Santa needs you to get your kids to sleep on Christmas Eve. Here’s how

(CNN) — And all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

Except me, at age 7. I woke up so excited just as the clock struck midnight that my mother ended up giving me my first Christmas present — the latest Shaun Cassidy album. I can still feel the excitement before I fell back to sleep.

Now that I have a child, I feel more sympathy for my fellow parents assembling and wrapping presents into the wee hours of Christmas Day. We don’t need our children to stay up late or wake up in the middle of all the wrapping. At the very least, they slow us down for an hour or more. At worst, they see Santa at work.

So, what can you do? I asked sleep expert Dr. Raj Dasgupta, associate professor of clinical medicine at the University of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine, who I promise is not Grinchy. The father of three children, ages 4, 8 and 10, may be applying his recommendations at home this year.

His answers are lightly edited for clarity and because I admire his taste in Christmas music, self-control around cookie platters and advice to family and friends. (Italics below are my replies.)

Have a Christmas Eve plan. Get outside (if possible) in the morning to exercise and tire your children out. Sunlight in the morning also helps reset our circadian rhythm, which in turn makes it easier to get to sleep at night. Wind things down in the late afternoon. Have set bedtimes and wake times that everyone agrees to follow. If you are going away on vacation or changing sleeping arrangements to accommodate visitors, it’s important that everyone agrees on who is sleeping where and in what bed before bedtime.

Avoid too many holiday sugar bombs. Lay off the sweets on Christmas Eve unless you want your 6-year-old running sprints through the kitchen singing in a higher octave than Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” (OMG.) Interestingly, peer-reviewed evidence states that sugar does not necessarily mean your kids will be hyper, but you cannot discount that sugar may have a slight effect on behavior.

Children who are sleep-deprived crave more sugary food, and in studies it’s been shown that poor sleep quality is significantly related to higher added sugar intake. However, it’s always best to reduce sugar intake across the day, and especially closer to bedtime. It is especially important not to eat within two hours of sleep, as this can keep us awake. (But the cookie platters!) If you have friends and family visiting, make sure they know not to offer too many sugary treats close to bedtime. (Show this story to the grandparents.)

Offer the Christmas Eve present. Let your kids have one present each on Christmas Eve, and try including a letter from Santa encouraging them to go to sleep so he can deliver the rest of their gifts. (OK. Dr. Raj — this is brilliant!)

Only warn them about Santa as a last resort. If all else fails and they won’t go to sleep, remind them that Santa won’t come while they are awake. (Well, OK, that’s kind of Grinchy.) That should get them to sleep if nothing else does.

Once they’re asleep, it’s time to work with Santa to wrap those presents, so then he can leave.

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight —

“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”

Related: NICUs at Intermountain Health hospitals get a visit from Santa

Storms bringing Utah fresh snow and clean air for Christmas

SALT LAKE— Is it better to have snow on Christmas or clean air? Luckily, storms this weekend may bring both to Utah.

Storms on the way

Two storm systems are on their way to the state this weekend. They’re expected to help clear out bad air and bring some fresh powder to the state’s northern mountains.

“There are two different weather systems that will be impacting the state heading to the weekend,” explained John Cecava, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Salt Lake City. “We have one to our south and one to our north.”

Cecava said they are expecting the northern storm to bring 8-12 inches of snow in the mountains across northern Utah. But the valleys won’t get as much, only a few tenths of an inch according to current data.

One very valuable aspect of the storm is that it will help clear out the remaining inversion currently stuck in the Salt Lake Valley.

“With the weather system that moves through this weekend, that will definitely put out any remaining inversions,” said Cecava.

Meteorologists expect the storms to hit on Saturday morning, potentially lasting into Sunday in the northern half of the state.

Cooler temperatures

Although there have been unusually high temperatures for this time of the year, there will be a cold front moving ahead of this storm that will precede the storms.

“There will be a cold front that moves through with this system,” said Cecava. “That will help to drag the temperatures down quite a bit and help to… bring the potential for some significant snow to the mountains.”

Temperatures for Christmas Eve and Christmas are expected to be around 38 degrees with lows in the 20s in Salt Lake.

Shipping deadlines approaching for Christmas deliveries

SALT LAKE CITY — As the holiday season kicks into high gear, those planning to send gifts via USPS, UPS, or FedEx should act quickly to guarantee an on-time Christmas delivery.

The United States Postal Service sets the earliest deadline, with standard packages and holiday cards required to be shipped by this Saturday, December 16th, for delivery by Christmas.

UPS and FedEx offer a bit more flexibility, extending their deadlines to Dec. 21 and 22.

Limited services will be available on Christmas Eve, and no service is provided on Christmas Day.

These deadlines are sooner than previous years. This is likely due to how close Christmas is to the weekend with Christmas Eve on a Sunday.

Make sure you ship out your Christmas gifts, and order any last minute ones soon so you don’t miss out.

Gov. Cox shares Christmas wish list in virtual town hall

SALT LAKE CITY — Gov. Spencer Cox says his Christmas wish list for Utah includes more affordable housing, one more winter with record snowfall, high-speed rail service connecting Salt Lake City with Boise and Las Vegas, and for everyone to disagree more civilly.

Cox held a virtual town hall on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, and YouTube Tuesday night. Questions were submitted by social media users. They were answered during the roughly 40-minute question-and-answer session.

The need for more starter homes

Cox talked about the $30 million earmarked in his budget proposal for deeply affordable housing.

“We have a housing crisis, not just in Utah but across the country,” said Cox. We’ve been working on deeply affordable housing for several years. The legislature has supported increased funding over the past two years.”

Gov. Cox said “deeply affordable housing” includes housing for households whose incomes are below 30% of the average median income or AMI. In Utah, a four-person household with an income less than $31,000 a year, or $1500 a month, would qualify.

“Sadly right now, there are only about three available units for every 100 households below that income threshold. The good news is many of those below 30% AMI are in households already, but we still need more,” according to Cox.

Cox Wish list: More snow please!

In response to a question about snowfall, the governor said he hopes the state sees another winter like we saw last season.

“I hope it will be another crazy winter like last year, where we literally had record snowfall, the most snow ever recorded in the history of our state. We were lucky not to have more flooding, there was some localized flooding, but overall we came out unscathed,” recalled Cox.

Cox said it is early in the season, however, as of mid-December, northern Utah saw positive progress with above-average snowfall. Southern Utah hasn’t seen much snow so far. We were in a dry spell at this time last year, ahead of the Beehive State winter wonderland of 2023.

‘We can disagree better’

Other issues discussed Tuesday night included entrepreneurship and the need to encourage start-ups. Earlier this year, Cox appointed Ryan Starks as the new executive director of the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity. He also named respected businessman Brad Bonham as the department’s first entrepreneur-in-residence, in hopes of building up the state’s reputation as the start-up state.

Gov. Cox has been very outspoken about his own hot-button issue as chairman of the National Governor’s Association, disagreeing better. Tuesday night, he reiterated his push for civility among us all, without compromising our core beliefs.

On the issue of immigration and the crisis at the southern border, Cox said he and fellow governors have formed a working group to come up with common sense solutions to securing our borders.

Related: Gov. Cox releases budget plan to improve homelessness resources in Utah

‘Tis the season for Christmas tree fires

SALT LAKE CITY — The Unified Fire Authority is urging people to use extreme caution with their live Christmas trees this season.

“I would say a majority of the home fires that I, personally, have been on are due to Christmas trees,” said Public Information Officer with Unified Fire Authority, Benjamin Porter.

Christmas trees dry out very quickly and most require daily watering. Oftentimes, those dry trees are placed near a heat source and it becomes a recipe for disaster.

“I know it’s so pretty to have those trees next to your fireplaces but just be so careful not to put it next to something that could throw a spark.” said Porter

Unified Fire Authority took to social media to show a video demonstration of a tree being engulfed in flames in just seconds. Dry Christmas trees burn extremely hot.

“Think about where people put their Christmas trees. Right in the middle of the home. It’s going to spread quick,” said Porter.

The UFA has tips for fire safety. When getting your tree, make sure you get a fresh cut of the trunk. It’s important to to check water levels daily to ensure your tree is still taking in moisture. Place trees away from any heat sources like vents and space heaters.

Additionally, LED lights are a safer option. Incandescent bulbs are a source of heat.

Once Christmas is over, don’t let the tree dry out in your home and keep it away from your home or other heat sources when disposing of it.

Dickson: All I want for Christmas is to control my holiday spending!

This is an editorial piece. An editorial, like a news article, is based on fact but also shares opinions. The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author and are not associated with our newsroom.

Holiday spending woes: It’s me. Hi. I’m the problem it’s me.

Every year as I’m cleaning up the mayhem that is my living room after Christmas morning, I swear. I swear I will never. Spend. This. Much. Again.

It’s obscene.

Then every year, as the weather turns colder and my spirits rise, I start to spoil the kids like they’re going into hibernation and will never be able to get anything for themselves ever again.

I thought talking to you about my holiday spending here might be the first step toward recovery. Then I called my favorite certified financial planner, Shane Stewart.

A holiday spending confession

“My wife and I had a similar conversation,” he told me. “It’s nice to spend and nice to give, but could we make it more meaningful?”

I’m asking that, too. How do I make Christmas more meaningful for my family?

“This year,” Stewart said, “we’ve tried to look for things that are meaningful to the individual, to a child or a family member, but maybe not so expensive. We’ll let you know on December 26th how that went.”

The Mom gift holiday spending dilemma

As moms, we get stuck on “Well, he has 4 gifts, so he has to have 4 gifts.” Especially when the kids are younger, we have to try to be as fair to each child as possible so no one feels left out.

Do I need my family’s buy-in before I scale back on Christmas or can I just implement that change?

“That depends on the age of the child,” Stewart advised. “If the child is really young, it’s difficult to have that conversation and get them to understand. As kids start to get in their preteen years, it’s very helpful to have that kind of conversation because they need to know how to manage money and learn.”

In a way, whether you want to scale back or need to because money is tight, it can actually be “a blessing in disguise,” Stewart said. “It forces you to have those conversations. It forces you to be prudent.”

No more stuff!

Maybe it’s my age, but as much as I love Christmas, I just don’t want any more stuff. I want less stuff! I want to give stuff away. I asked my kids this year to please not buy me any presents.

“It’s not necessarily age but maturity,” Stewart explained. “You’ve been around the block a few times and thought, ‘OK, I’ve seen that. I don’t get as much utility, as an economist would say, out of more stuff. I’ve reached that limit where more stuff just doesn’t give me any more utility.”

Utility, joy, happiness, value – whatever you want to call it – I have definitely reached my limit. All I want now are experiences, but I want to live within my means in all things. And that begins with a budget.

It’s never too late to start

It’s never too late to start tracking what you’re spending. When was the last time you sat down and wrote down what you spent this month?

“If you’re not tracking what you spending, it’s painful at first to see what’s going on,” Stewart said. “It can be painful, but it’s necessary because it’s the first part of planning. You can’t really plan your spending unless you know what your patterns are.”

Maybe your New Year’s resolution this year should be tracking what you’re spending and when you’re spending it.

“If you have the money and can give more expensive gifts that are also meaningful, congratulations,” Stewart said. “But most people in the real world need to think about this a little bit. A little advanced planning will go a long way. Then the only thing you have to clean up at the end of the holiday is the paper and not your accounts.”

Amanda Dickson is the co-host of Utah’s Morning News and A Woman’s View on KSL NewsRadio. Follow her on Facebook and Instagram.

Poinsettias, the Christmas flower, have a long history

SALT LAKE CITY — Poinsettias have become synonymous with Christmastime, but that’s not all the beautiful red and green flowers are known for.

The Poinsettias in history and legend

Indigenous Aztec and Mayan civilizations in Mexico and Central America used the plant for its vibrant red leaves and medicinal properties. They used its sap for medicinal purposes, even promoting milk production in nursing mothers.

A legend from Mexico tells the story of a young girl named Pepita, who wanted to give the baby Jesus something special as a gift at the town’s nativity scene. The girl, however, did not have anything. As she walked to the manger, she picked weeds, arranging them in a bouquet as she went.

To her astonishment, when she arrived, the fistful of weeds had turned into a beautiful bouquet of red and green flowers, called Poinsettias.

The plant gained popularity in the United States in the 1820s when an American diplomat brought some of the flowers to the U.S. from Mexico.

The diplomat, Joel Poinsett, later started cultivating the plant in Charleston, South Carolina.

For decades, Poinsett’s poinsettias were mainly cut flowers until Paul Ecke, a Southern California agriculturalist, developed other varieties that could be grown in pots.

Ecke started selling the flowers. His marketing efforts included featuring poinsettias on TV specials, solidifying their status as “The Christmas Flower.”

Poinsettia care

When it comes to purchasing poinsettias, late November through December is the prime time to buy — starting with Thanksgiving and continuing throughout the holiday season.

To make sure they last, place them in indirect sunlight and avoid overwatering, as they prefer slightly dry conditions.

What about Poinsettias and your pet?

While poinsettias are generally safe for pets, keeping them out of reach is advisable. Ingesting the leaves might cause mild irritation.

8-year-old in hospice wants 2,000 cards for his birthday and Christmas

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WEWS) — If you are looking to give some love this holiday season, there is a young boy who would appreciate getting a Christmas or birthday card from you.

Andrew Miller is an 8-year-old who enjoys cards and loves reading them every day. Linda Miller, Andrew’s mom, said last year, her son was diagnosed with two types of Stage Four cancers.

“He has a DLBLC lymphoma, which is rarely found in children. It’s more found in older adults, and then he had the high-grade glioma,” said Linda.

Following surgery, treatment and many doctor appointments, Andrew’s lymphoma was in remission, but last summer, after his Make-A-Wish trip, his high-grade glioma spread.

“He’s got so many little tumors starting in our inoperable places and there’s nothing we could do about it,” said Linda.

Though Linda and her husband haven’t lost hope, it became harder and harder for little Andrew to fight.

“He started just lying here, just not eating really,” said Linda.

So, his parents came up with a plan to get his spirits up again.

“Every time something comes in the mail, he’s all excited. So, for his birthday we’re trying to get him 1000 birthday cards,” said Linda.

And well, it worked.

“He’s back to bouncing all over and we’re just happy,” said Linda.

With eight days left until his ninth birthday on Dec. 12, the excitement is high because Andrew has already received hundreds of pieces of mail from schools, churches, and community members. Andrew says he loves reading the cards because they give him something to look forward to.

But for Linda, it’s more than a message on card stock, it’s a way she’s able to give her son relief from the sickness they can’t beat.

“As a parent, there’s nothing worse than watching your child suffer. You want to you feel like you’re supposed to make your child feel good. You’re supposed to protect them,” said Linda.

So, though they might have met their first goal of 1,000, Andrew wants to try and hit 2,000 next with Christmas and birthday cards. He says his favorite cards include pictures, music, snacks and sometimes money.

If you would like to send a card, the mailing information is below:

Buddy Truman House Community Hospice 716 Commercial Ave. SW New Philadelphia, OH 44663

The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2023 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.

If you tip more during Christmas, are you feeling generous or pressured?

SALT LAKE CITY — During the Christmas holiday, almost 60% of Americans say they will tip more or the same as last season.

That’s despite inflation and higher prices according to a new Bankrate survey. But only 13 percent say they’re decreasing how much they tip.

But are tips increasing because it’s the Christmas season and tippers are feeling more festive, generous, or grateful? Or are they feeling obligated to tip because they don’t want to appear stingy?

Facts not feelings

Financial planner Shane Stewart, with Deseret Mutual Benefit Administrators, pointed to the economy for answers. He said the unemployment rate is relatively low, and consumer sentiment is holding solid during this holiday season.

“It’s a great combination to feel generous this time of year and feel like you have the money. That’s probably why tipping is going up,” he said.

And while feeling generous is “fantastic,” Stewart said, be aware of how much you have budgeted to spend or tip this Christmas season. And stick to your budget.

“I’m all for generosity. I think that’s a great thing as long as … it’s kept within the bounds that you have available to you because then you might be on the other end next year if you’ve given away too much,” he said.

Pressured to tip

Stewart added that the people who say they will tip more this Christmas may be feeling “obligated” to do so because shoppers have a screen in front of them at the point of sale, pressuring them to tip.

“I think a lot of folks feel obligated to tip. You get that … screen flipped around. And my favorite is they don’t say ‘Would you like to tip?’ They say ‘You need to answer this question.’ Yeah, they don’t even want to talk to you about a tip, but they want the tip.”

Stewart said if you get the pressure or obligation to give a tip, take a moment to reflect.

“I think it’s a lot about the obligation rather than the desire to give, and that is where we should stop and say, ‘OK, I got that feeling of obligation. How do I deal with that in the moment rather than just expect me to make the tip?’ ”

Who do you tip?

Should you tip your letter carrier this Christmas? Stewart said it depends on the relationship you have with that worker, including others, such as housekeepers, nannies, childcare providers, landscapers, drivers, etc.

“You should be able to say, ‘Oh, I’m going to tip this person because we have this relationship or because I rely on them heavily for that service — not just because you feel obligated,” he said.

“We have to train our brains to get out of the guilt part and get into the intentional giving, the intentional spending.”

Inside Sources with Boyd Matheson can be heard weekdays from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on KSL NewsRadio. Users can find the show on the KSL NewsRadio website and app.

KSL’s Big Christmas Gift Giveaway!

KSL NewsRadio is giving listeners the chance to win this year’s top Holiday Gifts! Enter below for a chance to win one of these great prizes:

A Gift card from Western Nut, Forgotten Carols prize package including free tickets and merchandise, a $200 Gift Card to Grandpa’s Dental, or a $300 Gift Card to Dave’s Bernina!

Church leaders urge remembrance of Christ this Christmas

SALT LAKE CITY — President Russell M. Nelson, of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, invited members to come and “adore” Christ at the annual First Presidency Christmas Devotional on Sunday.

“Just think about the incomprehensible magnitude of what Jesus Christ accomplished — all according to the will of his Father! Jesus was already a God when he condescended, to come to earth to complete the most crucial feat for each of us. A feat that was literally lifesaving and life changing,” he said.

President Nelson spoke in a previously recorded video message, though, he attended Sunday’s devotional. He said he has learned more about pain in the last few months and, in the process, his heart has been drawn to the Savior.

He said he cannot imagine or comprehend Christ’s suffering, that he took upon himself. We celebrate “the Babe of Bethlehem” because of his infinite sacrifice and resurrection, redeeming those who follow him and giving everyone the blessing of resurrection, President Nelson said.

He said each time a child is born it is a sacred event, sharing a video of one of his great-grandsons meeting a new baby brother.

“It is no wonder that on that most holy night more than 2,000 years ago, near the little town of Bethlehem, heavenly hosts sang for joy!” he said.

President Nelson said he prays members feel love from the Savior personally, gain a personal witness that Jesus is the Son of God, take advantage of the atonement through repentance, experience joy of thinking celestial and use the holiday season to increase personal worship.

“No one on this earth loves you as he does. No one here understands you better or really knows your sorrows and weaknesses. No one on earth has the power that Jesus Christ has. No one here is more eager for you to become everything you can become. No one pleads with the Father on your behalf as he does,” President Nelson said.

He encouraged members to “live in the spirit of ‘Hallelujah,'” praising Jehovah. The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square then sang the “Hallelujah Chorus” from the “Messiah.”

Sister Tracy Y. Browning, of the Primary General Presidency, said Christmas helps her remember and give attention to green trees, red flowers and berries. She encouraged members to remember Christ through various symbols of Christmas and traditions.

“One of the wonders of this season is that it seems the whole of the Christian world, and many beyond our borders, spend this duration of time purposefully looking for and filling their lives with emblems of remembrance at Christmas,” she said.

She encouraged members to look at stars, evergreen trees, scents of spices, lights and rejoicing; let those things remind them to give gifts of “worshipful sacrifice” to Christ, and direct their journeys towards him. She said parents and those who care for children can bring them the joy of Christ through Christmas.

“Our Savior gives gifts not as the world offers — temporary, partial and prone to erosion over time. Jesus Christ extends enduring gifts, even essential gifts,” Sister Browning said.

She said there is a special kind of love at Christmas, including the love of family traditions and a desire to be charitable, is an opportunity to center actions on Christ.

“Remembering God inspires us to ignite the power of our spiritual momentum and invites us to act in godly ways,” Sister Browning said.

Paul V. Johnson of the Seventy spoke about seeing Christmas celebrations around the world and said “Christmas is for everyone,” because God sent his son for everyone.

“Because the Savior was born, lived a sinless life, atoned for us, and was resurrected, each of us receives the great gift of resurrection from the dead. Not one soul who ever lived on the earth is deprived of this remarkable gift,” he said.

During the Christmas season, Elder Johnson said, members should consider gifts that help people come to know the Savior.

Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles expressed a hope that members would feel God’s love while celebrating Christmas.

“Often Christmas becomes Christmas when we quietly bring Christmas joy to others,” he said.

Elder Gong said some of the magic of Christmas is the ability to be an adult and a child at the same time through creating and re-creating memories and traditions.

He shared some of his family traditions including clothespin ornaments, nativities and creches, and reading “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens. Elder Gong put on a scarf and a top hat as he spoke about reading the book with his family, and invited members to picture him as the fateful Ebenezer Scrooge.

He said Dickens began writing the book in in October 1843, and by Christmas Eve that same year, the 6,000 copies printed were sold out. Elder Gong said the book addressed a yearning for friendship and Christian values.

“Then as now, Christmas celebrates covenant belonging, communion, and community in Jesus Christ and each other,” he said.

Elder Gong encouraged people to think of the Scrooge at the end of the book rather than the beginning — and do the same thing with neighbors and friends recognizing change. He said Christ can give freedom from ghosts of the past.

“May we grant each other our new possibilities instead of fixating on our past limitations. Let’s give the new Scrooge in each of us a chance to change,” he said.

Related: Where will Temple Square Christmas lights be located this year?

Heavy winds knock over Christmas tree in front of White House, but it’s back upright

WASHINGTON (AP) — The National Christmas Tree in front of the White House fell down Tuesday afternoon amid high winter winds.

The tree, a 40-foot Norway spruce from West Virginia’s Monongahela National Forest, had been planted just two weeks ago on the White House Ellipse, an area known as President’s Park. According to the National Park Service, it fell over around 1 p.m. Tuesday amid heavy wind gusts that reached as high at 46 mph at nearby Reagan National Airport.

NPS spokeswoman Jasmine Shanti said in an email that after “replacing a snapped cable,” the tree was back upright by 6 p.m. Tuesday.

The lighting of the tree is an annual White House holiday tradition with a countdown and musical performances. This year’s tree is a new one, replacing an older tree that, according to NPS, developed a fungal disease known as “needle cast” that caused its needles to turn brown and fall off.

The tree was scheduled to be lit Thursday, but there was no indication from the White House whether Tuesday’s incident will delay that. The Christmas tree outside the U.S. Capitol building was lit successfully Tuesday.

Related: Time for the great Christmas tree debate?

Where will Temple Square Christmas lights be located this year?

SALT LAKE CITY — Ongoing construction at Temple Square will not stop The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ 58-year-old tradition of lighting up Temple Square for Christmas; however, it will alter where people can see them again this holiday season.

Church officials said this week that they plan to flip on the lights for the first time Friday afternoon, although there will be no formal ceremony again this year. Instead, there are four “Lights On at Temple Square Concerts” that will be held at the Tabernacle this weekend:

“Christmas Is Here” with vocalists Melinda Kirigan-Voss and Brian Stucki, accompanied by Jared Pierce (6 p.m. Friday)
“The Gift of Christmas” with Thurl Baily (7:30 p.m. Friday)
“Feliz Navidad!” featuring Senxao playing Christmas classics in Spanish (6 p.m. Saturday)
“Season of Light” featuring Lark & Spur (7:30 p.m. Saturday)

All four concerts are free to attend.

The lights will illuminate the area from 3:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. every evening and from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. every morning between Friday and New Year’s Day.

For those looking to view the lights this year, the immediate area outside of the Salt Lake Temple remains closed or has limited access, which is the case for most of Temple Square, according to the church’s latest closure map …

Please read Carter Williams‘ complete story at KSL.com.

Win Tickets to Christmas With Marie!

Enter to win a pair of tickets to Christmas with Marie’s December 2 performance. (more…)

Regifting for Christmas? Expert weighs in on the rules.

SALT LAKE CITY — Inflation dragging your finances down? Looking to save some money this holiday season? Then you should think about regifting. But, know the rules first.

Heather Kelly, producer and host of KSL NewsRadio’s Money Making Sense podcast, joined Dave and Debbie to talk about regifting rules.

According to Take Charge America, these are some rules for regifting:

Never regift to the original gift giver. For example, if a gift was given to you by a family member, regift it to a friend or coworker, rather than someone else in the family.
Make the regift new. Only regift new items in their original packaging. If the packaging (or the gift itself) is dusty, worn used or damaged, it’s a no-go. Take Charge America also recommends adding new batteries if needed.
Certain things should never, ever be regifted, including partially used gift cards, handmade or custom items, anything monogrammed or personalized and free promotional items (because that’s just plain tacky).

Kelly’s take on the regifting rules

Kelly disagrees slightly on the second rule.

“You cannot have used it at all,” she said. “Now it doesn’t necessarily have to be brand new, still in the box, but you shouldn’t have been playing with it, using it, anything like that to regift.”

She added that used items can be donated to thrift stores. Kelly also said it’s OK to regift food as long as it hasn’t expired and has been kept refrigerated. Regifting smaller items within larger items is also OK, she said.

“Sometimes people will send you the great big packages that have several items in there and maybe some you like and some you don’t, but they’re all individually wrapped inside those packages. So you can take out those individual things and make a separate little gift box for somebody else,” Kelly said.

It’s also fine to regift a gift card. Kelly said she was given a gift card to a steakhouse restaurant, but she couldn’t use it because she’s a vegetarian.

“I had an acquaintance give me a $25 gift card to a steakhouse. I am never going to walk into a steakhouse. But it was a perfectly good card. I had a different friend who was a meat lover. And so guess what she got for her birthday,” she said.

Kelly added some gift cards can lose money. In certain circumstances, and depending on the state, businesses may be allowed to impose a fee for inactivity after a certain period. Find out more here.

What if you are called out for regifting?

The etiquette team at Take Charge America says if the cat is out of the regifting bag, own up to it — gracefully.

Say something like: “This gift made me think of you when I first received it, because I knew it was something you’d enjoy, and I wanted you to have it.”

Kelly has similar advice.

“If somebody calls you on it a regifting, just apologize [and] say, ‘I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize this was offensive to you. I couldn’t use it myself. And it’s brand new, and I thought it was something you might enjoy.’

“Just be gracious about being called out and try not to make the other person feel bad, even though that person may be making you feel bad for regifting,” she said.

The last rule of regifting from Take Charge America is . . .

Be a wrap star

This is not the time to skimp on gift wrap. An impressive presentation will make the gift seem extra special. Go for the beautiful wrapping paper or sparkly gift bag.

Add a gift topper — like an ornament, chocolate bar or scratch-off lottery ticket. Lastly, be sure no trace of the original wrapping remains (check inside the box for cards or outdated gift receipts).

Related: Bountiful food pantry in need of turkeys, other items before the Thanksgiving holiday

Dave & Dujanovic can be heard weekdays from 9 a.m. to noon. on KSL NewsRadio. Users can find the show on the KSL NewsRadio website and app, as well as Apple Podcasts and Google Play.

How do you budget for kids’ Christmas gifts?

SALT LAKE CITY — What’s your budget hack for spreading holiday cheer to friends and family during Christmas? Do you spend an equal amount on gifts for each child?

Dave and Debbie share action steps to save you from overspending during the holiday season and waking up with a financial hangover on Dec. 26.

Gifts based on age?

Because older kids seem to desire more expensive gifts than their younger siblings, should each child receive an equal amount of money in gifts, or should giving be based on age?

Debbie shares a gift-sharing and budgeting method she found online: How to set an age-based Christmas budget

Step 1. Add together the ages of your kids.

Terry, 5, + Susie, 7, + Johnny, 10 = 22

Step 2. Divide the Christmas budget total for the kids by the sum of their ages.

$440/22 = $20

Step 3. Take the number from Step 2 and multiply by each child’s age.

$20 * 5 = $100

$20 * 7 = $140

$20 * 10 = $200

On her Perfection Hangover blog, Melissa Blevins writes:

We tried setting equal budgets for each child but found that our younger kids were able to get many gifts far and above what they needed, and my oldest only had a couple of gifts to open.”

Christmas gift-giving tips and tricks

Caller Colton from Taylorsville, Utah, offers this tip on Christmas spending for kids that he says his wife developed: Each child gets four gifts: one to wear, one to read, one they want and one they need.

Michelle, who left a comment on the KSL NewsRadio Facebook page, says she saves $25 each week starting Jan. 1.

Cindy in Garland, Utah, who called in, says she spends money buying excursions, trips and vacations instead of gifts.

Listen to Dave & Dujanovic on weekdays from 9 a.m. to noon. on KSL NewsRadio. Users can find the show on the KSL NewsRadio website and app, as well as Apple Podcasts and Google Play.

Related: Midway Ice Castles returning with new features

Win Tickets to BYU Arts Christmas Around the World!

Enter to win tickets to the annual Christmas celebration of cultural dance and music traditions featuring the BYU International Folk Dance Ensembles. (more…)

Time for the great Christmas tree debate?

SALT LAKE CITY — You may roll your eyes if you see your neighbor putting up their Christmas tree. But, is it really too early to put up a Christmas tree?

According to Fox News from 2019, 43% of Americans think putting up holiday décor the day after Halloween is acceptable.

A spirited debate is happening on the Weber/Davis County mom’s Facebook page. Responses for and against are neck and neck.

Décor debate

Victoria Hall from Ogden said she’s not a fan of the holiday getting pushed earlier and earlier every year. She won’t put up her Christmas décor until after Thanksgiving.

“Kind of a little pushback in my own way against retail [that are] putting Christmas stuff out in October, September.”

However, some Facebook users said they are setting up early because they can use some extra cheer this year. And some people are saying it helps them with seasonal depression.

Perhaps it’s time to move on to a new debate: real or artificial trees?

A family of six got stranded in a whiteout. Then came the real Christmas miracle

Originally Published: 25 DEC 22 17:16 ET

Updated: 26 DEC 22 11:14 ET

(CNN) — It was days before Christmas when the blizzard slammed Buffalo, New York, with the fierce winds, heavy snow and dangerous cold it already had inflicted across much of the United States.

That’s when the power blinked out in nearby Williamsville, leaving Demetrice and Danielle and their four children — Aayden, 8, Aubree, 4, Jordynn, 2, and 9-month-old Judah — in the quickly worsening chill.

The temperature was dropping 2 to 3 degrees every 10 minutes, Danielle later would recall.

“The conditions were deteriorating so fast,” she said, and with only electric appliances, they couldn’t even use the stove for heat.

If it only had been grown-ups, they would have hunkered down Friday, Danielle told “CNN This Morning.” But of course, in this family, it wasn’t only grown-ups.

So, Demetrice and Danielle threw essentials into overnight bags. Everyone packed into their vehicle.

And onto the roads they crept.

Soon, though, the arctic blast that already had claimed lives as it trudged across the country made driving impossible.

“I’ve never seen anything like it,” Danielle said Monday. “It was like looking at a white piece of construction paper. … Even cars, with their bright lights on, you just couldn’t see anything.”

No yellow traffic signs.

No orange traffic cones.

Not a single stoplight.

“You kind of just had to drive through the intersection, praying,” the mother said.

‘A crisis of epic proportion’

The power of this storm, as Danielle was learning, wasn’t like what Buffalo — hardened over generations by the “snow machine” of Lake Erie — was used to.

Soon, electricity substations would freeze and people here would die, according to Erie County officials. Forty-three inches of snow would fall. The governor — a daughter of this region — would call it “a crisis of epic proportion” and the “most devastating storm in Buffalo’s long, storied history.”

But before all that, it was the roads swiftly morphing from escape routes into icy traps. And along one of them, near a tunnel under the airport runway, were Aayden, Aubree, Jordynn and baby Judah, along with their parents — just trying to find someplace warm to stay.

Danielle and Demetrice “tried to keep it together for as long as possible because we didn’t want to frighten the kids,” the mother said.

But alarm was setting in.

Someone else trying to flee the whiteout felt it, too.

A report of a motorist having a panic attack in a tunnel under the airfield came into the Buffalo Airport Fire Fighters, Assistant Chief Buffalo Airport Fire Department Joel Eberth later told “CNN This Morning.”

Safe in their warm firehouse, firefighters Mike Carrubba and Mark Wolhfiel, with Eberth got geared up, according to the latter and a Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority statement.

Then, they did what heroes do:

They rushed out into the deadly storm.

‘I promise we won’t leave you’

Demetrice and Danielle had gotten stuck in a roundabout near the airport tunnel. In all, more than three dozen travelers — most likely invisible to each other — were out there, too, a handful of the 500 or so motorists who got trapped Friday night into Saturday on Erie County roads.

“It took us a long time to get out there,” Eberth said of the airport tunnel spot.

Danielle and Demetrice family’s was one of the first vehicles the rescuers reached.

When Carrubba approached his window, Demetrice cracked it open.

“Please don’t leave us,” the father implored.

“Don’t worry, man,” the firefighter replied, recalling the exchange. “I promise we won’t leave you.”

But the rescue couldn’t begin right away.

Carrubba trudged into the tunnel, where up to 30 motorists were stuck on the other end.

They all needed to get out.

Planning would be required.

Within the tunnel’s safe haven, the rescuers set up a convoy: pickups in front, SUVs in back, with Carrubba at the tail — not far from Demetrice, Danielle and their kids — on foot to guide the trek and ensure no one got left behind, he told CNN on Monday.

The slow creep to safety finally got underway.

Those at the front inched toward the firehouse.

But some 40 feet out into the storm, the back half had to stop.

They just couldn’t make it.

‘I’ll never leave ya’

Visibility was zero, Carrubba said, with snow drifts piled as high as 5 feet.

Demetrice again beseeched the firefighter: “Just please don’t leave us.”

“I’ll never leave ya,” he recalled promising in return.

As the stranded dad fretted, Carrubba shifted his disaster plan.

“It was time for an audible,” he said.

A call went out to another agency: We could use an off-road vehicle.

“We’ll be right over as fast as we can,” they said, Carrubba recalled.

Another 45 minutes passed.

Finally, with the hardened helper truck now in place, the convoy renewed its crawl back to the firehouse — a beacon, still safe and warm in the throes of the storm.

A second, critical mission: Magic

Aayden, Aubree, Jordynn and Judah — along with their parents and 36 others — were all spirited to safety that day, the transportation authority said.

As the only young children among those rescued, their family got to spend Christmas Eve at the firehouse.

There, the eldest sibling — never wavering in his belief in the season’s magic — unwittingly sent firefighters on a second mission, this one perhaps even more critical than the rescue that saved him and his family from the epic storm.

The firefighters went hunting around the firehouse and taking deliveries from others working nearby on the holiday to collect enough goodies to “make sure Santa paid a visit.”

Indeed, when the family awoke in the firehouse on Christmas morning, it was just as Aayden had predicted:

“Santa came,” Demetrice said.

During their stay, Aayden also asked if he could wear a real firefighter uniform and even got a uniform and a department T-shirt, the transportation authority said. And he learned about how first responders dispatch to help people in danger.

But it might be the grown-ups for whom the holiday’s gifts and lessons will endure far beyond this storm.

“It was an amazing experience for our firefighters,” Eberth said, “and it definitely made us better people.”

Added Demetrice: “Those guys were amazing at the firehouse. They treated us with nothing but love.”

Related: Goldilocks snowstorms and how they impact the slopes and snowpack

Over 1,700 US flights canceled the day after Christmas

Originally Published: 26 DEC 22 06:01 ET

Updated: 26 DEC 22 11:09 ET

(CNN) — In the wake of dangerously cold temperatures and winter weather across the nation, air transportation cancellations and delays continue to impact travelers Monday.

Related: Salt Lake City International Airport sees delays and cancelations

More than 1,730 flights within, into or out of the US had already been canceled by 11 a.m. ET Monday, according to flight tracking website FlightAware, while 3,016 flights had been delayed.

The post-holiday travel chaos is affecting much of the country, with the site reporting the most arrival cancellations at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International, followed by Denver International Airport, Baltimore Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport and Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas.

Road travel remained treacherous in parts of the US due to extreme wintry conditions. In New York state’s western Erie County, emergency restrictions on driving were lifted in some communities but remained in place in Buffalo, County Executive Mark Poloncarz said on Monday.

A winter storm that swept across the United States was ill-timed for travelers who had started pushing Christmas week flying numbers back toward pre-pandemic levels.

On Sunday, Christmas saw 3,178 flights canceled and 6,870 flight delays.

On Christmas Eve, there were a total of 3,487 flights canceled, according to FlightAware. Friday was the worst day with 5,934 cancellations, while Thursday saw almost 2,700 cancellations.

This megablast of winter weather across the eastern two-thirds of the nation is forecast to slowly moderate this week.

The secrets behind your favorite Christmas movie classics

(CNN) — Watching Christmas movies is a whole tradition unto itself. Every family has their mainstays, whether it’s an animated classic from yesteryear or a more modern take on holiday cheer.

Get to know some of the fascinating stories behind the stories, so you can watch your old favorites with fresh eyes. (And bother everyone with your newly acquired trivia.)

‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ was supposed to be a flop

“A Charlie Brown Christmas” is a cozy holiday classic now, but some of the people involved in its production thought it was going to bomb with audiences. The 1965 film was created as a TV special with financial backing from Coca-Cola, but was put together in just a matter of weeks to meet broadcast demands.

Several iconic aspects of the film, like the simple animation and unique jazz score by pianist Vince Guaraldi, were a bit odd for the time. Director Bill Melendez even reportedly declared, “I think we’ve ruined Charlie Brown.”

Lo, all those worries were for naught. “A Charlie Brown Christmas” was an immediate hit, and all of the things producers worried made it too strange were the things that made it beloved.

Classic songs were reused, rewritten and dubbed for ‘White Christmas’

The 1954 film “White Christmas” is brimming with behind-the-scenes lore, especially when it comes to the music. Most well-known is the fact that Vera-Ellen, who played Judy Haynes, didn’t do any of her own singing. (Her dancing, though, was a different story.) Singer Trudy Stevens provided Judy’s voice.

All of the songs in “White Christmas” were written by Irving Berlin, the legendary songwriter who wrote hundreds of hits, including “God Bless America.” “White Christmas” is one of his most famous tunes, and it was originally performed in the 1942 film “Holiday Inn.”

The song “Snow,” sung by the starring “White Christmas” foursome as they head to Vermont, was originally called “Free,” and was written for a musical called “Call Me Madam.” It had a completely different set of lyrics, which Berlin changed to fit the film’s holiday feel.

A whole new language is used in ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’

Do you know “Seussian Latin?” The term describes the robust collection of made-up words used by author Theodor Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss. For the 1966 animated classic “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” producers wanted the musical feeling of a Christmas special, but didn’t want to include elements that would seem out of sync with Seuss’ fantastical world.

Thus, Whoville’s Christmas songs were written in Seussian style. Viewers even wrote in after the special aired asking for translations. Alas, “Fahoo fores, dahoo dores” doesn’t actually mean anything. Trimming the tree with “bingle balls and whofoo fluff?” Just use your imagination.

Hundreds of Jack Skellingtons appear in ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’

Stop-motion animation is an art form forged with exquisite craftsmanship and a lot of patience. The animators behind 1993’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas” used about 400 different hand-sculpted heads to bring Jack Skellington to life. In a behind-the-scenes special about the film, animators explain that every sound and facial expression Jack made required a different head that could be popped on and off of the character’s puppet body. With that kind of painstaking work, it’s no wonder the film took three years to make!

A woman was the voice of ‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,’ but she didn’t get credit at first

Rudolph may have been a cute little boy reindeer in the 1964 TV special, but he was brought to life by Canadian voice actor Billie Mae Richards. Most of the voice cast for this stop-motion classic was actually Canadian because it was cheaper to record audio for the special in Canada. However, in the original credits of the film, Richards is noted as Billy Richards.

That wasn’t an accident — she was intentionally credited that way to obscure her gender. She once said kids wouldn’t believe it when her own grandchildren told them she did Rudolph’s voice — but she could prove it by doing the voice on the spot.

Michael Caine did a literal balancing act during ‘The Muppet Christmas Carol’

By all accounts, Michael Caine had a great time acting as one of the sole humans in 1992’s “The Muppet Christmas Carol.” However, being a giant among puppets comes with a few challenges. The bottom of the sets were made up of a series of pits to allow room for Muppet puppeteers. That meant Caine and his fellow humans had to walk on boards above the puppeteers, kind of like an advanced version of “the floor is lava.” (The floor is people, perhaps.)

Set designers also used forced perspective to keep everything in proportion — a common set trick that’s also used at numerous theme parks. They also included a nice nod to Caine: One of the signs on the street set reads “Micklewhite’s,” which is Caine’s real last name.

Soap was used to make ‘snow’ in ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’

Not all movie magic is high-tech. In the 1940s, when “It’s a Wonderful Life” was produced, movie crews typically used painted cornflakes as snow. Though melt-proof, they were also a little too … crunchy. The film’s director Frank Capra decided to try something quieter, and landed on a custom blend for his winter scenes: Ivory soap flakes, chipped ice, and Foamite, a compound used in fire extinguishers. According to the “It’s a Wonderful Life” museum, if you pay close attention to the scene with Clarence and George in the river, you can see some tell-tale soap suds floating by.

‘Trading Places’ includes an operatic Easter egg

Perk up your ears while watching the 1983 comedy “Trading Places.” The classical music heard in the opening scene, and throughout the movie, is from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s opera “The Marriage of Figaro.” Christmas movies and classical music go together like milk and cookies, (“Ode to Joy” and “Die Hard,” anyone?) but Elmer Bernstein, who scored the film, was especially clever to add this particular piece.

“The Marriage of Figaro” is a tale of madcap misunderstanding, in which a servant tries to get the best of his pompous, wealthy employer — similar to how “Trading Places'” Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy get revenge on two scheming executives.

post-Christmas recycling

Keep reading: It’s a green Christmas for most of Utah

Flying this holiday?

Related:

Related reading:

Related: NICUs at Intermountain Health hospitals get a visit from Santa

Storms on the way

Cooler temperatures

Read More:

Related:

The need for more starter homes

Cox Wish list: More snow please!

‘We can disagree better’

Related: Gov. Cox releases budget plan to improve homelessness resources in Utah

Related:

This is an editorial piece. An editorial, like a news article, is based on fact but also shares opinions. The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author and are not associated with our newsroom.

A holiday spending confession

The Mom gift holiday spending dilemma

No more stuff!

It’s never too late to start

Amanda Dickson is the co-host of Utah’s Morning News and A Woman’s View on KSL NewsRadio. Follow her on Facebook and Instagram.

Read more from Amanda Dickson:

The Poinsettias in history and legend

Poinsettia care

What about Poinsettias and your pet?

Facts not feelings

Pressured to tip

Who do you tip?

Related: Where will Temple Square Christmas lights be located this year?

Related: Time for the great Christmas tree debate?

Please read Carter Williams‘ complete story at KSL.com.

Kelly’s take on the regifting rules

What if you are called out for regifting?

Be a wrap star

Related: Bountiful food pantry in need of turkeys, other items before the Thanksgiving holiday

Gifts based on age?

Christmas gift-giving tips and tricks

Related: Midway Ice Castles returning with new features

Décor debate

Related:

‘A crisis of epic proportion’

‘I promise we won’t leave you’

‘I’ll never leave ya’

A second, critical mission: Magic

Related: Goldilocks snowstorms and how they impact the slopes and snowpack

Related: Salt Lake City International Airport sees delays and cancelations

‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ was supposed to be a flop

Classic songs were reused, rewritten and dubbed for ‘White Christmas’

A whole new language is used in ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’

Hundreds of Jack Skellingtons appear in ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’

A woman was the voice of ‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,’ but she didn’t get credit at first

Michael Caine did a literal balancing act during ‘The Muppet Christmas Carol’

Soap was used to make ‘snow’ in ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’

‘Trading Places’ includes an operatic Easter egg