On Dec. 9, 1965, a new Christmas classic was born. That evening, an estimated 15,490,000 people sat down to watch the premiere presentation of “A Charlie Brown Christmas” on their television sets. Since then, millions more people have watched this heartwarming Peanuts cartoon on video or in its annual re-broadcasts on network television. As Charlie
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The Story of the Peanuts Nativity Scene
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National Christmas Center Keeps Memories Alive
At the National Christmas Center, it is common to hear a grandfather whisper to a grandchild, “That’s the train I had when I was your age.”  Another visitor may gasp and say something like, “We had that ornament on our tree when I was a little girl.” “We make people happy here by taking them
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4 Amazing Nativity Set Traditions from Europe
There is perhaps no more meaningful way to celebrate the birth of Christ than by displaying a crèche. Since St. Francis of Assisi staged the first nativity scene in 1223, the idea of the Christmas crèche has spread throughout the world. Since the crèche is both a representation of faith and an art form, many
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How Fontanini Became the Most Famous Nativity Sets in the World
If you grew up with a nativity set in your home that was a family heirloom, chances are pretty good that is was a Fontanini Nativity set. The Fontanini tradition dates back to the late 1800s when company founder Emanuele Fontanini began creating crèche figures in the little town of Bagni di Lucca located in
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University of Dayton’s Unparalleled Creche Collection
For three decades, the University of Dayton’s Marian Library has featured a collection of nativity sets from around the world. Today it is one of the largest – if not the largest – nativity collections in the United States. Ranging from hand-made paper sets from Germany circa 1862 to the recent Hipster Nativity Set, which
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Summer Santa: Celebrating Christmas in July
In the middle of a hot summer in America, the thought of Christmas in July can sound refreshing in terms of both the snowy weather and the cheerfulness of shopping for and receiving gifts that of conjures up in our minds. In the Southern Hemisphere, particularly in Australia, December 25 is a date that falls
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