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The Winter Solstice, also called the hibernal solstice, occurs when either of Earth’s poles reaches its maximum tilt away from the Sun. This happens twice yearly, once in each hemisphere. This event has been celebrated throughout history with festivals, feasting, singing, dancing, bonfires, and spending time with loved ones. Astronomically, it marks the beginning of lengthening days and shortening nights. This annual moment when the daylight hours dwindle downward gives us permission to slow down and reflect on the past year, to pivot ourselves towards the light that comes with the approach of Spring three months later, and to restore our minds in preparation for the push of Spring activities.

It’s unlikely that anyone aspires to be a last-minute holiday shopper. Putting off holiday shopping until the last minute can make for a stressful home stretch to the season, and there’s no guarantee store shelves won’t already be picked clean or that gifts purchased online will arrive on time.

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We were around 11 years old in 1978. Her name was Tammy. Out in the rural noman’s- land between Seagoville and Combine, she was the only other kid on the street. We weren’t neighbors, mind you. There was a good 1.5 miles between our houses. In a time before boogeymen stole children and pre-video game invention, we were left to our own devices most days. On the other hand, I can’t recall a single time Tammy rode her bike to my house. Maybe I liked her mom’s name brand snacks better than the boxes of scratch and dent things my father magically procured from the unclaimed freight house in downtown Dallas. I digress. With our tiny fingers, we were the original origami artisans, intricately folding wide rule notebook paper into complicated triangles of lotus flower petals. The game was called MASH, I believe. M was for mansion. A was for apartment. S was for shack. H was for just a plain old house. But, before we could determine who we would marry, how many children we would have, and where we would live, a series of questions would ensue. “What’s your favorite number?” I would answer – 8. She would insert her fingertips into the tiny triangles, pulling them apart and pushing them back together 8 times, revealing a world of details written inside every fold and crevice. Tammy counted under her breath in a whisper, lips barely moving. “1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. Ok. You’re going to marry Robby Benson.” We shrieked with laughter. “What’s your favorite food?” We would continue asking questions about favorite this and favorite that, counting letters and moving fingers, little papyrus fortune-tellers that we were. I’ve been thinking about the MASH game lately, especially at Christmas. I’ve gone to a few parties this season where “bring a gift that represents one of your favorite things” was the direction. I thought maybe we could tell each other about some favorite things. I’ll go first, ok?

I was 15 years old. I walked into the rural library. My father was freshly dead. I was a middle-school dropout. We were poor. It was Christmastime.

It’s time for Texans to brace for cedar fever season once again, complete with runny noses, itchy eyes and general misery. Cedar fever is an allergic reaction to the pollen released by mountain cedar trees, and unfortunately, you don’t have to be allergic to the pollen for it to affect you.

Mistletoe may be a welcome holiday sight when hung over a doorway if a loved one is near, but, it can be an unwelcome intruder when found in your trees, said a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service horticulturist.

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Christmas carols can be heard far and wide from Thanksgiving weekend through Christmas Day. “The 12 Days of Christmas” is one of the most recognizable carols, and for good reason, as the popular song can trace its history back several centuries. Researchers have traced the earliest printed version of the poem on which the song is based all the way back to 1780. That’s three years before the signing of the Treaty of Paris, which officially ended the American Revolutionary War. The song has long been suspected to have been a way for Catholics in Britain to teach their children the catechism, as the 1700s was a controversial period for Catholicism in the country. However, no documentary evidence exists in support of that theory, and many historians feel it is inaccurate. Others indicate that, while 1780 is likely the first time the poem was printed, the poem is likely much older than that, with origins potentially in France or Scotland. What is known is that the version many people recognize today, namely in song form, can be traced to the early twentieth century, when English singer and composer Frederic Austin first popularized the melody for the song. Austin performed that version of the song beginning in 1905, and it was first published in 1909.

The Forney Food Pantry is an asset to the Forney community and has been for decades. Throughout the many economic highs and lows over the last twentyplus years, this organization has had the opportunity to ensure one of life’s most basic needs – access to nourishing food – for countless men, women, and children.

More than four million real Christmas trees are sold annually in Texas, supporting farms and agriculture businesses throughout the state. As the holiday season nears, Texas A&M Forest Service encourages purchasing real Christmas trees to help boost the Texas economy.

'Away In a Manger' is a popular Christmas carol that has endured for well over a century. One of the first known appearances of the song was in the journal The Christian Cynosure in 1882, which indicates it is now more than 140 years old. That publication titled the hymn 'Luther's Cradle Song,' and a brief description of the song preceding the lyrics indicates it was written by the German religious reformer Martin Luther. However, the University Libraries at The Ohio State University note that historians have since dispelled that notion, with some suggesting the song was written to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Luther's birth (the reformer was born in 1483). Regardless of its authorship, the song remains a popular and moving hymn that can be heard far and wide during the holiday season.

“I think a baby is a sign of love,” says Casey, age 9. “God sent our Savior as a baby because when babies are born, everybody thinks they are special,” says Buck, age unknown.