Holidays

Holiday gift guides

Fishing lures. Pet toys. Art supplies. Advent calendars offer personalized ways to count down

9 pitch-perfect holiday gifts for the music lovers in your life

This gift guide for movie lovers ranges from candles and pj’s to books for babies and adults

A jar of local flavors can spark memories and add a personal touch to gift-giving

A medley of tech gifts for everyone on your holiday shopping list

These children’s books from 2025 make great holiday gifts for every age group

A young visitor describes to Santa Claus what he hopes to get for Christmas at Altamonte Mall on Dec. 21, 2022, in Altamonte Springs, Fla. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel via AP, File)

The holiday shopping season comes with tons of extra emissions. Here’s how to do it sustainably

The holiday season comes with a lot of pollution from materials, manufacturing, processing, packaging, shipping and wrapping.

A holiday arrangement made of various greenery is displayed at a home on Long Island, N.Y., on Dec. 2, 2025. (Jessica Damiano via AP)

The secret to keeping your holiday greenery fresher longer

Owner of the Christel Dauwe Collection ornaments shop, Christel Dauwe, wraps boxes of holiday ornaments at her shop in Antwerp, Belgium, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)

Holiday ornaments decorate life all year long in this Belgian shop

In this undated photo released by the South Carolina Department of Corrections, items dropped by a drone into the Lee Correctional Institution in Bishopville, S.C., are seen. (South Carolina Department of Corrections via AP)

Drone drops steak and crab legs for prisoner feast but South Carolina guards find it first

Pope Leo XIV leaves after praying in front of the statue of the Virgin Mary next to the Spanish Steps in Rome, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, on the Catholic Feast of the Immaculate Conception. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Pope Leo XIV gets into Christmas spirit with prayer for peace at Spanish Steps

More coverage

Palestinians take part in a Christmas tree–lighting event in Manger Square, next to the Church of the Nativity, traditionally regarded as the birthplace of Jesus Christ ahead of Christmas in the West Bank city of Bethlehem Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)

Christmas celebrations return to Bethlehem after 2 years of war in Gaza

Christmas celebrations are returning to Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank after two years of war in Gaza.

In this undated photo provided by her attorney, Todd Pomerleau, Any Lucia Lopez Belloza celebrates her high school graduation in Texas. (Any Lucia Lopez Belloza's attorney via AP)

College student deported during Thanksgiving trip could’ve fought removal as a kid, US says

A U.S. government attorney says a college student in Massachusetts who was deported while visiting family for Thanksgiving missed chances to fight a removal order from her childhood.

First lady Melania Trump claps after lighting the National Christmas Tree on the Ellipse, Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, near the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Melania Trump lights the National Christmas Tree after president counts down

First lady Melania Trump has lit the National Christmas Tree on a chilly night in the nation’s capital.

The traditional lighting up ceremony starts, with a choir singing carols, for the annual Norwegian gifted Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square, in London, England, Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Thomas Krych)

Norway donates a Christmas tree to London every year. Here’s how the tradition began

London’s Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square is a famed British tradition with roots in the Norwegian forest.

The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree after being lit during the 93rd annual Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting ceremony, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, a holiday icon, is illuminated in New York

The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree has been lit up in a festive ceremony in midtown Manhattan. The towering icon of New York City’s holiday season is a 75-foot Norway spruce this year.

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (88) and tight end Jake Ferguson (87) celebrate following an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Cowboys-Chiefs Thanksgiving matchup on CBS is the most-watched regular-season NFL game ever

The Dallas Cowboys’ 31-28 win over the Kansas City Chiefs on Thanksgiving Day was the most-watched regular-season game in NFL history.

Pastry chef Tino Gierig makes stollen a traditional Christmas pastry in Dresden, Germany, Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

German bakers bring Christmas specialty to life with rich tradition and sweetness

Bakers in the eastern German city of Dresden have been making stollen for Christmas for hundreds of years.

A man takes a photo of Rockefeller Center in front of Saks Fifth Avenue on Black Friday in New York on Friday, Nov. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)

A look at the Thanksgiving shopping weekend and what’s next

The nation’s shoppers may feel gloomy about the economy, but they certainly were in the mood to shop over the five-day Thanksgiving weekend that wrapped up on Cyber Monday.

The Capitol Christmas tree, a 53-foot red fir from the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest in Nevada, is illuminated in Washington, Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

The story of how a Nevada fir became the U.S. Capitol Christmas tree

As a tiny seedling began sprouting in the forest along Mount Rose Highway west of Reno, the Vietnam War was ending under President Gerald Ford, the price of gas was 53 cents per gallon and the Kool-Aid man made his first television commercial appearance.

Christmas trees decorate the Cross Hall of the White House during a press preview of the Christmas decorations "Home is Where the Heart Is," Monday, Dec. 1, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Photos from the White House’s Holiday Prep

As the calendar turned to December on Monday, the White House was preparing for the end-of-year holidays.

In this undated photo provided by her attorney, Todd Pomerleau, Any Lucia Lopez Belloza celebrates her high school graduation in Texas. (Any Lucia Lopez Belloza's attorney via AP)

Babson College offers support to student deported trying to fly home for Thanksgiving surprise

Babson College has instructed faculty and staff to support a student deported to Honduras. Nineteen-year-old freshman Any Lucia Lopez Belloza was detained at Boston Logan International Airport on November 20 while trying to fly to Texas for Thanksgiving.

Christmas trees decorate the Cross Hall of the White House during a press preview of the Christmas decorations "Home is Where the Heart Is," Monday, Dec. 1, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Melania Trump reveals White House holiday decorations and her theme, ‘Home Is Where the Heart Is’

Melania Trump and Usha Vance, who is married to the vice president, helped military spouses assemble care packages and write holiday cards for deployed service members during an American Red Cross event at a U.S Air Force base near Washington.

Shoppers browse for Black Friday deals at Atlantic Station outdoor mall, Friday, Nov. 28, 2025, in Atlanta, Ga. (AP Photo/Megan Varner)

Shoppers scoured for deals online on Cyber Monday and delivered strong sales for retailers

Shoppers scoured for deals everything from electronics to clothing on Cyber Monday, delivering strong sales for online retailers and capping a five-day spending spree that kicked off on Thanksgiving.

Volunteer Brent Cohen carries plates of food to guests during the annual Thanksgiving banquet at the Denver Rescue Mission on Nov. 22, 2023, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)

Why doing good also makes us feel good, during the holidays and beyond

The holiday season is a popular time for volunteering, but experts say giving back is beneficial year-round.

Amazon's generative AI-powered shopping assistant, Rufus, appears on a computer monitor, Dec. 1, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Peter Morgan, File)

AI-assisted shopping is the talk of the holiday shopping season

Major retail chains and tech companies are offering new or updated artificial intelligence tools in time for the holiday shopping season.

A worker prepares a hand-made Christmas bauble at GlitterLab in Czestochowa, southern Poland, on Nov. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

The Polish ‘magicians of glass’ who create Christmas baubles for clients worldwide

GlitterLab, a company in southern Poland, specializes in creating unique Christmas decorations. Known as the “magicians of glass,” they craft custom ornaments for clients like Swarovski and Harrods.

Shoppers browse through stores at Mall of America for Black Friday deals, Friday, Nov. 28, 2025, in Bloomington, Minn. (AP Photo/Adam Bettcher)

Shoppers spend billions on Black Friday to snag holiday deals, despite wider economic uncertainty

Despite wider economic uncertainty hovering above this year’s holiday season, shoppers turned out in big numbers for Black Friday — spending billions of dollars both in stores and online.

Sister Maria Elena cuts a photograph of a missing girl to paste on a Christmas ornament to hang on the Tree of Hope, during an event organized by the diocese of Ecatepec at the Church of the Sacred Heart of San Cristobal in Ecatepec, State of Mexico, Monday, Nov. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Ginnette Riquelme)

A Christmas tree in Mexico carries the faces of loved ones who never came home

Families of Mexico’s disappeared gathered at a cathedral near Mexico City to craft Christmas ornaments bearing the faces of their missing loved ones.

Pedestrians walk past a storefront promoting Black Friday discounts in Caracas, Venezuela, Friday, Nov. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

Venezuelans worried about economic turmoil shun Black Friday deals

Venezuelans are skipping Black Friday shopping due to the country’s struggling economy. Even popular stores at a mall in the capital saw few shoppers.

In this undated photo provided by her attorney, Todd Pomerleau, Any Lucia Lopez Belloza celebrates her high school graduation in Texas. (Any Lucia Lopez Belloza's attorney via AP)

College freshman is deported flying home for Thanksgiving surprise, despite court order

A college freshman trying to fly from Boston to Texas to surprise her family for Thanksgiving was deported to Honduras in violation of a court order.

JoJo Siwa greets shoppers at the Mall of America for Black Friday deals in Bloomington, Minn., Friday, Nov. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Adam Bettcher)

Photos capture enduring enthusiasm for Black Friday, the biggest shopping day of the year

Black Friday kicked off the holiday shopping season with enthusiasm, despite consumer confidence in the U.S. economy falling this month in the aftermath of the federal government shutdown, weak hiring and stubborn inflation.

This image released by Disney shows Nicole Scherzinger in "The Wonderful World of Disney: Holiday Spectacular." (Omark Reyes/Disney via AP)

25 holiday TV offerings to watch, ranging from comedies to rom-coms and cozy mysteries

The holiday season is packed with festive TV specials and movies. On Dec. 1, Derek Hough hosts “The Wonderful World of Disney: Holiday Spectacular” on ABC, featuring artists like Nicole Scherzinger and Gwen Stefani.

Black Friday shoppers admire a Christmas LEGO set at the LEGO flagship store in New York on Friday, Nov. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)

Shoppers hit Black Friday sales with celebratory mood despite economic strain

The economic picture hasn’t looked very rosy. Hiring has been sluggish. Consumers have been hit with soaring meat prices. Layoffs are rippling through companies.

Duke forward Cameron Boozer (12) celebrates after scoring as Arkansas forward Malique Ewin (12) looks on during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the CBS Sports Thanksgiving Classic tournament Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Boozer family celebrates Thanksgiving with Duke win at United Center

Cameron and Cayden Boozer spent their Thanksgiving in a very familiar place, with their father, Carlos, taking in every moment.

Denver Broncos inside linebacker Alex Singleton watches from the sidelines during the second half of an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey, File)

Less than 3 weeks after cancer surgery, Broncos’ Alex Singleton is back in the game

Alex Singleton is back on the football field less than three weeks after surgery for a cancerous testicular tumor.

Shoppers walk towards a Target retail store, Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025, in Salem, N.H. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Black Friday: What time do stores open?

Black Friday has become something of an anachronism in the e-commerce era. The day after Thanksgiving marks the official start of the holiday shopping season, but retailers already have spent weeks flooding their websites and customers’ email inboxes with early Black Friday offers.

The Mario balloon floats down Central Park West during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

This year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, in photos

The holiday season kicked off Thursday with massive helium balloons floating through New York on Thanksgiving Day.

Abril Renteria, an Apple certified advisor, helps a customer check out after their purchase at a Best Buy store, Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Black Friday arrives with solid momentum despite tariffs and economic uncertainty

Black Friday may no longer be the retail bacchanalia of years past, but the event still has enough enthusiasts to make it the biggest single shopping day in the U.S..

A new Thanksgiving Day float featuring Pop Mart's Labubu, right, and Mokoko are displayed during a press preview of the new floats at Macy's Parade Studio in Moonachie, N.J., Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade brings Pac-Man and Labubu to Manhattan

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has brought balloons depicting Buzz Lightyear and Pac-Man to the New York City skies and floats featuring Labubu and Lego to the streets.

People pass Mario balloon during inflation for the 99th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

A welcome form of inflation: Balloons take shape for Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

Giant balloons are getting into shape for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Crews inflated the giant characters Wednesday on the streets of New York City.