—technically. Even though it's probably the song most widely associated with the holiday, there's no mention of Christmas in the lyrics. It's just a song about how much fun it is to go a'riding in a one-horse, open sleigh. (Another common misconception about "Jingle Bells" is that it was written for Thanksgiving. That's not true either.)
Like a lot of history, "Jingle Bells" is more troubling than you might think. It was written by James Pierpont and first performed at a minstrel show in 1857. Sleigh riding is a great subject for songs, so there was a whole subgenre of minstrel songs about it, some more racist than others, and "Jingle Bells" is the one that survived.
Other Christmas songs that don't mention the holiday include "Let It Snow," "Winter Wonderland," "Baby, It's Cold Outside," "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year," "Home for the Holidays," and "Frosty the Snowman." Technically, none of these are Christmas songs if you use the most strict definition of "Christmas song," but on the other hand, they're songs everyone sings around Christmas, and they're generally about winter fun and holidays and whatnot, so there's a strong argument that they actually are Christmas songs. It's the kind of thing you can decide for yourself.
December 26 is called "Boxing Day," and a lot of people think it got the name because that's the day we box up presents we don't want and return them to the store. But the holiday originated in England and it was a day that rich people would give their servants the day off and a box of presents, and/or just give some presents or donations to local unfortunates.
We know Mr. Claus' first name is "Santa," but what about his wife? It turns out she doesn't have a first name. Santa's source material, St. Nicolas, was a Catholic bishop, so he didn't have a wife. The collective unconscious filled in the details of Santa Claus as a mythical figure (The North Pole home, the worker elves, etc.) but no one ever gave Mrs. Claus a name that stuck.
Here are a few attempts, though: in 1985 film Santa Claus: The Movie Mrs. Claus is named "Anya." She's called "Margaret" in the 2011 movie Arthur Christmas. She's named "Carol" in the Santa Clause movies (but in that mythology, she will be replaced when she dies). These are all one-offs, but there's one Mrs. Claus name that has a few data points backing it up: Jessica.
Reportedly, the creators of the 1970's stop-motion film Santa Claus is Comin' to Town called Mrs. Claus' character "Jessica," although she's not referred to as that in the movie. Ryan Reynolds called Mrs. Claus "Jessica" on Instagram. Most importantly, this random little girl in 1974 said Mrs. Claus' name is Jessica, so I'm going with that one.
bbcnewsworld_feed) wrote2025-12-16 02:11 pmbbcnewsworld_feed) wrote2025-12-16 01:02 pmbbcnewsworld_feed) wrote2025-12-16 11:43 ambbcnewsworld_feed) wrote2025-12-16 09:38 ambbcnewsworld_feed) wrote2025-12-16 07:00 amlh_wayfarer_feed) wrote2025-12-16 03:00 pmSeason's greetings and all that. In honor of this most special time of the year, I'm taking a look at commonly held Christmas myths and misconceptions. I busted a ton of Jesus myths a couple weeks ago, then got secular and finally revealed the truth about Santa Claus, so this week I'm doing a round-up of seasonal misinformation, both religious and secular.
The Gospels aren't specific about where where Jesus was born, other than "Bethlehem." Here's how Luke 2:4–7 is traditionally translated: "And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn." But that isn't entirely accurate, because it turns out Greek word καταλυμα (kataluma) doesn't mean "inn." It means something closer to "spare room," and since the holy family was in Bethlehem because it was where Joseph was from, it seems more likely that they were crashing at a friend or relative's place, all the bedrooms upstairs were taken, so they were sleeping downstairs, where people kept the animals—hence, the manger. The stable idea likely stuck because it’s visually simple and works well for nativity scenes, and it's in keeping with the point of the story: Jesus was born in humble circumstance.
The Gospel of Matthew says King Herod told an unspecified number of "wise men" (or Magi) to go to Bethlehem, because a star appeared heralding the birth of the Messiah. So they went off to find him to bring him gifts. We don't know how many of said wise men went to Bethlehem or how long it took them to get there, but Matthew 2:11 says they visited a house. The Bible does say they brought gold, frankincense and myrrh, so at least that part is right.
This is a weird one, but a lot of Christians think the use of "Xmas" is part of the ongoing secular War on Christmas, but it isn't. In the Greek New Testament, the word for Christ is "ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ." Using XP or X to indicate Christ dates back to early Christians writing in Greek, and it was used in English writing, too. Something like Xmas (Xp̄es mæsse) was written as early as 1100 a.d. to indicate "Christ's Mass" or Christmas. That was centuries before secular Christmas even existed.
"Jingle Bells" is not a Christmas song—technically. Even though it's probably the song most widely associated with the holiday, there's no mention of Christmas in the lyrics. It's just a song about how much fun it is to go a'riding in a one-horse, open sleigh. (Another common misconception about "Jingle Bells" is that it was written for Thanksgiving. That's not true either.)
Like a lot of history, "Jingle Bells" is more troubling than you might think. It was written by James Pierpont and first performed at a minstrel show in 1857. Sleigh riding is a great subject for songs, so there was a whole subgenre of minstrel songs about it, some more racist than others, and "Jingle Bells" is the one that survived.
Other Christmas songs that don't mention the holiday include "Let It Snow," "Winter Wonderland," "Baby, It's Cold Outside," "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year," "Home for the Holidays," and "Frosty the Snowman." Technically, none of these are Christmas songs if you use the most strict definition of "Christmas song," but on the other hand, they're songs everyone sings around Christmas, and they're generally about winter fun and holidays and whatnot, so there's a strong argument that they actually are Christmas songs. It's the kind of thing you can decide for yourself.
December 26 is called "Boxing Day," and a lot of people think it got the name because that's the day we box up presents we don't want and return them to the store. But the holiday originated in England and it was a day that rich people would give their servants the day off and a box of presents, and/or just give some presents or donations to local unfortunates.
We know Mr. Claus' first name is "Santa," but what about his wife? It turns out she doesn't have a first name. Santa's source material, St. Nicolas, was a Catholic bishop, so he didn't have a wife. The collective unconscious filled in the details of Santa Claus as a mythical figure (The North Pole home, the worker elves, etc.) but no one ever gave Mrs. Claus a name that stuck.
Here are a few attempts, though: in 1985 film Santa Claus: The Movie Mrs. Claus is named "Anya." She's called "Margaret" in the 2011 movie Arthur Christmas. She's named "Carol" in the Santa Clause movies (but in that mythology, she will be replaced when she dies). These are all one-offs, but there's one Mrs. Claus name that has a few data points backing it up: Jessica.
Reportedly, the creators of the 1970's stop-motion film Santa Claus is Comin' to Town called Mrs. Claus' character "Jessica," although she's not referred to as that in the movie. Ryan Reynolds called Mrs. Claus "Jessica" on Instagram. Most importantly, this random little girl in 1974 said Mrs. Claus' name is Jessica, so I'm going with that one.
larryhammer) wrote2025-12-16 07:51 amtomlorenzo_feed) wrote2025-12-16 02:30 pm
Gloria Osteria Restaurant – Paris, France
GRANDEUR, darlings! Pronounced Frenchily, bien sûr. Isn’t that what we all deserve this TUESDAY? The answer is yes. Join us.
Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You’ Unwraps Record-Breaking 20th Week at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100
The carol makes history 31 years after its release.
Mariah Carey‘s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” achieves a record-breaking 20th week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, rewriting the mark for the longest reign over the chart’s 67-year history.
The song, originally released in 1994, surpasses the No. 1 runs of two hits that led the Hot 100 over one release cycle each: Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” in 2024, and Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road,” featuring Billy Ray Cyrus, in 2019.
Carey claims the Hot 100’s No. 1 longevity record for a second time — In 1995-96, her and Boyz II Men’s “One Sweet Day” dominated for 16 weeks, a mark that stood on its own for more than 23 years, until it was tied by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee’s “Despacito,” featuring Justin Bieber, in 2017, and then passed by “Old Town Road.” (She, thus, breaks the record with a song released before “One Sweet Day.”)
The Final Season of Outlander Brings TV’s Hottest Time-Traveling Romance to a Fiery End
Caitríona Balfe and showrunner Matthew B. Roberts unveil an exclusive look at the emotional last chapter and talk landing the plane—not rocking the boat: “People have come to this show for a decade, let’s just give them something that they have come to expect.”
Perhaps the only thing harder than living happily ever after in reality is scripting it for the screen—after eight seasons of Outlander, the time-traveling, bodice-ripping romantic fantasy series will come to an end next spring. “It kept me up at night,” executive producer Matthew B. Roberts tells Vanity Fair. Riding off into the sunset has always been a tricky proposition for beloved TV characters like Caitríona Balfe’s Claire Beauchamp and Sam Heughan’s Jamie Fraser, whose love story electrified fans from its 2014 debut and became one of the most successful shows ever on Starz.
But Roberts, who assumed showrunning duties from fellow EP Ronald D. Moore at the conclusion of season two, stuck firmly to the show’s DNA for its final installment. “I said to everybody, let’s try not to do that Very Special Outlander season. It’s already special,” he says. “People have come to this show for a decade, let’s just do what we do, do it well, and give them something that they have come to expect.”
Hold Up, Your Favourite Tweakments May Not Be Vegetarian or Vegan
All your questions, answered
It was only when I was lying back on a treatment bed, face numbed, and a skin pen hovering just millimetres above my face that I had a realisation: I had no idea where the exosomes that were about to be stamped into my face came from. Now, this may sound incredibly beauty editor specific, but I’d wager that the majority of us don’t know what ingredients are being used in our treatments—right down to the fundamentals of whether they’re vegetarian or vegan.
Makeup That Outsmarts Bad Lighting: The Pro Tricks for the Worst-Lit Season
Because the best makeup doesn’t rely on good lighting
Most of us have turned a full circle trying to ‘find the light’ for a selfie. And almost every home has that mirror—the one that flatters and makes you feel momentarily polished and perfectly made up. However, like many of us, I’ve learned the hard way that good makeup can fall apart in the wrong lighting. You leave the house confident, then catch your reflection somewhere less forgiving and question everything.
Wearing the Right Makeup for Your Eye Shape Can Be Transformative—a Makeup Artist Explains How to Do It
Just in time for party season
As someone with hooded eyes, I learnt very early on that my lids require a specific type of makeup application to look their very best. So although I firmly believe there are no rules when it comes to makeup, there are several techniques and products that can enhance every eye shape with minimal effort.
With party season now upon us, you might be on the hunt for makeup for hooded eyes or the best mascara to make your lashes stand out for every occasion. But knowing exactly where to start, or the eye looks that will suit you, isn’t always easy.
Looking For a Way To Easily Update Your Everyday Winter Outfits? Just Add Statement Socks
Fun, affordable, and oh-so-chic
We’re all searching for ways to make our everyday outfits feel, well, a little less everyday. Yes, there’s something undeniably cool about pulling on the same jeans and a V-neck knit each morning, but after a while—and I say this as someone who has lived in exactly that outfit for the past few weeks—it starts to feel decidedly dull. Instead, we need quick, low-effort solutions that instantly lift our favourite looks. And this season, one styling trick reigns supreme: bring on the statement sock.
10 biggest pop culture moments of 2025
From Labubus to West End Girls.
If 2025 will be remembered for anything, it’ll be the sheer volume of content that we created. Whether it was Lady Gaga’s return, KPop Demon Hunters taking over our screens, Rachel Zegler singing Evita from a balcony in London, Cardi B’s trial, or Mamdani fever sweeping the world – this year was packed with the kind of viral events that united us on the internet. While there were many to choose from, we’ve picked out the top ten moments that we couldn’t stop talking about this year.
25 shoulder-length hairstyles that are far from boring
All the midi-cut inspo you could need.
Shoulder-length hairstyles or medium-length hairstyles are all the craze, perhaps because that is a hard stage of hair growth to style. If you’re umm-ing and ahh-ing over what to get for your next hair cut, there’s a surefire winner when it comes to hair length. A medium-length hairstyles chop will not only get rid of any split ends or heat damaged lengths, but it also looks great on absolutely everyone, helping to frame the face and highlight the collar bone for an ultra flattering finish.
From the $236 Million Klimt to the Louvre Heist, It Was a Wild Year in the Art World
There was Trump, there was Koons, and there were many, many gallery dinners. A spin through everything our art correspondent saw in 2025.
French Exit
The most shocking event on the art year calendar had to be the heist at the Louvre—a brazen crime at the world’s most famous museum hours before Art Basel kicked off the biggest cultural week of the year in Paris. The fair and all its satellite events happened as planned, and the Louvre even managed to reopen by Thursday…though if you were an Art Basel VVVIP, I reported that you could get a private tour of the museum even when it was closed to the public. Quelle fléx!
Plaid Nails Are the Classic Winter Manicure to Try ASAP
From cool matte to edgy holographic.
There’s no better time for a maximalist manicure than the holidays, and plaid nails are the must-try trend this year. The pattern is a winter classic for a reason, but there are so many ways to personalize it to your mani vibe.
While traditional red and green plaid nails are always on the table—and hey, the Ralph Lauren Christmas aesthetic is going viral this holiday season—this manicure trend has major range for the holidays and beyond. You can opt for a preppy, detailed look or a modern twist on the pattern by enlarging it and adding some accent gems. If you need a serotonin boost, try a glittery rainbow plaid—or lean into the winter blues with cozy, moody tones.
13 Holiday Bread Recipes From Challah to Panettone
From Italy, Germany, or the Philippines, these festive breads bring global traditions to your table.
Braided, spiced, studded, and banana leaf-wrapped breads have become holiday traditions across America with influences from around the world. Savor the moment with a baking project and celebrate the season with Italian panettone, German stollen, Filipino bibingka, and Jewish babka or challah. Serve warm loaves and slices at your holiday gatherings to break festive bread with your loved ones.
UNESCO Just Awarded Italian Cuisine One of the World’s Most Prestigious Cultural Honors
The designation highlights Italy’s long-standing communal foodways, from regional harvest traditions to daily cooking practices passed down through generations.
Rome’s Colosseum glowed with celebratory lights this week as Italy marked a historic milestone: Its cuisine was officially recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity — the first time an entire national cuisine has received this honor.
“Italian cuisine has been recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity,” Erica Di Giovancarlo, trade commissioner and executive director for the U.S.A at the Italian Trade Agency, said in an emailed statement. “This honor pays tribute to our traditions and the passion we have long brought to the table. It is a recognition that highlights Italian cuisine as a profound expression of our nation’s identity and culture that is cherished and celebrated across the globe.”
11 Best Anime of 2025, From Gachiakuta to One Piece
The holiday break is a great chance to catch up on any new anime you missed!
It’s almost the end of the year, which means it’s time to look back and share our highlights, and is there a better way than by revisiting the best anime of 2025? For lovers of the medium, we don’t think so.
All in all, 2025 was an excellent year for anime. From new exciting titles to long-anticipated second parts and even decades-in-the-making conclusions, this year had it all. Of course, we can’t talk about anime in 2025 without giving an honorable mention to the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle, Jujutsu Kaisen: Execution, and Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc — three films that congregated anime fans in theaters around the world while amassing great successes at the box office.
‘Frankenstein’ Production Designer Tamara Deverell Build Epic Lab and Ship Sets for Guillermo del Toro’s Gothic Tale
When Guillermo del Toro called on production designer Tamara Deverell to work on “Frankenstein,” one thing was clear: there would be no green screen. Everything would be handmade from scratch. “We had 20 sculptors at any given moment working,” Deverell says.
Del Toro’s “Frankenstein” traces young Victor Frankenstein (Oscar Isaac) as he comes to terms with his mother’s death. In doing so, he decides he’s going to find the answer to eternal life and spends his years building what becomes the Creature (Jacob Elordi).
3 Foods to Avoid Cooking in Your Cast-Iron Skillet, According to Experts
The good news is that most things are still on the table.
Technically, you can cook just about anything in a cast-iron skillet. It’s one of our favorite kitchen tools, and we use it for everything from Sunday morning pancakes and Dutch babies to seared steak and sautéed vegetables. Maintaining a well-seasoned cast-iron pan takes time and patience, but the coating only gets better and more protective with age and use. But there are three things you should avoid cooking in a cast-iron skillet if you’re not sure the pan has been properly seasoned and cared for. Ahead, we spoke to an iron cookware expert and food scientist to get their insights.
Why Winter Is the Right Time to Rotate Your Rugs, According to Carpet-Care Pros
The benefits of giving your rugs a seasonal reset.
If you’re like most, rotating your rugs probably occurs to you even less than rotating your mattress. But there are plenty of good reasons to rotate your rugs, especially in the winter months.
We went to carpet-cleaning experts to find out exactly why rotating rugs during this season is so essential and how to best establish it as part of your routine. Your rugs were likely an investment—and one that’s worth protecting—and rotating them in the winter is one regular precaution you can take.
10 Best Towns to Visit in Switzerland for Enchanting Castles, Majestic Mountain Views, and Gorgeous Alpine Lakes
Discover lakeside retreats, historic villages, and destinations tucked away in the Alps.
Switzerland’s beauty is legendary, and it comes in all forms—from snowcapped mountains and freshwater lakes to picturesque pastoral scenes and charming architecture. While the country’s larger cities are gorgeous in their own right, it’s in the small towns and tiny villages that you can fully immerse yourself in this Swiss splendor. Plus, with over 2,000 municipalities, Switzerland offers a seemingly endless number of day trips and pit stops.
[Photo Credit: gloria-osteria.com]
The post T LOunge for December 16th 2025 appeared first on Tom + Lorenzo.
