Christmas Eve

Recalling Jesus' birth in a stable, Pope Francis rebuked those "ravenous" for wealth and power at the expense of the vulnerable in a Christmas Eve homily decrying war, poverty and greedy consumerism.

Pope Francis celebrated Christmas Eve Mass before an estimated 2,000 people in St. Peter's Basilica, going ahead with the service despite the resurgence in COVID-19 cases.

From Bethlehem and Frankfurt to Boston, the surging coronavirus put a damper on Christmas Eve for a second year, forcing churches to cancel or scale back services and disrupting travel plans.

Many major retailers and fast-food chains have announced they will be closed this Christmas Day. A few, however, will stay open for customers.

With apologies to Clement Clarke Moore, NPR's Scott Simon updates "A Visit from St. Nicholas" for 2020.

Food and beverage companies are trying to boost their holiday sales by tempting adults to buy versions of the Advent calendar that carry boozy, meaty and salty Christmastime treats.

Sometimes it takes years to get a family recipe right. And in the meantime, new holiday traditions emerge, like arguing over how to seal "Grandmom's" Slovakian pierogi perfectly.

Tamales are a Christmas Eve tradition for many Latinos. But they're also labor intensive and daunting for the newbie. Never fear: Mexican chef Pati Jinich shows us how to master this holiday favorite.

Christmas carp is a holiday mainstay in many central European nations. Traditionally, it swims in the family tub for a day or two, sometimes becoming a sort of pet before it ends up on the plate.