From a winter storm in North America to the ongoing war in Ukraine, here’s how the world is spending Christmas Day.
Summary
From a winter storm in North America to the ongoing war in Ukraine, here’s how the world is spending Christmas Day.
- The massive winter storm buffeting the United States and Canada has claimed at least 24 lives so far as nearly 60% of Americans remain under some sort of winter weather advisory.
- The cold has not stopped the surfing Santas of Florida’s Space Coast. Close to 140 Kris Kringle’s braved frigid temperatures to celebrate the 14th annual Christmas Eve Surfing Santas festival.
- In the United Kingdom, King Charles III delivered his first Christmas message as monarch. The king paid tribute to his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, and recognized the “selfless dedication” of Britain’s public service workers amid ongoing strikes and labor unrest.
- Pope Francis decried the “icy winds of war” in his traditional “Urbi et Orbi” (“to the city and to the world” in Latin) address on Christmas day. The Holy Father lamented the “senseless” invasion of Ukraine and called for an immediate cessation of hostilities.
- Some Ukrainians celebrated Christmas on December 25th, instead of the traditional January 7th date recognized by the Russian Orthodox Church.
- The Ukrainian Orthodox Church announced in October its members could celebrate Christmas on Dec. 25th as split between the Russian and Ukrainian Orthodox Churches continues to widen after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
- Humor writer Dave Barry published his 2022 year in review, the year where the best thing anyone can say is, “it could have been worse.” The entire review is worth your time.
- “It’s boom times for Santa,” wrote The New York Times, as pent-up demand for pictures with Santa has surged back in a big way after the Covid-afflicted Christmases of 2020 and 2021. Average pay for a Santa event is up about 12 percent from last year amid surging demand.
- CNN reported flight cancellations topped 1,600 on Christmas morning, while nearly 3,200 flights were delayed on what would traditionally be a light day for passenger air travel.
- NBC News covered the “defiant Christmas message” from President Volodymyr Zelensky as Russian missile strikes continued to kill civilians on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Zelensky called on his people to “endure this winter because we know what we are fighting for.”
- The winter storm hasn’t stopped the ongoing crisis on the southern border, either. Three buses of migrants from Texas were dropped off in near the home of Vice President Kamala Harris on the coldest Christmas Eve on record in Washington D.C, according to the Washington Examiner.
- The Wall Street Journal covered the brutal winter storm pummeling Buffalo. At least seven people are dead across Western New York. The county executive warned there may be more deaths as officials are aware of some people trapped in their cars for two days in freezing weather.
- National Review published satirical Yelp reviews of Santa’s home delivery service – including threats of litigation from people angry to learn they are on the naughty list and responses from the “business owner” – aka ol’ Saint Nick himself.
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© Dominic Moore, 2022
