The Christmas Pickle and Other Holiday Traditions: Patch Talk

Holiday traditions are the topic of this special Christmas edition of Patch Talk.

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Add a Punchline to Our Rudolph and Santa Cartoon

If you've got wit, add your punchline to Patch's weekly comic and win a personalized print.

Are you blessed with insight and good humor? Or just bored today? Share your wit with your south suburban neighbors by entering Patch's comic caption challenge. Just add your dialogue for today's comic in the comment section of this post. Our only requirement is that you keep it clean! At week's end, we'll pick the winning punchline based on how many of us here at Patch giggle and smile at your contribution. The user who produces the winning punchline will get a personalized proof of the comic, with the winning words and a credit line, from cartoonist Chuck Ingwersen and Patch. Congratulations to Sclarey, who provided the winning punchline to last week's Doctor and Bear comic: Whew!?! Its only terminal cancer. I thought you were gonna tell…

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'The Nativity Story' Comes to St. Agnes Parish

The church will show three presentations of the classic biblical story Friday evening.

If you're looking to head into the weekend with a little more Christmas spirit, St. Agnes Parish and Catholic School may have you covered with a retelling of the story behind the holiday. The church will give three consecutive presentations of "The Nativity Story," accompanied by the St. Agnes Choirs, Friday evening. The church will also be serving up hot chocolate, coffee and doughnuts in St. Agnes Isaiah Hall after each presentation. The presentations begin promptly at 6:30 p.m., 7 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., according to the event listing posted by Karen Zerante. Take a look at the listing to learn more about tonight's shows. For more information, call 708-709-2092, or send an e-mail to parish.­stagnes-­chicago@­archchicago.­org.

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Heights Resident Impresses in 'Deck the House' Contest

Sharon Duncan-Cook entered her house into our contest. Check out her impressive display.

In case you haven't heard, we've launched our annual Deck the House Contest to find the most over-the-top holiday decorations in America. Patch reader Sharon Duncan-Cook entered her house in the contest, one that has an amazing array of lights and lawn ornaments. Our favorite is the giant Santa Claus on the porch. Well done, Sharon. If you want to enter your house into the contest, upload a photo or video of your home to our contest page from Nov. 26 to Dec. 16. Only residents of Patch towns are eligible to enter. We’ll select 24 regional finalists, and from them, pick one grand prize winner. Patch will pay up to $500 of the utility bill for each finalist, while our national winner will have $100,000 donated to his or her local school …

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Tree Lighting Ceremony at Heights City Hall Tonight

No city council meeting tonight. Instead the city will be holding a ceremony with the support of a local choir.

Residents can watch as the City of Chicago Heights lights its official tree to kick off December.  The Chicago Heights School District 170 Choir will be on hand to set the mood while Mayor David Gonzalez, Clerk Lori Wilcox, Treasurer Jim Dee and the City Council take part in the ceremony.  The event begins at 6:15pm Monday. In addition to lighting a tree, the city will be wrapping up its coat drive this week, with the two-month-long collection ending Friday, Dec. 7. Sign up for daily Chicago Heights news alerts. Like Chicago Heights Patch on Facebook!

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Watch: Make Your Own Holiday Memories

Jodi Klusacek, an officer with the Oak Forest Green Steps Commission and distributor of eco-friendly Shaklee products, shows how you can turn old tin canisters and empty mason jars into new holiday keepsakes in a Patch video.

The idea of going green for the holidays is one Oak Forest Green Steps Commission officer Jodi Klusacek embraced long ago. She now shares green tips and healthy lifestyle choices regularly on her Nature's Resources Facebook page. And she shares a couple of tips here in a Patch video to help you prepare of the holidays. Why not turn an old tin canister into a Christmas gift box? Or illuminate a bathroom with a scented mason jar light?

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Christmas Fun Facts and Trivia

How much will we spend this year? And what's the best-selling Christmas song of all time? Find the answers below.

We know that there were three Wise Men, 12 days of Christmas and that Santa delivers all his presents around the world in one night. But did you know... $23,439.38  How much it would cost to buy your "true love" all the gifts in the 12 Day of Christmas . 12.9 billion hours, $447 billion How many hours Americans were expected to spend shopping, wrapping and returning gifts last year. That was about 42 hours and $688.87 per person.  Get your postman/postwoman a gift According to Hallmark, Christmas is the largest card-sending occasion . Nearly 1.5 billion cards are sent to friends and family every Christmas Season. (That's actually down 400 million cards since 2004.) $983 million The value of U.S. imports of Christmas tree ornaments from …

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Despiser of Obama

8:52 am on Sunday, December 23, 2012

Calling the kettle black by saying the one closest to your Church.   more ›

Let it Snow? It is On Google, But Maybe Not Here

Christmas may be green in Chicago's south suburbs, but in the meantime, check out the cool search engine effect.

Will it snow in the south suburbs this holiday weekend? Maybe not, but you can get some of the Christmas magic on Google. Join millions in typing "let it snow" in a Google search and watch what happens. You can clear it up by hitting the "defrost" button or by "scraping" with your mouse. According to forecasts from the National Weather Service in Romeoville, the Chicago area might not see much snow. This map shows little to no snow coverage throughout the area now, and most forecasts say we'll be without a White Christmas. The Weather Channel's forecast map shows that the Chicago area will be without a White Christmas. That doesn't necessarily mean we won't have snow; on that map, "White Christmas" means at least an inch of snow. According…

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Oh Come, All Ye Faithful: Where Do You Gather?

Please join the discussion on Patch and leave reviews in our business directory.

  Each week Patch focuses on a different product or service. This week, we're doing something a little different. With Hanukkah starting this week and Christmas this weekend, many readers will be visiting places of worship. New residents might even be looking for the right place for them. So tell us where you worship, readers, what newcomers can expect, and why your place is special.   When a new family moves into your neighborhood and they ask for your recommendations for stores, take-out places or professional services, what do you say? Because Patch has an extensive directory of businesses, we want all of our readers to benefit from your experience the way your neighbors do. What are your go-to places for dinner on those nights when you…