Which country made the first artificial Christmas tree? Who invented the candy cane and why? Where was Jesus Christ raised and which was his first miracle? ...more

December 25, 2009

"Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way," sang a talking wreath as Hilda Nelson walked into Spirit of Life Ministries Thrift Shop in Sebring Friday. ...more

December 14, 2009

LAND O' LAKES - Celebrating the holidays in Tampa usually means warm and sunny weather that results in a lot of green beyond the Christmas tree. ...more

December 1, 2009

Six of Santa's reindeer have begun their journey to Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo for Wild Wonderland, the Zoo's 10th annual nighttime festival of lights and seasonal celebrations, presented by Publix Super Market Charities. The Zoo has launched a Wild Wonderland Web site at www.lowryparkzoo.com/wildwonderland where families can track the reindeer and read postcards from their travels, play reindeer games, have some holiday fun and preview the event which opens Dec. 4-5. ...more

November 27, 2009

PLANT CITY Shoppers at Felton's Meat & Produce Market were treated recently to a little more than good deals on groceries. They also enjoyed the angelic voice of Edith Langston. ...more

December 26, 2008

Perched atop his horse, D'artagnon, Tampa police Officer Scott Rehbein saw all sorts of temptations for thieves in the WestShore Plaza parking lot Wednesday. ...more

November 27, 2008

Like jingle bells and Santa hats, Rehbein and other Tampa police officers patrolling the malls are a holiday tradition. Officers on horseback and motorcycles, and in unmarked vehicles, will conduct extra patrols at WestShore Plaza, International Plaza and along the Dale Mabry Highway corridor from now through Jan. 4. ...more

November 26, 2008

We haven't heard the first notes of "Silent Night" or "Jingle Bells." The halls are not yet decked with boughs of holly. The Thanksgiving turkeys are still frozen, but phrases such as "Tree Lighting Ceremony," "Freedom Carolers" and "auditorium ornaments" are creeping into conversations. Residents are thinking about familiar holiday routines and certain objects that have become a part of the communal life at Freedom Plaza: their traditions. ...more

November 19, 2008

The ancient carols stand unrivaled in true Christmas spirit by anything penned in contemporary history. The popular Christmas hymnal beloved today was pretty much complete before the first strings of Christmas lights were mass produced in 1890. ...more

December 25, 2007

Those Aren't Jingle Bells Step one: Go to Christmas Lane in Dover. Step two: Spot a handsome volunteer. Step three: Start volunteering so you can meet him. Step four: Fall in love. Kendall Burnette and Scotty Jenkins are at step five: They're getting married at the holiday attraction a year after they met there. ...more

December 23, 2007