My concern for the homeless is not altruistic. I know what feeds my desire to do something, anything, for fellow human beings who have nothing: guilt, responsibility, memories -- knowing that there but for the grace of God go I. My youngest brother, Erik, has been living off and on the streets for 30 years. My family hasn't seen him in 15 years.

Welcome to the holiday season, prime time for showing off your kids' manners (or lack thereof). Remember that sharing and saying "thank you" (even when they don't like the gift) are learned behaviours. Here are our 10 secrets that we hope will bring some civility to your next family fete.

I'm worried that the experience of a white Christmas is slowly disappearing for most Canadians. According to Environment Canada, the probability of a white Christmas has decreased by 15 per cent for most of the country since the 1960s. Perhaps it's time we start to think about ways to preserve these pastimes. Doing so will help maintain the Canadian experience, and fight the dangerous impacts of climate change at the same time.

The holidays are a time for many kinds of traditions. Whether it's the lighting of the menorah or the trimming of the tree or reuniting with friends too long unseen. And, of course, this is a time of year for watching movies and singing songs. And while we spend a lot of the rest of the year chasing the next "new thing," around the holidays, most of us revisit our old favourites... watching movies that take us back to our childhood.

I am of the mind that parenting, when done correctly, involves delicately hopping over the line between imaginative play and outright deception. But man, does this time of year challenge even me. I'm not saying parents shouldn't indulge in the Yuletide traditions, old and new. But at this point, I'm not sure about how to handle the Santa thing once the hard questions come.

The holiday party is a tradition of the season. Thanks to germs, however, some of those memories may be less than pleasant. Infections are best spread in a crowd and the presence of a single person can lead to spread to some or all of the people in attendance. There are however, a few ways to minimize the chances for acquiring an infection and most are fairly easy to follow.

Where do you turn to find that perfect gift for your kids? We tend to look everywhere but the most obvious place: our kids. And I don't mean the list for Santa they've been compiling and revising since last Christmas. What our kids really want they will never write down on a list. make sure you maximize the time for you and your kids. That's the perfect gift this holiday season.

Get creative -- or just get inspired -- with these simple DIY activities and recipes that don't just look good on Pinterest. We've got holiday crafts and recipes you'll love to make for the holidays.

A daunting shopping list, annoying music at full volume, crowds of people walking with their heads down texting...welcome to the fresh hell that is holiday shopping. The stress of shopping can make even the most festive, patient person want to start throwing elbows, but some of the trauma can be curbed with these five tips.

That time of year is finally here again, can you believe it? Our 12 days of Christmas guide will show an awesome gift for anyone you are shopping for. Whether it's for your super healthy sister or your gadget-obsessed friend, these gifts will be sure to satisfy their kitchen needs!

"That's it! I won't be sending any Christmas cards this year!" When I first heard these words, I couldn't help but think how mean, scrooge-like and downright un-Christmassy they sounded -- all the harder to swallow because they were emanating from my own mouth. In the 14 years since, however, I haven't sent a single Christmas card, and at last count I haven't lost a single friend as a result.

What a week it's been. As if the holidays aren't enough, we have a royal pregnancy, papal updates and Korean music light shows. Wait, which one of those is not like the other?

The holidays are a time where we can recognize and appreciate the beautiful people in our lives. Families and friends make time to get together and it can also be a time to reflect on the past year. However, many of us may find it stressful dealing with all the activities and crowds. Stay calm this season by taking the following steps: