Holland's politically incorrect Christmas

Santa's Little (Slave) Helper

Few European Christmas traditions elicit as many diverse and divergent opinions as Black Pete of the Netherlands. Santa's former slave may have been whitewashed in recent years, but many still view him as a racist caricature from the country's colonial past... full story


By DARYL LINDSEY
Story from Der SPIEGEL Online

Holiday story

Christmas - the old customs
The only day during the year when most of us wants to be at home, with our families, around the fireplace definitely is Christmas. We all celebrate it in various ways, but the thing we all have in common is men's primeval need for belonging, for not being alone and feeling that even for just that one day we can be happy and united family


By LJILJANA SAMARDŽIĆ
from Sombor, SERBIA


Campaign Spotlight

Shopping District Tries Soft Selling for Holidays
The theme of the campaign, with a budget estimated in the low hundred thousands of dollars, is "Find the reason for the season at Cherry Creek North." The campaign is the first work for the shopping district by Cultivator. It includes radio commercials, print advertisements, signs on the backs of buses, banners hanging from street signs, posters in merchants' windows, postcards mailed to local residents, lapel buttons and even yard signs on neighborhood lawns


By STUART ELLIOTT
Story from The New York Times
(Published: December 8, 2008)