holidays
RNS holiday gift guide 2022: Ideas for the kids, adults and Pastafarians on your list
By Emily McFarlan Miller — November 18, 2022
(RNS) — Because not everybody celebrates a religious holiday in December, but everybody loves presents.
At Vatican’s Peruvian Nativity scene, Pope Francis again warns against ‘indifference’
By Claire Giangravé — December 10, 2021
(RNS) — The pope used the Vatican crèche's spotlight on the diversity of Peru to continue a campaign against indifference toward people at the margins.
RNS holiday gift guide 2020: Puzzles, prayer cards and more gifts for staying in
By Emily McFarlan Miller — November 25, 2020
(RNS) — Religion News Service is bringing back our holiday gift guide, full of ideas for all the people of faith — or no faith — on your list.
More than 1 billion people celebrate on Diwali. What does it mean to them?
By Simran Jeet Singh — October 18, 2019
(RNS) — In the various stories that make Diwali a holy day for so many, we have models of what true righteousness looks like. They are sharp rejoinders of what we should be doing and how we should be living.
What is Eid and how do Muslims celebrate it? 6 questions answered
By Ken Chitwood — June 4, 2019
(The Conversation) — Muslims all over the world are celebrating Eid al-Fitr, one of the religion’s principal festivals.
Why Easter is called Easter, and other little-known facts about the holiday
By Brent Landau — April 21, 2019
(The Conversation) — Among the important disputes settled at the A.D. 325 Council of Nicaea, the church council also resolved that Easter should be fixed on a Sunday, not on the traditional day of the Jewish Passover.
Kitniyot or not? As Jewish traditions merge in Israel, a Passover debate emerges
By Paul O'Donnell — April 18, 2019
JERUSALEM (RNS) — At Passover, Jews of Eastern European descent abstain from eating legumes such as chickpeas and soybeans. Sephardic Jews have no such prohibition. What does seder look like when the two groups come together?
How to be a mensch at your seder (or Easter dinner)
By Joshua Hammerman — April 16, 2019
(RNS) — As we gather for the holidays, we all need someone who sees the spark of divinity in everyone at the table — even those whose views we can't stand.
Why ‘Silent Night’ and the stories around it endure 200 years later
By Emily McFarlan Miller — December 14, 2018
(RNS) — For countless churchgoers, 'Silent Night' brings a moment of quiet reflection that captures what Christmas is all about — even if church mice have nothing to do with it.
RNS holiday gift guide 2018: Books, Barbies, subscription boxes and more
By Emily McFarlan Miller — November 29, 2018
(RNS) — Not everybody celebrates a religious holiday in December. But almost everybody likes presents, and there's something for just about everybody in our annual holiday gift guide.
Advice to Christians on dealing with family at Thanksgiving
By Russell Moore — November 21, 2018
(RNS) — The family holiday table is no place to separate the wheat from the weeds.
How do you feel Jewish?
By Jeffrey Salkin — October 2, 2018
Jews have a problem with joy. Deal with it.
The ‘real’ St. Valentine was no patron of love
By Lisa Bitel — February 13, 2018
(The Conversation) — Valentine’s Day originated as a liturgical feast to celebrate the decapitation of a third-century Christian martyr, or perhaps two. So, how did we get from beheading to betrothing on Valentine’s Day?
Feeling guilty about drinking? Well, ask the saints
By Michael Foley — November 19, 2017
(The Conversation) Alcohol abuse is no laughing matter, but is it sinful to drink and make merry, moderately and responsibly, during a holy season or at any other time?
When is Eid al-Fitr, and why do Muslims celebrate it?
By Waseem Abbasi — June 24, 2017
The festival marks the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, and is celebrated by visiting friends and relatives, hosting food parties and sharing sweets.
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