Browsing: Living

Christmas traditions are important. 

They strengthen family and personal bonds. They also link one generation to the next. When parents pass on activities such as baking tasty treats, watching holiday specials, or decorating a Christmas tree, they pass on values, faith and identity. These experiences allow families to slow down, reconnect and appreciate one another. For children, traditions provide a sense of stability and joy. By sharing traditions with the next generation, it ensures that the message of Christmas endures.

Every Christmas, I find myself thinking less about what’s under the tree and more about what surrounds it. The familiar faces, the shared stories, the traditions that don’t come from a store but from years of being passed down. As the season slows just enough for us to notice, it becomes clear that the most meaningful gifts are often the ones we didn’t realize we were being given all along.

One of the things I miss most about Mississippi is the beautiful, uniquely southern way Christmas is celebrated. Since this will be my first Christmas in Boston, I’ve been contemplating ways to make it feel a little more like home while embracing a new season in my life. 

Oxford was already buzzing last Saturday, but tucked between the Grove and the Ole Miss Student Union stood a quieter symbol of the moment—one that felt just as meaningful as kickoff.

POPLARVILLE — As Mississippi’s blueberry industry faces a steep decline, one Poplarville farm is finding new ways to keep the state fruit growing — from fresh berries to teas, baked goods and even dog treats. 

For Kayla Walker, Lambing Day began not as a book idea, but as a quiet moment of discovery. During Christmas break in 2023, she finally sat down to read The Tower of the Flock: The Christmas Story by Dr. Christine Van Horn—a book that would shift how she understood the nativity story she had known her entire life. What she found were biblical connections and historical details that challenged long-held assumptions and invited deeper reflection.

 Mississippi Main Street Association (MMSA) has been awarded by the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) as a READY Grants to Grow recipient. 

MOSS POINT—Across Mississippi, hummingbird feeders have been cleaned and stored until spring migration begins. But, not having a nectar feeder hanging may limit winter guests.

OCEAN SPRINGS—While it is beginning to look at feel a lot like Christmas, it is also time to think about registering children for the 2026 summer camps in coastal Mississippi. Who knows? Maybe summer camp tuition is a great gift!

The 5th Squad began in 2016, founded by four veterans from Mississippi’s 184th Sustainment Command to build a strong brotherhood and address combat isolation in military life. After becoming an official nonprofit, 5th Squad provides immediate, impactful support for fellow veterans in crisis, filling gaps in traditional aid with quick financial help daily living, and rallies veterans together to foster a unique, service-oriented community.

MOSS POINT—The Gulf Coast version of a “white Christmas” is beginning to show with the arrive of the American White Pelican seeking winter refuge from the frigid north.

As the only wassail-tasting festival in Mississippi, Wassail Fest in Columbus offers a rare draw for holiday travelers. The quest for the “Wassail Meister” title turns warm holiday cider into a one-of-a-kind experience that sets Columbus apart during the Christmas season.

MOSS POINT—After being thankful for family, friends and food on Thanksgiving, the whirlwind of Black Friday, Shop Small Saturday and Cyber Monday all focus on getting the best deals on gifts or other purchases. But there is one more, less promoted, day on the calendar that is not about buying, but instead, it is about giving.

Local shops, good food, and a relaxed way to tackle your gift list.

Downtown Summit has become an unexpectedly great spot for holiday shopping. The stretch along Robb Street mixes vintage finds, local art, cozy cafés, and independent shops in a way that makes wandering from place to place actually enjoyable. If you want to keep your shopping local — or just avoid the chaos of bigger towns — Summit is an easy win.

If you’ve ever walked into Sugaree’s Bakery in New Albany, then you already know this truth: some places don’t just smell good — they feel good. And Sugaree’s is one of those places where the air is thick with butter, sugar, and just enough nostalgia to stop you in your tracks before you make it all the way to the counter. It hits you right in the childhood.

Mississippi has one of the lowest rates of homelessness in the United States. However, our state isn’t without its challenges, like increased homelessness in Jackson and on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, with both areas reporting rising numbers. There are many reasons why someone may find themselves without housing, and finding a solution can often feel overwhelming. But helping people experiencing homelessness doesn’t have to be hopeless, especially during the winter months.