A Roman Catholic diocese in Italy's Sicily had to publicly apologise after its bishop told a church group, including children, that Santa Claus doesn’t exist and that the red suit was created by Coca-Cola for publicity.

The remarks of Bishop Antonio Stagliano during a recent religious festival didn’t go well with the parents, who sought an explanation from the diocese,&nbsp;news agency AP reported citing Italian media.

“First of all, on behalf of the bishop, I express my sorrow for this declaration, which has created disappointment in the little ones, and want to specify that Monsignor Stagliano’s intentions were quite different,” Rev Alessandro Paolino, the communications director for the diocese of Noto, wrote on the diocesan Facebook page on Friday.

Bishop Antonio Stagliano didn’t mean the comments, and was trying to underline the true meaning of Christmas and the story of Saint Nicholas, a bishop who gave gifts to the poor and was persecuted by a Roman emperor, Paolino explained.

He emphasised that the intention of the bishop was to convey how the image of Santa Clause is being misconstrued to promote consumerism among people instead of setting a good example: the joy of sharing and generosity.

“We certainly must not demolish the imagination of children, but draw good examples from it that are positive for life,” he continued.

“So, Santa Claus is an effective image to convey the importance of giving, generosity, sharing. But when this image loses its meaning, you see Santa Claus aka consumerism, the desire to own, buy, buy and buy again, then you have to revalue it by giving it a new meaning,” he added.

While several welcomed the bishop’s attempt to focus on the Catholic meaning of Christmas, others blamed Stagliano for interfering with family traditions and celebrations, and crushing the spirits of children, whose early years were disrupted by the pandemic.

(With inputs from agencies)

A Roman Catholic diocese in Italy's Sicily had to publicly apologise after its bishop told a church group, including children, that Santa Claus doesn’t exist and that the red suit was created by Coca-Cola for publicity.

A Roman Catholic diocese in Italy's Sicily had to publicly apologise after its bishop told a church group, including children, that Santa Claus doesn’t exist and that the red suit was created by Coca-Cola for publicity. The remarks of Bishop Antonio Stagliano during a recent religious festival didn’t go well with the parents, who sought an explanation from the diocese, news agency AP reported citing Italian media. “First of all, on behalf of the bishop, I express my sorrow for this declaration, which has created disappointment in the little ones, and want to specify that Monsignor Stagliano’s intentions were quite different,” Rev Alessandro Paolino, the communications director for the diocese of Noto, wrote on the diocesan Facebook page on Friday. Bishop Antonio Stagliano didn’t mean the comments, and was trying to underline the true meaning of Christmas and the story of Saint Nicholas, a bishop who gave gifts to the poor and was persecuted by a Roman emperor, Paolino explained. He emphasised that the intention of the bishop was to convey how the image of Santa Clause is being misconstrued to promote consumerism among people instead of setting a good example: the joy of sharing and generosity. “We certainly must not demolish the imagination of children, but draw good examples from it that are positive for life,” he continued. “So, Santa Claus is an effective image to convey the importance of giving, generosity, sharing. But when this image loses its meaning, you see Santa Claus aka consumerism, the desire to own, buy, buy and buy again, then you have to revalue it by giving it a new meaning,” he added. While several welcomed the bishop’s attempt to focus on the Catholic meaning of Christmas, others blamed Stagliano for interfering with family traditions and celebrations, and crushing the spirits of children, whose early years were disrupted by the pandemic. (With inputs from agencies)

Italian Bishop’s ‘Santa Claus isn’t real’ remark angers parents, church issues apology

“I live in Salem, Massachusetts, where the witch trials were,” said Bridget Saunders, 20, an undergraduate at Salem State University. “Halloween is a huge ordeal.”

But when she walked out of her house last Tuesday, five days before Halloween, she saw that her landlord had skipped the holiday altogether and put up a fully decorated Christmas tree. “Couldn’t he just have waited a few days?” she said.

Apparently not. Christmas creep, the retail phenomenon of stores promoting Christmas merchandise earlier and earlier, seems to have elbowed its way past Halloween this year, and pushed aside the plastic pumpkins from store shelves.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/diwali-special-not-just-india-these-countries-also-celebrate-the-festival-425785" hreflang="en">Diwali special: Not just India, these countries also celebrate the festival</a>

Christmas trees went up before the leaves fell in much of the Northeast. The singer Britney Spears, for example, put up her Christmas tree, complete with gold tinsel and glass ball ornaments, two weeks ago. “I’m celebrating Christmas way early this year, because why not?” she posted on Instagram on Oct. 15. “I believe any reason to find more joy in life is a good idea.”

Retailers, including upscale boutiques and discount shops, have turned their stores into winter wonderlands weeks, even months, earlier than last year.

Nordstrom unveiled its displays of Balsam Hill artificial Christmas trees in most of its stores in early October, about one to two weeks earlier than last year. Bloomingdale’s moved up its virtual holiday events (where you can learn to make charcuterie boards and other Instagram-ready tableaus) to late October, rather than November, as it did in 2020.

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Lowe’s set up its stores for Christmas a week earlier. “We expect customers to begin decorating earlier than ever, and Lowe’s made the strategic decision to order and bring product into our warehouses and stores earlier,” said Amy Allison, a company spokesperson.

It’s not exactly about spreading holiday cheer. “From a retailer’s perspective, it’s an opportunity to have many more sales and returning customers,” said Thomai Serdari, an adjunct professor of marketing at the Stern School of Business at New York University. “For individuals, it reflects a desire to extend the happy holiday season.”

The pandemic has further complicated matters. Supply-chain issues have spurred a fear of scarcity. Americans, many of whom celebrated a watered-down version of the holiday last year, are also eager to get the holidays started and make up for lost time.

“We knew our customers would want to come in earlier this year,” said Russ Patrick, a merchandise manager for Neiman Marcus, which began selling holiday goods — including fully decorated Christmas trees — in September. “There is a desire to make up for last year’s season that was very impacted by the pandemic.”

Discount retailers are also capitalizing on the supply-chain rush. “People are thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, the stores aren’t going to have product,’ ” said Bruce Levine, the chief merchandising officer at 99 Cents Only Stores, which is based in California. “This mindset is making people want to shop early, and we wanted to take advantage of that.”

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Before the pandemic, 99 Cents Only Stores would flip its displays from Halloween to Christmas on the night of Oct. 31. This year, it cleared out the Halloween goods in mid-October. “We are running 10% ahead of last year on sales,” Levine said. “We are projecting to do our biggest Christmas yet.”

Big Lots, another budget chain, put out Christmas lights and trees right after Labor Day. (Halloween goods were sold in July.) “Customers now know if they don’t get out there and shop early, they might not get what they want,” said Bruce Thorn, the company’s chief executive.

Not all retailers have moved up Christmas this year. Home Depot and Walmart are on the same schedule. One reason may be that not all consumers are happy with the supersized shopping season.

Joe Ramoni, 29, a YouTube creator from Philadelphia, went to his local Rite Aid and Target last week to shop for Halloween decorations, hoping to score some sales, but they were all gone and replaced with Christmas frills. “It seems like we are leapfrogging right from Halloween to Christmas because of the commercial value,” he said. “Isn’t there time for both?”

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.

“I live in Salem, Massachusetts, where the witch trials were,” said Bridget Saunders, 20, an undergraduate at Salem State University. “Halloween is a huge ordeal.

“I live in Salem, Massachusetts, where the witch trials were,” said Bridget Saunders, 20, an undergraduate at Salem State University. “Halloween is a huge ordeal.” But when she walked out of her house last Tuesday, five days before Halloween, she saw that her landlord had skipped the holiday altogether and put up a fully decorated Christmas tree. “Couldn’t he just have waited a few days?” she said. Apparently not. Christmas creep, the retail phenomenon of stores promoting Christmas merchandise earlier and earlier, seems to have elbowed its way past Halloween this year, and pushed aside the plastic pumpkins from store shelves. Also read: Diwali special: Not just India, these countries also celebrate the festival Christmas trees went up before the leaves fell in much of the Northeast. The singer Britney Spears, for example, put up her Christmas tree, complete with gold tinsel and glass ball ornaments, two weeks ago. “I’m celebrating Christmas way early this year, because why not?” she posted on Instagram on Oct. 15. “I believe any reason to find more joy in life is a good idea.” Retailers, including upscale boutiques and discount shops, have turned their stores into winter wonderlands weeks, even months, earlier than last year. Nordstrom unveiled its displays of Balsam Hill artificial Christmas trees in most of its stores in early October, about one to two weeks earlier than last year. Bloomingdale’s moved up its virtual holiday events (where you can learn to make charcuterie boards and other Instagram-ready tableaus) to late October, rather than November, as it did in 2020. Also read: Pack your bags! 10 best travel destinations for 2022 revealed, Cook Islands tops list Lowe’s set up its stores for Christmas a week earlier. “We expect customers to begin decorating earlier than ever, and Lowe’s made the strategic decision to order and bring product into our warehouses and stores earlier,” said Amy Allison, a company spokesperson. It’s not exactly about spreading holiday cheer. “From a retailer’s perspective, it’s an opportunity to have many more sales and returning customers,” said Thomai Serdari, an adjunct professor of marketing at the Stern School of Business at New York University. “For individuals, it reflects a desire to extend the happy holiday season.” The pandemic has further complicated matters. Supply-chain issues have spurred a fear of scarcity. Americans, many of whom celebrated a watered-down version of the holiday last year, are also eager to get the holidays started and make up for lost time. “We knew our customers would want to come in earlier this year,” said Russ Patrick, a merchandise manager for Neiman Marcus, which began selling holiday goods — including fully decorated Christmas trees — in September. “There is a desire to make up for last year’s season that was very impacted by the pandemic.” Discount retailers are also capitalizing on the supply-chain rush. “People are thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, the stores aren’t going to have product,’ ” said Bruce Levine, the chief merchandising officer at 99 Cents Only Stores, which is based in California. “This mindset is making people want to shop early, and we wanted to take advantage of that.” Also read: From 'Squid Game' jumpsuits to Kim Kardashian: Pop culture/meme inspired Halloween costumes Before the pandemic, 99 Cents Only Stores would flip its displays from Halloween to Christmas on the night of Oct. 31. This year, it cleared out the Halloween goods in mid-October. “We are running 10% ahead of last year on sales,” Levine said. “We are projecting to do our biggest Christmas yet.” Big Lots, another budget chain, put out Christmas lights and trees right after Labor Day. (Halloween goods were sold in July.) “Customers now know if they don’t get out there and shop early, they might not get what they want,” said Bruce Thorn, the company’s chief executive. Not all retailers have moved up Christmas this year. Home Depot and Walmart are on the same schedule. One reason may be that not all consumers are happy with the supersized shopping season. Joe Ramoni, 29, a YouTube creator from Philadelphia, went to his local Rite Aid and Target last week to shop for Halloween decorations, hoping to score some sales, but they were all gone and replaced with Christmas frills. “It seems like we are leapfrogging right from Halloween to Christmas because of the commercial value,” he said. “Isn’t there time for both?” This article originally appeared in The New York Times.

Has the Christmas shopping season overtaken Halloween?

'Happiest Season,'&nbsp;out on Hulu on Friday and starring Kristen Stewart, breaks the mold as a romantic comedy about a lesbian couple set around the holidays.

Stewart, who is bisexual, says she’s astounded it’s taken this long for a major studio to get behind such a film.

“I would have loved to have grown up with a movie like this. But the fact that I’m 30 years old and I’m in it - I feel really lucky to be in the first film, but I’m also baffled that it is,” Stewart said.

Stewart plays Abby, who’s been in a relationship with Harper (Mackenzie Davis) for more than a year when Harper invites her to her family home for Christmas. On the way there, Harper reveals that her parents don’t know she’s gay and Abby has to pretend to be Harper’s straight roommate.

“Happiest Season” director and co-writer Clea Duvall said she felt there were was gap in the market for LGBT films with a light touch.

“I don’t think it always has to be this big heavy story,” she said. “We deserve big, bright, bold romances ... where you can have a real happy ending.”

Daniel Levy, best known for his Emmy-winning role on comedy 'Schitt’s Creek,'&nbsp;plays Abby’s gay best friend. He said more stories like 'Happiest Season'&nbsp;need to be told.

“The fact that its 2020, and I think that it’s the first movie depicting two women falling in love over the holidays by a studio, is kind of shocking,” he said.

'Happiest Season,' out on Hulu on Friday and starring Kristen Stewart, breaks the mold as a romantic comedy about a lesbian couple set around the holidays. Stewart, who is bisexual, says she’s astounded it’s taken this long for a major studio to get behind such a film.

'Happiest Season,' out on Hulu on Friday and starring Kristen Stewart, breaks the mold as a romantic comedy about a lesbian couple set around the holidays. Stewart, who is bisexual, says she’s astounded it’s taken this long for a major studio to get behind such a film. “I would have loved to have grown up with a movie like this. But the fact that I’m 30 years old and I’m in it - I feel really lucky to be in the first film, but I’m also baffled that it is,” Stewart said. Stewart plays Abby, who’s been in a relationship with Harper (Mackenzie Davis) for more than a year when Harper invites her to her family home for Christmas. On the way there, Harper reveals that her parents don’t know she’s gay and Abby has to pretend to be Harper’s straight roommate. “Happiest Season” director and co-writer Clea Duvall said she felt there were was gap in the market for LGBT films with a light touch. “I don’t think it always has to be this big heavy story,” she said. “We deserve big, bright, bold romances ... where you can have a real happy ending.” Daniel Levy, best known for his Emmy-winning role on comedy 'Schitt’s Creek,' plays Abby’s gay best friend. He said more stories like 'Happiest Season' need to be told. “The fact that its 2020, and I think that it’s the first movie depicting two women falling in love over the holidays by a studio, is kind of shocking,” he said.

'Happiest Season' spotlights LGBT love in Christmas rom-com

In Hong Kong, protests flare at malls ahead of Christmas season, Clashes with Police. Restaurants got spray painted and some got vandalized as well.

Hong Kong: Protests flare at malls ahead of Christmas season