Christmas

One legacy of the former Soviet Union is the New Year's feast. Ukrainians are reclaiming Christmas and old recipes.

In Grace Paley's "The Loudest Voice," a young Jewish girl from an immigrant family is chosen to narrate her school's Christmas pageant. This is an open-hearted story — just right for us now during the holidays — or any day at all.

It's a perennial holiday debate: Is "Die Hard" a Christmas movie? A Philadelphia theater group offers a live reading of the 1988 action classic just in time for the holidays.

NPR Music's Felix Contreras presents some of the stand out performances of beloved holiday tradition, celebrating its 25th anniversary.

With Carey's enduring Christmas hit, we may be looking at a record that borders on the untouchable.

Orchestra? Not in Havana — Sarah Willis is back with her own 20-piece 'Sarahbanda' for a new album that combines classical horn and the sounds of salsa, mambo, bolero and son to create a new spin on festive holiday classics. TPR's James Baker has an interview with the talented performer.

On Dec. 9, 1965, "A Charlie Brown Christmas" premiered on television. In 1995, Peanuts creator Charles Schulz spoke with NPR's Bob Edwards on Morning Edition.

This is the 61st year of the San Antonio Choral Society.

If Santa Claus is the good cop of Christmas, then Krampus is the bad one: a creature from European folklore who scares children into behaving themselves, complete with goat horns and gnashing teeth.

The calendar has turned to December, and jingle bells have arrived at the top of the charts, led, as usual, by Mariah, Wham and Brenda Lee.