How can a Christmas poem do something new or unexpected? In the 17th century, the English poet Robert Herrick wrote a Christmas carol, to be sung to the King in Whitehall.

The famous words "'Twas the night before Christmas" shaped the holiday by popularizing stockings, reindeer, and even Santa Claus. But the classic poem also sparked a centuries-long controversy.

What makes a Christmas poem? It could be a drift of snow or some evergreen trees, a box of candy canes or the baby Jesus. The best-known poem attending to the holiday is probably “A Visit from ...

Editor’s Note: Clement Clarke Moore (1779 – 1863) wrote the poem “Twas the Night Before Christmas,” also known as “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” in 1822. It is believed that a family ...

Three theories track the Christmas tree back to the 1400s or 1500s, while two others delve even further into the past. But some of the theories are definitely more accurate than others.

But through it all we get the Christmas story in distinctly Chestertonian garb: “This world is wild as an old wives’ tale, / And strange the plain things are.” The House of Christmas by G.K.

A Christmas Eve service will be held at 10 a.m. and a candlelight service at 5 p.m. The Presbyterian Men's Group meets at 9 a.m. Dec. 16 in Fellowship Hall. Information: (479) 855-2390 or pcbv.org.

Mississippi author Drew Taylor's Christian romance novel "The Politics of Christmas" is set for a film adaptation. "The book poured out of me," Taylor said.

Highland Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Bella Vista, 1500 Forest Hills Blvd., holds services at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday. Sunday school is at 9 a.m. and fellowship time is at 10 a.m.