Christmas
Latest Stories
Here’s all the music you need for a hopping holiday
For the past four years, JT Griffith has been OPB’s guide to the niche genre of holiday music. He spoke with “All Things Considered” host Crystal Ligori about being on the hunt for Christmas music year-round, new takes on old classics and a 40-year-old holiday tune that's still Japan's most popular Christmas song.
‘Black Santa’ brings holiday magic to Portland
Among the things Kriss Kringle has learned over his six winters in Portland: Christmas season is hard on Santa's suits, but soft on his heart.
Project Salmon Claus delivers Christmas along the Columbia River
For over a decade, employees of the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission have brought gifts to families living at in-lieu fishing sites along the Columbia River.
Vancouver, Washington, gives back with Christmas bike build
A couple of hundred Clark County, Washington, residents gathered at the county fairgrounds on Saturday for the 2023 Scott Campbell Christmas Promise Bike Build.
What’s new, what’s old, and what’s on our OPB holiday playlists
There is no denying that holiday music has staying power: just ask Mariah Carey whose 30-year-old song, "All I Want for Christmas Is You," is back on the charts this month. And for the third year in a row, OPB's Christmas music guru, JT Griffith, is here to guide us through this very niche musical genre.
More than 200 tuba players gather in downtown Portland for Tuba Christmas
We'll hear from the conductor of Tuba Christmas to tell us the history of the free public concert in Portland and hear a few songs played by a quartet in studio.
Christmas spirit comes to life in Sumpter, Oregon
The Eastern Oregon mining town of Sumpter is officially known as a "ghost town." But every Christmas, the old steam engines of the Sumpter Valley Railroad bring the spirit of the season to life for hundreds of visitors.
On Christmas, pope prays for pandemic’s end, peace dialogues
Pope Francis prayed Saturday for an end to the coronavirus pandemic, using his Christmas Day address to urge health care for all, vaccines for the poor and for dialogue to prevail in resolving the world’s conflicts.
Is Santa Claus coming to town? High demand for professional Santas is challenging holiday cheer
Christmas is the “most wonderful time of the year.” At least it is in one song about the season. And that wonder has to do, in part, with annual traditions. As the holiday fast approaches, a popular pastime is facing roadblocks: visits with professional Santas.
Warily eyeing omicron, Christmas revelers curb celebrations in Europe
Christmas revelers across Europe are lying low and changing plans as new restrictions and fears about the omicron variant of the coronavirus persuade many to stay home.