NYC holiday season in the time of COVID-19

In a year unlike any other, Anthony Mason walks around his native New York City to take stock of the pandemic's impact on this city's iconic holiday season. Mason goes Christmas wreath shopping with Cyndi Lauper, walks down shuttered Broadway with Tony winner Brian Stokes Mitchell, watches New York City Ballet's Tiler Peck dance "The Sugar Plum Fairy" from George Balanchine's "The Nutcracker," and visits with Central Synagogue's Cantor Mutlu for a Hanukkah message that meets the moment for a city that has survived and continues to endure.

• Dec 17, 2020
• 06:25

5-year-old becomes "Santa's helper"

5-year-old Mateo got a chance to be Santa's helper, thanks to the Make-a-Wish Foundation. His dream is to be a mailman, and while he waits for that day to come, he gets to sort letters to St. Nick – and sing his favorite tunes while he works.

• Dec 17, 2020
• 01:33

Tips for holiday shopping and shipping

Last-minute shoppers are running out of time for guaranteed delivery ahead of Christmas. Ted Rossman, an industry analyst at CreditCards.com, joins CBSN to discuss some tips and tricks for shoppers to make sure their gifts are wrapped and ready ahead of the holidays.

• Dec 16, 2020
• 06:48

Christmas trees and lights selling out amid pandemic demand

"I've never ever seen anything close to what it's been this year," said one tree seller with 40 years in the business.

• Dec 15, 2020

Man pays off 114 neighbors' utility bills before Christmas

Mike Esmond, a great-grandfather and business owner from Gulf Breeze, Florida, arranged a welcome surprise for neighbors in need.

• Dec 15, 2020

Germany steps up COVID lockdown measures over winter holidays

Chancellor Angela Merkel said she and the governors of Germany's 16 states agreed Sunday to step up the country's lockdown measures beginning Wednesday until January 10.

• Dec 14, 2020

CBS Weekend News, December 12, 2020

Mass coronavirus vaccine distribution plan underway; Arkansas family harassed over "Black Santa" decorations

• Dec 12, 2020
• 20:28

Brighter days on the horizon

Lesley Stahl notes a ray of light in what's been a holiday season of darkness.

• Dec 13, 2020
• 00:48

Family harassed over "Black Santa" decorations

An African American family in Little Rock, Arkansas, received an anonymous letter penned from Santa, asking the family to take down "Black Santa" decorations installed at their house. Adriana Diaz has more.

• Dec 12, 2020
• 02:08

Black Santas pop up in Little Rock after family gets racist note

"Please remove your Christmas yard decoration," the letter said, signed by Santa.

• Dec 12, 2020

Secret Santa surprises essential workers with Christmas cash

In the coming weeks, Secret Santa will give away about $100,000 total — to total strangers.

• Dec 11, 2020

Bocelli, daughter to star in online Christmas concert

Opera legend Andrea Bocelli and his 8-year-old daughter, Virginia, will be delighting fans with a Christmas concert livestreamed from Italy. Norah O’Donnell has more.

• Dec 10, 2020
• 02:20

Andrea Bocelli, daughter to star in live-streamed Christmas concert

The concert will explore the wonder of Christmas through the eyes of opera legend Andrea Bocelli's 8-year-old daughter, Virginia.

• Dec 10, 2020

Pope's Midnight Mass to start early to comply with COVID curfew

Francis canceled his weekly public general audiences after infections started to surge, including a cluster of a dozen cases among the Vatican's Swiss Guards.

• Dec 10, 2020

Girl asks Santa to see her friend again

7-year-old Annalisse Hocking's one Christmas wish to Santa Claus this year was to help her find her friend, Nyla. In February, Nyla's family moved away and the two girls lost contact with each other. Nikki Battiste shows how Santa was able to pull off a surprise reunion with the help of some "elves."

• Dec 9, 2020
• 03:50

Little girl's letter to Santa leads to emotional reunion

"Dear Santa, for Christmas I would like it to be a surprise. Please tell Nyla that I miss her," the little girl's letter reads. "Please tell her my address."

• Dec 9, 2020

Pandemic changes Christmas in Holy City

Christmas in the Palestinian town of Bethlehem will be like no other in recent memory this year. Typically thousands of people flock to the revered birthplace of Jesus during the holiday season but the pandemic has forced this year's events to be mostly virtual. Some say the change has pushed the community to focus on the true meaning of Christmas and the importance of being around loved ones during a difficult year. Imtiaz Tyab reports.

• Dec 7, 2020
• 03:00

Fauci on coronavirus vaccine and immunity

"CBS Evening News" anchor and managing editor Norah O'Donnell spoke with Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's leading infectious disease expert, about the coronavirus vaccine and what we can expect over the next few weeks ahead of the holidays.

• Dec 7, 2020
• 02:18

Ho! Ho! Ho! COVID can't keep Santa Claus down

Not even a pandemic could prevent Jolly St. Nick from completing his Christmas rounds. Thanks to his technologically-challenged elves, Santa will do thousands of virtual visits this holiday season. Steve Hartman reports from the North Pole's Zoom chat room.

• Dec 6, 2020
• 02:32

Alabama sheriff's office slammed for "thugshot" Christmas tree decor

The Mobile NAACP strongly condemned the tree, calling it "inappropriate, shameful, disrespectful, despicable, disgusting and embarrassing."

• Dec 5, 2020

Pelosi, McConnell nearing deal on stimulus

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell are closing in on the framework for a coronavirus stimulus deal, after months of back-and-forth. The bill, which would help millions of struggling Americans, could be passed before Christmas. Nancy Cordes reports on the latest from Capitol Hill.

• Dec 5, 2020
• 02:08

Santa adjusts to new normal during COVID

Santa is doing thousands of virtual visits during the holiday season.

• Dec 4, 2020

Koala wanders into family's home, climbs Christmas tree

It seems that everyone is trying to get into the Christmas spirit this year — even koalas.

• Dec 4, 2020

Watch: National Christmas Tree lighting

President Trump and first lady Melania Trump presided over the annual lighting of the National Christmas Tree outside the White House, with music from the U.S. Navy Sea Chanters and "The President's Own" United States Marine Band.

• Dec 3, 2020
• 02:16

Melania Trump unveils White House Christmas decorations

The unveiling comes less than two months after secret recordings from June 2018 were aired by CNN, in which she complained about preparing for the holidays at the White House.

• Dec 1, 2020

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