There are various pieces of holiday lore scattered around the world that might seem to fall more in the traditions of Halloween than of the jolly contemporary versions of the winter and Christmas Holidays. But these Winter Holidays have darker historical trappings than most people realize, as there are all manner of grotesque metaphysical beings and beasties that lurk about … [Read more...]
First Presbyterian Church of SLC
In the Bible, God’s Word sets up a series of contrasts to explain the gospel. “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8). Condemnation vs. Freedom; sin and death vs. life and peace. Condemnation is a decision or judgment against us. If left just … [Read more...]
Downtown SLC Christmas Lights Have Been Good Business
The warm glow of Christmas lights in downtown Salt Lake City seems to brighten up both the streets and the moods of otherwise inversion grumpy Scrooges. How is that seemingly overnight millions of lights just magically appear? Children might believe it’s Santa’s elves busy at work, but Eric Crowther knows the true answer. Eric has worked the past five years to make the … [Read more...]
Adopting a Shelter Dog in Utah
A person who gives a gift this holiday season must be sure they are not giving an unwanted responsibility. While Christmas may seem like the time to give a friend or loved one an adoptive pet, shelters encourage shoppers to be careful when considering getting a pet for someone else. “Don’t enter into it lightly,” says Carl Arky, Director of Communications at the Humane … [Read more...]
An American Trek
One Man's Journey Across the U.S. Trek Thunder Kelly is on a three-year quest. He spent 2010 in a different country each month. This, Trek explains, was a year of learning. In 2011 he tended sheep on a Navajo reservation in southeastern Utah, choosing to live in complete isolation for the last four months. This was the year of contemplation. His current 12-month journey is the … [Read more...]
The Light Magician
At Temple Square in December, the Lights go on at 5 pm, the Cameras click by the thousands...but the Action begins in August. During the heat of summer, crews are out positioning the gadjillion (one followed by a whole lotta zeroes) lights that dazzle the Salt Lake City night at this time of year. Overseeing this enterprise for the past seven years has been Eldon Cannon … [Read more...]
It’s a Wonderful Life
A Christmas movie that has stood the test of time by being timeless. On Christmas Day, the Broadway Cinema will once again screen It’s a Wonderful Life. Now revered as a holiday icon, Frank Capra’s classic tale flopped at the box office when it was first released in 1946, Small wonder. It deals with themes of alcoholism, suicide, greed, rage...and redemption. All who have … [Read more...]
Christmas in the Can
Holiday cheer comes in many different forms and many different places. Each day in jail is the same. The cell doors open at the same time. The meals are delivered at the same time. The shaving razors are distributed at the same time. The count is taken at the same time. The cell doors close at the same time. The sameness becomes a comfort, a security. The time passes … [Read more...]
Santa in Sugar House
The Santa Shack has been an ongoing tradition in Sugar House for the past 60 years. In the early days, when it was located in Sugar House Park, Santa would arrive to his shack in a helicopter. The shack has undergone many changes over the years and has settled to its current location, where it has been the past 20 years (just below Highland Drive and 2100 South at Monument … [Read more...]