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It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, and a lot of people don't have all their gifts under the tree. More than half (53%) of consumers plan to shop this weekend on "Super Saturday," the last Saturday before Christmas. It's forecast to be one of the busiest shopping days of the year. If you are heading out, we've put all the major retailer's shopping hours together. (But beware because schedules can vary by location.) Need a last-minute gift? Check out Reviewed.com's gift guides for everyone on your list.
According to science, Turns out humans feel more satisfied when they make others happy rather than by indulging themselves. Buzz60
Nazareth, the childhood home of Jesus, is hoping for a Christmas miracle
The markets are stocked, but few buyers are moving through Nazareth after President Trump's Dec. 6 declaration recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Israel's tiny, and shrinking, Christian minority already has been facing economic hardships, and Trump's move has heightened their strife and deflated the season's festive mood. What they want this weekend: tourists to show up. Nazareth Mayor Ali Salam, a Muslim, canceled a number of Christmas festivities, but he said the Saturday citywide parade would still happen. "There are commercial interests of the city, and we are used to hundreds of thousands coming for this season.”
Weekend games could set NFL playoff picture
There are still two weeks left in the NFL’s regular season, but the full playoff picture could come into focus after this week’s matchups. The holiday schedule includes two games on Saturday (Colts vs. Ravens at 4:30 p.m. ET and Vikings vs. Packers at 8:30 p.m. ET), followed by a full slate of games on Christmas Eve. Here’s how the playoffs look heading into the weekend — don’t forget to check our experts’ NFL picks to see how it might shake out. One thing we know for sure: If there’s a measurement to determine a first down this week, the refs will most certainly not pull out an index card to help make the decision.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will celebrate with all the royals
Meghan Markle will get her first taste of a royal Christmas this year. The Suits actress, newly engaged to Prince Harry, will spend the holiday with Britain's royal family. The group, including Queen Elizabeth II and other senior royals, will celebrate at Sandringham estate in Norfolk, according to Kensington Palace. Typically, the royal family exchanges presents on Dec. 24 and goes to church on Christmas Day at St. Mary Magdalene Church. The service is often followed by a gala lunch and might include a stroll through the woods.
It's Festivus, for the rest of us
While it may pass unremembered by most, Saturday marks the 20th anniversary of Festivus. Celebrated on Dec. 23, Festivus is a secular holiday created by a family in New York as an antidote to the commercialization of Christmas. It was popularized by the sitcom Seinfeld in 1997. Holiday staples include the annual "Airing of Grievances" and using an aluminum pole as a Christmas tree stand-in. Former Seinfeld writer Dan O’Keefe says his father created Festivus “to celebrate the anniversary of his first date with my mom." And then it grew into “a family holiday that didn’t have political or religious connotations, just for us.”
Break out the Festivus pole and prepare to air your grievances! Keri Lumm (@thekerilumm) explains how to celebrate the holiday "for the rest of us" in true 'Seinfeld' style. Buzz60
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