03:15 AM EDT 03/06/2012
Christmas
 |
Taylor Swift's Christmas Obsession: Hot Glue
Originally posted 12/23/2011 10:30AM
She proved she could rap when she took the stage with Nicki Minaj to sing "Super Bass" in Los Angeles over the summer – but who knew Taylor Swift could wrap?
The singer, who's no stranger to Christmas crafting, showed off her holiday spirit on Instagram with a snapshot of her gifts making their way under the tree this year.
"I get sort of crafty when I wrap gifts," she Tweeted. "Like..I had to stop when I found myself hot-gluing Christmas figurines onto the presents."
– Alison Schwartz
 |
Kara DioGuardi Throws a Holiday Party in Maine
Originally posted 12/21/2011 10:00AM
From judging reality shows to writing hit songs, Kara DioGuardi's never had trouble hitting a high note. So, what are her tips for throwing equally on-key holiday parties?
"I keep the fires going, the wine flowing and try to spend time with everyone who comes to celebrate," DioGuardi tells PEOPLE.
This year, the former American Idol judge threw a joint party with her next-door neighbors in Maine, where, she says, "It's always a snowy, winter wonderland."
"Our houses were built by the same man in the early 1900's," DioGuardi says. "We thought it would be fun to reunite them in his honor, so appetizers were at [my neighbor's] house and dessert was at ours."
 |
Kate's First Royal Christmas: What Will She Give the Queen?
Originally posted 12/20/2011 05:00PM
For any newlywed, the first Christmas with the in-laws can be intense. Now imagine spending it with Queen Elizabeth.
That's exactly what Kate faces when she joins husband Prince William and his family at Sandringham House, about 110 miles north of London, for the holiday.
The pressures range from what to wear to what to give the family that has everything.
Even so, the festivities will kick off on Christmas Eve, when the presents are exchanged, following the German tradition started by Queen Victoria. As the Queen sips her usual gin and Dubonet, the younger royals will likely partake in the locally brewed cider or wine.
Family Finds Slithering Surprise in Christmas Tree: a Snake!
Originally posted 12/20/2011 12:00PM
A North Carolina family almost got a new pet for Christmas, and it certainly wasn't one they were expecting.
As her family was putting the final decorations on their tree, which had been stored in their garage, 6-year-old Rachel Baine noticed a piece of tinsel moving, reports NBC-17 in North Carolina. A closer peek revealed that it was a foot-long corn snake taking refuge among the ornaments.
"Daddy, there's a snake on the Christmas tree," she said to her father, Tony.
"I thought Rachel was teasing me," Tony Baine told the local news.
 |
Sandra Bullock's Family Holiday Tradition: Smuggling Sausages
Originally posted 12/20/2011 10:05AM
For many families, the holidays involve a perhaps stressful trip to the grocery store, but that's nothing compared to Sandra Bullock's Christmas dinner, which entails illegally importing sausages from Germany to continue a meal tradition started by the actress's mother.
"Since my mother passed, we break the law, because we have to manage to smuggle German sausages into the country, and apparently bringing meats across the waters is against the law," Bullock, 47, told Jay Leno during an appearance on The Tonight Show. "You fry 'em up with some sauerkraut and potato salad, but they have to be the right ones."
 |
Through the Years: The Kardashians' Very, Merry Christmas Cards
Originally posted 12/16/2010 05:40PM
See the reality TV family capture the season with Ninja Turtle Santa, Ryan Seacrest...and a Harley!
 |
What Will Santa Bring Christina Hendricks? A Banana!
Originally posted 12/05/2010 05:30PM
Christina Hendricks knows what will be in her Christmas stocking – and it won't be a piece of coal.
The Mad Men star, 35, reveals that she's always gotten a personalized piece of fruit.
"My family always does a banana with your name on it in your stocking," she told PEOPLE recently at the opening of House of Walker, Johnnie Walker's private event space for the holidays, in New York City. "You carve [the name] in really lightly with a pencil, and a couple hours later it's nice and black. It sounds so gross but I promise it's really cute!"
So what's the origin of this tradition?
People Top 5
Top 10 News Categories
The most buzzed about stars this minute!
Treat Yourself! 4 Preview Issues
More On People.com
Got a News Tip?
Send it to our People.com editors!
News Archive
Today!
