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🌦️ 28 – 40° Logan | 🌦️ 31 – 43° Salt Lake

🌦️ 26 – 38° Manti | 🌦️ 32 – 45° Moab

🌦️ 27 – 42° Cedar City | ⛅ 39 – 56° St. George

🎄 Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah! 🕎

This is only the fifth time since 1900 that Christmas and the first night of Hanukkah have fallen on the same day. While those who celebrate Christmas will spend the evening around a tree and Hanukkah celebrants will gather by a menorah, we all have a lot in common — both groups mark their holiday with food, lights, gifts and time with family.

“The unique ‘Chrismukkah’ holiday is complicating life for some interfaith families, but many have embraced the chance to bring Jewish and Christian traditions together in new ways,” Kelsey Dallas writes.

Read more about how the overlap between Christmas and Hanukkah affects families and communities this year.

Also on our minds:

What believing artists learn painting the Christ child
Climate change: How ski resorts brace for a snowless future
Deseret News photojournalists share the sports photos of the year

Christmas is stronger than war and hate

The Deseret News Editorial Board writes:

Against the backdrop of current events, Christmas may seem anything but peaceful.

Violence and war are in plentiful supply across the globe. Looking around, one can feel the anguish of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, as he wrote the words to a poem that has become known as “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.” It was 1863. The Civil War was raging. Longfellow had lost his wife in a fiery accident and his son had been injured in the war.

He wrote, “And in despair I bowed my head; ‘There is no peace on earth,’ I said; For hate is strong, and mocks the song of peace on earth, good-will to men!”

The Bible records that Jesus told his disciples, “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27).

Hate does indeed seem strong and intimidatingly mocking. But the peace Jesus offers is, as he said, different from what the world offers.

Jesus offers a holy peace that speaks to the heart and mind; a wellspring within that cannot be tarnished by any of the wars, disappointments or desecrations the world might offer.

Read more about the peace and power of Christmas.

Pre-K kickstart: Waterford Upstart giving Utah preschoolers a jump on the educational journey

How do you prepare a child to start school? According to the National Center for Education Statistics, children who enter kindergarten ready to grow and learn have better academic outcomes from elementary to high school, but it can be difficult for parents to get their kids ready.

Enter Waterford Upstart, an adaptive online software program for pre-K children that is funded by the state of Utah.

Around 15,000 Utah kids are using Waterford to help master the basics of phonics, math and science — and more than 126,000 Utah children have used the program since 2018.

Read more about how this state-funded program is helping children across Utah.

More in Utah

Huntsville no longer under boil order as town restores water access before Christmas (KSL)
Utah sues 2 largest pharmacy benefit managers in U.S. for alleged roles in opioid epidemic (KSL)
Abandoned puppies found at Utah man's grave bring Christmas hope to grieving family (KUTV)
Federal prosecutors in St. George pick up Sevier County traffic stop case involving 20 pounds of meth (St. George News)
Fry sauce is unquestionably a Utah thing, even with its questionable origin (KUER)

FROM OUR SPONSOR BYU 1984 MAGAZINE

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Inside you'll find never-before-read stories from the players on the '84 team, sports writers who covered each play and the insights from the family of LaVell Edwards. This is a limited edition magazine, perfect for every Cougar fan who bleeds blue. Order now!

Faith

Painting the Christ child: Believing artists talk about what it teaches them (Deseret News)
‘The Chosen’ actress who plays Mary says the show helps her think about motherhood (Deseret News)

Christmas

Your guide to sharing the Nativity story with your family (Deseret News)
C.S. Lewis has a different take on Christmas. Here’s what he had to say (Deseret News)
The battle over ‘Jingle Bells’ (Deseret News)

Entertainment

Headed to the movie theater this Christmas? These movies will be in theaters (Deseret News)
The best family movies of 2024 — and where to find them (Deseret News)

The U.S.

American Airlines lifts ground stop that froze Christmas Eve travelers (NPR)
Are ski resorts facing a snowless future? (Deseret News)

The World

Bethlehem marks a second subdued Christmas Eve during the war in Gaza (The Associated Press)
Armed men fire on Haiti hospital reopening, killing at least 2 (NBC)

Sports

How BYU can defeat a Colorado team full of glamor and talent (Deseret News)
Report: Jets owner made unusual request during Zach Wilson trade (Deseret News)
Donovan Mitchell had a feeling Sam Merrill would break out of his slump against the Utah Jazz (Deseret News)
Sports photos of the year 2024: Through our lenses (Deseret News)

🗓️ Events Calendar

We put together a calendar list of events and activities going on around the state of Utah the next month. Check it out and let us know if we are missing anything!

Check your inbox tomorrow morning for more news from the Beehive State and beyond!

And reply to this email or email newsletters@deseretnews.com to tell us what you think of Utah Today.

Thanks for reading!

— Ariel