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Winter solstice

Turkish Islamist protesters shout slogans against Noel celebrations as they hold an inflatable Santa Claus toy during a demonstration at Beyazit Square in Istanbul December 26, 2013. The sign (front, 2nd) reads: "Christmas is a blow to our Islamism".

Santa has a complicated relationship with his hometown

Culture

Turkey is the birthplace of Santa Claus. But he’s also a divisive figure. So the key to making peace on earth? Santa Bear.

Shabe Yalda

Join in on a winter celebration that helps keep the evil spirits away

Culture

The Seasonal Search to Secure Sensational Holiday Music

Winter Solstice Past and Present: Return of the Sun

Living on Earth’s Fifth Annual Winter Solstice Seasonal Storytelling Special

The Living on Earth Almanac

This week, facts about… the winter solstice which is determined by heavenly measurements including the planet’s orbit around the sun.

The World

Alaska Winter Solstice

All summer long, visitors from around the world travel to Alaska to the Land of the Midnight Sun. But commentator Geo Beach says those summer visitors are missing something special, namely the Land of the Noontime Moon. Writer Geo Beach arrived in Alaska fifteen years ago, on the winter solstice. He comes to us from […]

Holiday Special Storytelling Show Promo

Next week, Living On Earth presents our Third Annual Storytelling Festival, this year recorded in front of a live studio audience. A quick preview of the Winter Solstice themes of dark and light to come next week.

The World

Seeking Essence

Reporter Tatiana Schreiber visits with some people in a Vermont Jewish community celebrating the annual mid-winter holiday of Tu B’Shvat. The holiday reminds people of their inner connections to nature through songs, symbols and a tradition of tree plantings.

The Shortest Day

Steve Curwood reads a poem by Susan Cooper about the winter solstice.