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News Articles: Christmas Eve

DJ Robert Drake has hosted WXPN's Christmas special, "The Night Before," for more than 30 years.

There's more to Christmas music than Mariah and Bing

DJ Robert Drake of WXPN walks us through the strange and wonderful world of Christmas music.

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By:
  • Miguel Perez and
  • Stephen Kallao
Pope Francis presides over Christmas Eve Mass, at St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Saturday Dec. 24, 2022.

The Pope condemned the human 'hunger for wealth and power' at a Christmas Eve Mass

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.

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By:
  • The Associated Press
A shopper shops at a retail store in Glenview, Ill., Dec. 16. The National Retail Federation, the nation's largest retail trade group, said this month that the holiday shopping season appears to be on pace to exceed its sales growth forecast of between 8.5% and 10.5% despite additional challenges this year, from a new variant of the coronavirus, to soaring inflation.

A complete guide to what is — and isn't — open this Christmas

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

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By:
  • Jonathan Franklin
Palestinian scout bands parade through Manger Square at the Church of the Nativity, traditionally believed to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, during Christmas celebrations, in the West Bank town of Bethlehem on Friday.

Once again, COVID means scaled-back Christmas celebrations around the world

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.

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By:
  • The Associated Press
Pope Francis unveils a statue of Baby Jesus as he celebrates Christmas Eve Mass at St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, on Friday.

Pope Francis celebrates Christmas Eve Mass as Italy sets pandemic record of new cases

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.

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By:
  • The Associated Press
Pope Francis unveils a statue of Baby Jesus as he celebrates Christmas Eve Mass at St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, on Friday.

Pope Francis celebrates Christmas Eve Mass as Italy sets pandemic record of new cases

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.

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By:
  • The Associated Press
With countless lights, Christmassy illuminated man-high trees and reindeer decorate the entrance of a shop

Opinion: 'Twas The Night Before Christmas in 2020

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

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By:
  • Scott Simon