Christmas

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The Archbishop of Washington Cardinal Donald Wuerl begins the Solemn Mass of Christmas Day at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, D.C., Tuesday, December 25, 2012. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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The shadow of Archbishop of Washington Cardinal Donald Wuerl can be seen as he joins a processional for the Solemn Mass of Christmas Day at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, D.C., Tuesday, December 25, 2012. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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A processional makes its way to the main altar as the Archbishop of Washington Cardinal Donald Wuerl leads a congregation of 4,000 in Solemn Mass of Christmas Day at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, D.C., Tuesday, December 25, 2012. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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Rachel Acol, of Hyattsville, Md., prays before the Solemn Mass of Christmas Day at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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Chidubem Nwabineli, 6, of Bowie, Md., right, checks out the reindeer antlers his sister, Chinemelum, 8, wears as they wait for Archbishop of Washington Cardinal Donald Wuerl to lead a congregation of 4,000 in Solemn Mass of Christmas Day at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, D.C., Tuesday, December 25, 2012. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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A church attendant closes her eyes in prayer as Cardinal Donald Wuerl, archbishop of Washington, celebrates the Solemn Mass of Christmas Day at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington on Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2012. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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The Archbishop of Washington Cardinal Donald Wuerl, center, follows a processional to the main altar at the start of the Solemn Mass of Christmas Day at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, D.C., Tuesday, December 25, 2012. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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Jasmine Garcia, 6, of Bladensburg, Md., plays with a santa hat as she and other church goers wait for Archbishop of Washington Cardinal Donald Wuerl to lead a congregation of 4,000 in Solemn Mass of Christmas Day . (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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A processional begins as the Archbishop of Washington Cardinal Donald Wuerl leads a congregation of 4,000 in Solemn Mass of Christmas Day at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, D.C., Tuesday, December 25, 2012. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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The Archbishop of Washington Cardinal Donald Wuerl leads a congregation of 4,000 in Solemn Mass of Christmas Day at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, D.C., Tuesday, December 25, 2012. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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Christmas trees were for sale at the Eastern Market on Capitol Hill. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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Associated Press A LOT OF TREES: Choosing the right Christmas tree is a favorite tradition for families, but the needle-shedding evergreens become only memories after the holidays. That’s when governments and businesses take over and use the castoffs for a variety of purposes.

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In this Thursday, Dec. 20, 2012, photo, items that will be presented to guests during the inauguration of President Barack Obama are seen inside Aunt Bea's Little White House B&B, in Washington, the six-room bed and breakfast in Northeast Washington still had two rooms available for the presidential inauguration as of the week before Christmas, with rates starting at $225 a night. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

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With the store shelves thinning out, Christie Wilson, Sebree, grabs a gallon of milk as shoppers at Sureway Eastgate, in Henderson, stock up before the forecasted blizzard hits late Christmas evening, Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2012. (AP Photo/The Gleaner, Mike Lawrence)

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Christmas stockings with the names of the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting hang from a railing near a makeshift memorial near the town Christmas tree in the Sandy Hook village of Newtown, Conn., on Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2012. In the wake of the shooting, the grieving town is trying to find meaning in Christmas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

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Pope Benedict XVI delivers his "Urbi et Orbi" ("To the City and to the World") Christmas message from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican on Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2012. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)