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Today's featured article
A Very Trainor Christmas is a Christmas album by American singer-songwriter Meghan Trainor (pictured). It was released on October 30, 2020. Trainor co-wrote the album with her brothers, Ryan and Justin, among others. It features artists such as Earth, Wind & Fire, Seth MacFarlane, Trainor's cousins, and her father. The album covers Christmas standards such as "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" (1951) and "Last Christmas" (1984), with six original recordings. Trainor promoted A Very Trainor Christmas with public appearances and televised performances. Trainor and MacFarlane's cover of "White Christmas" (1942) reached number one on the Adult Contemporary chart. Several other tracks received music videos. Critical commentary for the album was generally positive, with praise directed towards Trainor's charisma and the material. It reached number 7 on the US Holiday Albums chart and the top 50 in Germany, the Netherlands, and Sweden. (This article is part of a featured topic: Meghan Trainor albums.)
Did you know...
- ... that the Adoration of the Magi in the Snow (pictured), recently re-dated, is now known to be the earliest of Bruegel's snow paintings?
- ... that the Philly Specials, formed by three football players from the Philadelphia Eagles, have recorded Christmas music with Stevie Nicks and Boyz II Men?
- ... that heavy spring rains caused a poor harvest of the Dickinson pumpkin, leading to a canned pumpkin shortage for Christmas in 2015?
- ... that Holiday Seasoning was promoted with the release of holiday seasonings?
- ... that HMT Night Hawk was sunk on Christmas Day 1914 while trawling for mines off Scarborough, England?
- ... that the National Gingerbread House Competition, despite its name, has featured gingerbread merry-go-rounds, sea monsters, and even the Statue of Liberty?
- ... that Pflaumentoffel, edible figures made from prunes, were sold by children in German Christmas markets in the 19th century?
- ... that "The Christmas Invasion" led to Christmas specials becoming a staple for Doctor Who?
- ... that A. krampus has been found living in southeastern Brazil?
In the news
- A multi-vehicle crash in Minas Gerais, Brazil, leaves 41 people dead.
- A car attack (aftermath pictured) at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, kills five people and injures more than two hundred others.
- In France, Dominique Pelicot and 49 other men are convicted of the serial rape of his then-wife Gisèle Pelicot.
- A 7.3-magnitude earthquake hits Vanuatu's capital, Port Vila, leaving at least sixteen people dead.
On this day
December 25: Christmas (Western Christianity; Gregorian calendar); Hanukkah (Judaism) begins at sunset; Quaid-e-Azam Day in Pakistan
- 1046 – Henry III was crowned Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Clement II.
- 1724 – Johann Sebastian Bach led the first performance of Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ, based on the Christmas hymn written by Martin Luther in 1524.
- 1831 – A Baptist preacher named Samuel Sharpe began an unsuccessful eleven-day slave revolt in Jamaica.
- 1991 – In a nationally televised speech, Mikhail Gorbachev (pictured) resigned as President of the Soviet Union.
- 2009 – A fire destroyed Longford's 19th-century St Mel's Cathedral, considered the "flagship cathedral" of the Irish midlands.
- Humphrey Bogart (b. 1899)
- Atal Bihari Vajpayee (b. 1924)
- Billy Martin (d. 1989)
- Zail Singh (d. 1994)
Today's featured picture
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The Kefermarkt altarpiece is a richly decorated wooden altarpiece in the Late Gothic style in the parish church of Kefermarkt in Upper Austria. Commissioned by the knight Christoph von Zelking, it was completed around 1497. Saints Peter, Wolfgang and Christopher are depicted in the central section. The wing panels depict scenes from the life of Mary, and the altarpiece also has an intricate superstructure and two side figures of Saints George and Florian. The identity of its maker, known by the notname Master of the Kefermarkt Altarpiece, is unknown, but at least two skilled sculptors appear to have created the main statuary. Throughout the centuries, it has been altered and lost its original paint and gilding; a major restoration was undertaken in the 19th century under the direction of Adalbert Stifter. The altarpiece has been described as "one of the greatest achievements in late-medieval sculpture in the German-speaking area". This image shows the upper-left wing panel of the Kefermarkt altarpiece, depicting the birth of Christ. Mary is portrayed kneeling in devotion in front of the infant Christ, who is placed before her on a fold of her dress. On the other side, Joseph is also kneeling in front of the child. Above Mary, on the roof of the building behind them, are two angels playing a mandolin and a lute. The annunciation to the shepherds can be seen in the background. Sculpture credit: Master of the Kefermarkt Altarpiece; photographed by Uoaei1
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