holidays Archives - ThePhillyFiles.com

December 30, 2020

The best wine to go with what you grilled

At this time of the year, we spend the weekdays thinking about the weekend. Not only does the weekend spell us relief from the…

December 28, 2020

Avoid holiday calorie hangover

We help you choose healthier favorites. Tis the season, but that doesn’t mean you have to pack on the pounds. You can celebrate the…

July 3, 2020

Snack hacks that really pop

If spending more time at home than usual has you reaching for snacks more often, keep some quick, flavorful options on-hand to help fuel…

June 17, 2020

The best bottles of wine as Father’s Day gifts

We don’t think anyone will dispute the fact that the last several months have been challenging. For many the challenge has been struggling with…

June 14, 2020

Go ahead, make his day!

Dad-approved gifts for Father’s Day An entire day dedicated to dear ol’ dad may not be enough to show the depths of your appreciation,…

March 17, 2020

Video: A sweet St. Patrick’s Day

Even if you’re not Irish, a green treat like this Luck o’ the Irish Mint Pie can get you and your guests into the…

March 15, 2020

Plan ahead for peak travel seasons

A family getaway is the perfect chance to unwind and reconnect with loved ones away from the distractions of daily life. However, peak travel…

March 13, 2020

Video: A St. Patty’s Day sandwich

In honor of the day when everyone is Irish, welcome family and friends to a traditional St. Patrick’s Day lunch with this Reuben sandwich…

February 12, 2020

The right wine for your Valentine’s Day dinner

We always have found Valentine’s Day a bit galling. Steeped in mythical interpretations, it is a holiday cleverly marketed by greeting card companies, florists,…

February 11, 2020

Videos: 3 Valentine’s Day snacks and desserts

Watch and try these recipes for Kristoff ice box cupcakes (think Frozen), cherry coffee cake, and mini-marbled cherry cheesecake cupcakes Kristoff Ice Box Cupcakes…

February 7, 2020

Sweet, luscious Valentine’s snacks for loved ones

Valentine’s Day eats and treats. Valentine’s Day naturally brings thoughts of hearts, flowers, sweetness and love. Because it also occurs during American Heart Month,…

January 7, 2020

Video: Man shot in stomach around dinnertime on Christmas

NORTH PHILADELPHIA — This whole crime consisted of five gunshots and Philadelphia police released all 13 seconds of surveillance video, in hopes it’ll help…

December 15, 2019

2nd try in elderly woman’s Christmas Eve murder gets 1st degree conviction

SOUTH PHILADELPHIA — The man who shot an 81-year-old woman to death in her corner store on Christmas Eve morning, back in 2016, has been…

December 13, 2019

Elevate Holiday Cooking with Seasonal Skillet Dishes

The rush of the holiday season – shopping for gifts, decorating the house, hosting loved ones and other added obligations – can be challenging….

December 12, 2019

Make decorating your home for the holidays easier

Chances are good that at some point during the holiday season, you’ll welcome guests into your home. Whether you lease or own your home,…

December 10, 2019

4 Ways to Share the Holidays with Your Pet

The holiday season is filled with traditions, seasonal meals and festivities. With busy calendars, it can be easy to get caught up with a…

December 7, 2019

Help when holidays make it hard to overcome an eating disorder

Tips for coping with a food-centric season. During the holidays, no matter where you turn, you find food, food and more food. From vendor…

December 3, 2019

Paw-some Presents!

Holiday gift ideas for furry friends! The holiday season is meant for spending time with your friends and family, including those of the four-legged…

December 1, 2019

Manage grief with grace this holiday season

Holidays are filled with traditions, but when someone you used to share those moments with has died, managing grief during the holiday season can…

November 29, 2019

A Chef’s Advice for Stress-Free Holiday Cooking

Happy FAT! (That’s appropriately the ‘Friday After Thanksgiving,’ according to Lenny the publisher’s cousin Ali.) How many times have you heard someone say they’ve…

November 28, 2019

Spruce up your guestroom for the holidays

Happy Thanksgiving! The holidays are typically a time for lots of merriment and cheer. They also often include an abundance of guests visiting your…

November 27, 2019

Hispanic immigrant families’ hard work make Thanksgiving wines

For centuries, immigrants have been coming to California to live their dream of making a living from West Coast’s fertile soil. Italian immigrants with…

November 26, 2019

Pet Health Tips for an On-the-Go Lifestyle

People who lead busy lives often seek convenient and healthy choices when it comes to taking care of their own well-being. For pet parents,…

November 20, 2019

10 wines that’ll impress your holiday guests

As we close in on the mother of all feasts, the last thing on your mind is probably wine. Most likely, you are more…

October 5, 2019

Asbestos means no classes until at least Thursday at 2 Philadelphia schools

SPRING GARDEN — One construction issue at Philadelphia’s Benjamin Franklin High School and Science Leadership Academy delayed the start of the school year, and…

October 2, 2019

Another 2 days off at 2 Philadelphia schools with asbestos problem

UPDATE — Wednesday, it was decided there will be no classes for the rest of the week for students at Ben Franklin High School…

July 16, 2019

Police: Burglar strikes home twice over long holiday weekend

GERMANTOWN — A man managed to get inside a home twice over the four-day-long Independence Day weekend, but was only successful burglarizing it one…

Presidents DayMonday, February 15, 2021

Presidents Day is an American holiday celebrated on the third Monday in February. It was originally established in 1885 in recognition of President George Washington, but the holiday became popularly known as Presidents Day after it was moved as part of 1971’s Uniform Monday Holiday Act, an attempt to create more three-day weekends for the nation’s workers. While several states still have individual holidays honoring the birthdays of Washington, Abraham Lincoln and other figures, Presidents Day is now popularly viewed as a day to celebrate all U.S. presidents, past and present.

PurimThursday, February 25, 2021

The jolly festival of Purim starts tonight, on the 14th of the Hebrew month of Adar. It commemorates the salvation of the Jewish people in ancient Persia from Haman’s plot “to destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews, young and old, infants and women, in a single day,” as recorded in the Book of Esther. Purim means “lots” in ancient Persian, and Haman had thrown lots to determine which day he would carry out his diabolical scheme. One of the observances is a feast, which often includes wine or other intoxicating beverages.

Daylight Saving TimeSaturday, March 13, 2021

“Spring forward” tonight at 2am, the second Sunday in March. The idea of daylight saving was first conceived by (who else? Philadelphian) Benjamin Franklin to reduce electricity usage by extending daylight hours. People in about 70 countries observe Daylight Saving, but they don’t in Hawaii and most of Arizona. It’s also a good time to change batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and flashlights, and remove expired items from your refrigerator and first aid kit.

St. Patrick’s DayWednesday, March 17, 2021

The Feast of Saint Patrick is both a cultural and religious celebration held on March 17, the traditional date of death of the foremost patron saint of Ireland. Saint Patrick lived from about 385 to 461, but the day was only made an official Christian feast day in the early 1600s. It commemorates Saint Patrick and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland, and celebrates the heritage and culture of the Irish in general. Also, the Lenten restrictions on eating, and drinking alcohol, are lifted for the day.

Beginning of SpringSaturday, March 20, 2021

At the spring (or vernal) equinox, days and nights are approximately 12 hours long, with day length starting to increase and night length starting to decrease. As the season progresses, the Earth’s axis increases its tilt relative to the sun and the hemisphere warms significantly, causing new plant growth to “spring forth,” giving the season its name. “Springtime” can also refer to the ideas of rebirth, rejuvenation, renewal and regrowth.