BETHLEHEM, West Bank, Dec. 24 -- Christians celebrated Bethlehem's merriest Christmas in eight years Wednesday, with hotels booked solid, Manger Square bustling with families and Israeli and Palestinian forces cooperating to make things run smoothly.

Having a very connected Christmas (BBC News)

Regular commentator Bill Thompson discusses how he used social networking sites to stay in touch with friends and family over Christmas

Some Orthodox Christians will celebrate Christmas today (Detroit Free Press)

Some Orthodox Christians will trade that greeting today as they celebrate Christmas in Orthodox churches across metro Detroit. Some Armenians celebrated Christmas on Tuesday, but other Orthodox Christians, though not all, mark it today. Metro Detroit has a significant Orthodox population with roots in Greece, Armenia, Serbia, Egypt and other parts of the Middle East.

Video: Celtics-Lakers Christmas Day hype (Yahoo! Canada Sports)

Take note, ABC. If I'm not bouncing around my living room like a litter of puppies on crack by dinnertime this Thursday , you will have ruined the holidays. If Grandpa isn't pounding his chest, while Aunt Helen throws Clementine peels at the cat by 5:03 p.m. this Christmas, you will have failed. The hype bar has been set. Don't let me down.

Thorntons says Christmas sales 2.3 percent lower  (Reuters via Yahoo! UK & Ireland News)

Chocolate maker and retailer Thorntons reported further woes on the high street on Wednesday, posting a 2.3 percent decline in pre-Christmas sales as its Thorntons-branded stores suffer.