Blogcritics.org is examining the genuine Spirit of the Holidays this year in a special section. Tough times can turn virtue into necessity. The forthcoming holiday season will be a time of economic uncertainty, but also an opportunity to return to the original meaning of the holidays: family, friends, and tradition vs. untethered commercialism.
Rather than just throwing money at the holidays, this year would be a great time to inject time and thought into the gift giving process. Make gifts and decorations if you have the time or inclination, or at minimum, look for meaningful, personalized gifts that don't have to be expensive.
We will be focusing on this special Spirit of the Holidays this season, and looking at the holiday season from our usual wildly varied perspectives as well.
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Brandon Daviet's Top Ten Albums of 2008— BC Writer Brandon Daviet makes his picks for the best albums of 2008.
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A Nervous Breakdown Of My Holiday— The distance between my children and me has left me with a chronic feeling of unrest I’m not sure I will ever shake.
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Product Review: Elke E's The Village In Her Head— It’s heartening to know that some element of magic remains to remind us that it wasn’t such a bad year after all.
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Good Luck With New Year's Greens— Economic crisis got you down? Get these lucky leaves to lift you up.
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Christmas Stocking Tales— There is a layering of Christmases past for me, sort of like an onion tree ornament that can be peeled off to reveal each year.
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The Gift of Love— When we believe in magic, it happens. Just believe.
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Movie Review: Thomas Kinkade's Christmas Cottage— 'Twas the crud before Christmas...
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Concert Review: Raul Malo Christmas Show at Antones in Austin— Dancing the night away with the cougars of Westlake to the very excellent voice and rocking Christmas tunes of the great Raul Malo.
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Concert Review: The Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles - It's a Fabulous Life: Holiday Songs in the Key of Life— The Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles celebrate the holidays with songs, stories, and dance.
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Book Review: Don't Stop Believin' - How Karaoke Conquered the World and Changed My Life by Brian Raftery— A great gift for that friend of yours prone to singing badly at parties and other forms of lampshade wearing fun.
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The Return of the Prodigal College Freshman— Some thoughts on the annual migration of college students for holiday break.
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Music Review: Erran Baron Cohen - Songs In The Key Of Hanukkah— Non-Christmas holiday music from the brother of Borat creator Sacha Baron Cohen plays surprisingly well as a standalone record.
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DVD Review: TV Sets - Holiday Treats— Adam Becvar (aka Luigi Bastardo) takes on CBS/Paramount's DVD release of eight timeless TV classics.
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Movie Nuggets Holiday Edition: P2, 1941, Transsiberian, Die Hard, Cast Away, The Thing (1982)— When you just don't have time for all the details.
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Music Media: Christmas Special— Christmas tunes to rock to.
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Music Review: A Princeton Christmas: For The Children Of Africa, Vol. 1 & 2— A selection of classic and classical Christmas songs performed by many of the Princeton (NJ) choral ensembles.
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All I Want For Christmas Is Books— Nothing else provides as much value as a book. It's the ultimate gift.
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American Idol Finalist Michael Johns Gives The Gift That Keeps On Giving— American Idol finalist Michael Johns becomes American Icon through his gift of love.
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Child's Play Charity 2008 at $1 Million and Counting— Looks to be another record-setting year for the charity, and there's still time left to get involved.
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Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town - After Graduating Boot Camp— Germany trains him, England thins him, and a drill instructor yells at him.
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Jay's Best Indie Christmas Music in Video— Fa-la-la-la-la, my friends. Xmas is doomed to be musical. At your service: the best mostly indie Xmas music videos.
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Movie Review: Nothing Like the Holidays— This is what a holiday reunion movie is all about.
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Christmas Music Review: Faith Hill, Gretchen Peters, and Julianne Hough Just a Little Bit Country— These holiday songs remain (mostly) the same, but 'tis the season for music yule truly love.
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Music Review: Harry Connick, Jr. - What a Night! A Christmas Album— Harry still does big band right, even at Christmas!
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Music Review: Various Artists - Verve Remixed Christmas— A great disc to add to your not-so-traditional holiday music collection.
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Movie Review: Fred Claus— Kris bliss...
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Music Review: Straight No Chaser - Holiday Spirits— Straight No Chaser presents an a cappella Christmas.
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DVD Review: Petticoat Junction – The Official First Season — Although the first season was not the best of the series, the insightful bonus material makes it well worth owning.
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Designing Your Own Holiday Cards— Simple step-by-step guidelines for creating personal holiday magic.
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Giving the Gift of Film on DVD— As you are striking off names of cinephiles from your holiday gift list, consider some of these options.
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Product Review: Etre's Touchy Glove - Keep Warm While Still Using Your iPhone— New gloves keep your fingers warm, while still allowing access to your touch-screen technology.
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Product Review: Digital Foci Image Moments 6 Photo Frame— Nice display and decent feature set, but could be confusing for novices.
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Putting the "Guide" Back in Gift Giving— Think about what's most important to your loved one, even — and especially — if it's not important to you.
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Satire: Kiss A Commie For Christ— Pucker up, America. It's time to embrace Christ's true message — love, don't kill, thy neighbor.
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How to Legally Buy Hot Merchandise— If you want to buy some hot merchandise at almost too good to be true prices without putting yourself in jeopardy, read on!
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Music Review: We Wish You a Metal Xmas and a Headbanging New Year— "Silent Night" - the new metal classic.
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2008 Holiday Movie Preview: December— As the 2008 holiday movie season moves into December, some intriguing high profile films look to end the year strong.
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Movie Review: Four Christmases— Good idea, but it misses the mark.
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Music Review: Tony Bennett Featuring the Count Basie Big Band - A Swingin' Christmas— Tony Bennett's first Christmas album in 40 years provides the perfect soundtrack for all your holiday festivities.
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Book Review: Crafting Jewish by Rivky Koenig— Chanukah crafts and recipes are just for starters in this new, beautifully illustrated book.
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Wal-Mart "Black Friday" Death: Life Imitates Satire— I demand an investigation of all writers of The Onion to see if they accidentally wrote a satirical story that came to life.
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Music Review: Sarah Brightman - A Winter Symphony— A tremendous collection of songs in celebration of winter.
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Music Review: Mary Chapin Carpenter - Come Darkness, Come Light: Twelve Songs Of Christmas— Mary Chapin Carpenter releases a Christmas album filled with grace and spirit.
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Off-Kilter Coffee Table Tomes: Okay, Not Exactly Ideal Stocking Stuffers...— Gift ideas from Russian Criminal Tattoo compendiums to oversized Elliott Erwitt dog photo books, and classic Arrow Collar ads to American avocado farmer nods.
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The Atheist's Guide to Christmas— It came without credit. It came without banks. It came without financing, savings, or angst.
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The Woes of Holiday Words— Merry Christmas no more.
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Attention Shoppers: Bah Humbug?— This retail season is going to look like no other in recent history.
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ABC Family's "25 Days of Christmas" 2008— I'm getting ready for some "Jingle Bells."
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Music Review: Johnny Cash - At Folsom Prison: Legacy Edition (2CD+DVD) — At Folsom Prison: Legacy Edition is a must-have if you don’t own it, and a valuable upgrade if you do.
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Web Site Review: Gifts.com— Does the mall crowd make you crazy? Try cruising this Web site in your bunny slippers instead.
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DVD Review: The Berenstain Bears: Christmas Tree— The Berenstain Bears celebrate the holidays... or not.
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Make Your Own Holiday Compilation CDs— Looking for a meaningful yet inexpensive gift? Creating holiday compilation CDs give your friends and family an instant keepsake.
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Book Review: Nigella Christmas by Nigella Lawson— The Manolo Blahnik of cookbooks: lavish and practical at the same time.
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PC Game Review: JumpStart 3D Virtual World: My First Adventure— Knowledge Adventure gives your kids a head start on learning!
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Celebrating Advent at Christmastime— Advent doesn't require giving gifts, and doesn't rely on any "things" other than a Bible, candles, and a wreath.
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