Feature Channels: Winter Holidays

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Retailers are dreaming of a green Christmas, and it looks like their dreams may come true, according to a Florida State University economist.

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Each year, thousands of winter sports enthusiasts suffer sprained wrists, dislocated shoulders, broken bones and other serious injuries due to risky maneuvers, lack of fitness, and improperly fitted equipment. However, experts say most skiers, snowboarders and other athletes can avoid injuries with a little training and preparation.

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Experts caution that anyone traveling to higher elevations this winter for holiday vacations or weekend ski trips should remember to prepare for altitude changes to avoid a gamut of potential health-related symptoms.

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"˜Tis the season of holiday traditions, although a professor at Roanoke College in Salem, Va., would argue that many of them are actually myths.

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Authentic vintage posters make the ideal holiday gift. Access the online gallery at the International Vintage Poster Dealers Association's website.

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Dr. Frank Riga, professor of English at Canisius College, has done extensive research on the origins of Santa Claus and other gift givers across different cultures, including LaBefona of Italy, Pere Noel of France, and Baboushka of Russia.

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When it comes to your child's teacher, giving gifts that are simple and from the heart may be the most appreciated and appropriate, according to two elementary education experts at Kansas State University.

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Exercise is the best protection against catching a cold, according to research conducted by Appalachian State University's David Nieman. Nieman is a professor in Appalachian's Department of Health, Leisure and Exercise Science and director of the university's Human Performance Lab.

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With snow, frigid temperatures and high winds in the forecast for most of the country, podiatrists at Temple University's School of Podiatric Medicine warn that men and women of all ages need to take precautions to protect their feet from cold-related injuries like ankle sprains, fractures and frostbite.

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The holiday dinner of a century ago in a typical Pennsylvania farmstead would have taken up to two weeks to prepare. It featured delicacies that have vanished from the modern Thanksgiving or Christmas table and others that would surprise people today.

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A number of University of Texas at El Paso experts are available to comment on a broad range of topics related to issues and holidays during the winter season.

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Grand Valley State University experts can comment on topics related to winter, including home heating costs, the flu, travel, the holidays and depression.

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Children anticipate few things as eagerly as the holiday season. However, holiday decorations and gifts can cause accidental injuries if not used properly. These and other injuries can be avoided by following a few standard guidelines.

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Poinsettias, the traditional velvety red Christmas hallmark, are now trending to a wide variety of colors, shapes and sizes to fit anyone's budget, lifestyle and taste.

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These tips offer expert advice regarding post-holiday injury prevention and treatment and keeping children active during the winter months.

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Here are a few tips on how to make your fall and winter seasons a bit healthier and happy this year, courtesy of the American Chemical Society, the world's largest scientific society.

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As the cold and flu season approaches, more germs mean more opportunities for children to get sick. Young children can catch as many as 10 infectious diseases every year including colds and flu, bacterial strep throat and ear infections. Keeping children healthy throughout the cold, winter months is a priority for moms across the country.

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When winter weather strikes, children and adolescents are at greater risk for injury. The director of the Trauma Program at Children's Hospital Boston and the community liaison for the hospital's Injury Prevention Program each offer advice for kids involved in winter sports.

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Are kids naturally generous? Teaching about giving is an important step every parent can take toward raising responsible, caring children. A new family philanthropy program at Children's Hospital Boston offers tools that are helping to nurture the next generation of philanthropists.

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The demands and responsibilities of the holiday season have the potential to overshadow the fun, leaving you feeling completely stressed-out and vulnerable to medical problems. Experts at the Integrative Care Center in New York City offer tips on lowering holiday stress.

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Current policies recommend universal flu vaccination for children aged 6-23 months, but shots are advised for older children only if they have high-risk medical conditions. But biosurveillance data indicate that 3- and 4-year-olds drive flu epidemics and may also warrant immunization.

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"˜Tis the season for celebrating family and giving thanks for another year that has passed. To help your audience experience the best that this season offers, use this guide to story ideas and expert sources from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

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Listed below are story ideas from The Johns Hopkins Weight Management Center.

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Psychological anthropologist and Hamilton College professor Douglas Raybeck has issued yearly predictions related to technological and political issues. Most have proved true. Based on his experiences conducting research in Muslim regions and his study of cultural change in the U.S., Raybeck has issued his major predictions for the year 2006.

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Some tips from a UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas about keeping up an exercise regimen during the holidays.

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University of California San Diego Healthcare and the California Poison Control System offer these seasonal tips to help keep the season safe.

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Nutritionist at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas offers advice for protecting against food illnesses.

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With the holidays approaching, persons with memory impairment or behavioral problems may not feel comfortable in large family gatherings. However, there is much that loved ones can do to make these individuals a part of the holiday celebrations.

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Nutritionist at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas says try monitoring your calories to enjoy holiday food guilt-free.

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Pediatrician at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas says parents should look for age-appropriate holiday toys for youngsters.

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Allergy specialist at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas warns allergy suffers about indoor plants and holiday trees.

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A UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas mood disorder specialist says holiday depression and isolation contribute to the holiday blues.

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As the busy holiday season approaches, it's nice to know that some gifts are just a mouse click or a phone call away. Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston offers a variety of cookbooks, a convenient exercise video and other helpful publications.

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1) Snow Blower Safety; 2) Winter Foot Woes; 3) New Year, New You; 4) This Season Beware of "˜Holiday Heart Syndrome.'

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The University of North Carolina at Greensboro has several experts whom journalists may find particularly useful during the holiday season. They offer expertise in psychology, nutrition, counseling and child development.

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At the edge of the Arctic, citizen scientists help University of Alberta researchers monitor the degradation of permafrost, and measure the resulting release of both carbon and methane into the atmosphere.

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It's dark when you get up, it's dark when you get home "“ and you spend most of your day indoors. The lack of exposure to sunlight might make you one of the almost 10 percent of people who suffer from seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

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A Purdue University retail expert says consumers will have deals galore early and late as retailers adjust to gas prices that will likely limit shoppers' trips to the mall.

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Living Well holiday tips include information about healthy gifts, making small talk, squeezing in workouts, and minimizing the bitterness of divorce for children.

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Energy prices are high and will likely stay that way, with the biggest winter sticker shock expected in the Midwest, according to a Purdue University agricultural economist.

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Holiday giving to friends and family is both easier and more rewarding when gifts chosen give many ways "“ something the recipient can enjoy, yet something that also supports an important cause.

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A Saint Louis University psychiatrist offers tips to survive -- and even enjoy -- the holidays.

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A Saint Louis University psychologist and the father of 10 knows first hand what it's like when a freshman comes back to the nest for a holiday break, and shares what's worked for him.

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How can you avoid catching a cold during the holidays? A Saint Louis University community and family medicine physician has five tips that work.

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Change traditions and substitute a Mid Year's resolution for the usual Jan. 1 promise, a Saint Louis University psychiatrist suggests.

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Drivers who find themselves at a standstill on the interstate this week can thank a nineteenth-century women's magazine editor for creating the Thanksgiving tradition that compels us all to return to our family roots at the same time.

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Naughty or nice? The age-old debate may still be raging in households around the world, but there was nothing but kudos for the members of the Santa Institute during their annual press conference.

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About half of all adults make a New Year's resolution only to break it within six months. Setting goals is important, but why do people fail? Good goal setting happens in five stages, says a psychologist at The Menninger Clinic.

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1) Ways to watch your waistline at the holidays; 2) Holiday food tips for people with diabetes; 3) When a diet is more than a diet: eating disorders and young adults.

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Holiday tips from two Virginia Tech faculty members: 1) Keep it simple; 2) Keep pets safe.