The December 2022 Issue

Around Christmastime, a nostalgic sense of anticipation and fellowship brings together this Randolph County community.

North Carolina is home to a trove of innovative craftsmen and charming shops, making it easy to find the perfect present for everyone.

A chef learned about farm-to-table fare working in his grandparents’ garden. Now, he pays tribute to them in delectable dishes at his Greensboro restaurant.

During the holidays, a Triangle-based maker with a scientific approach wraps up boxes of peppermint bark for those in search of a festive treat.

When a secret recipe was finally shared, a famous peanut butter pie found its way onto plates once more.

Find out what three North Carolina genealogists have to say about the best strategies for discovering your family history, some of the most interesting stories they’ve encountered — and the pitfalls of researching the past.

Deck the halls and hit play on our curated Spotify playlist, which features a merry selection of classic and original holiday tunes by North Carolina artists.

Cut into this red velvet pound cake to reveal a sweet peppermint cream cheese filling.

This mousse is sweet and smooth, light and creamy — with just the right amount of tang.

This beloved family recipe is one to treasure for years to come.

This incredible fluffy cake is topped with delicious coconut cream cheese-buttercream frosting.

Enjoy after a Christmas feast or by a fireplace on a cold winter night.

The gift of a friendly beast, whether hamster, gecko, or goldfish, can inspire holiday joy and wonder — so long as the critter doesn’t attempt a Christmas Eve escape.

In small towns and big cities across the state, smiling faces line the streets (and waterfronts) as communities gather to celebrate the season — and get a sneak peek at Santa.

In the 24 busy days leading up to Christmas, a family in Greensboro looks forward to the togetherness and quiet reflection that their simple Advent tradition brings.

At the Hayti Heritage Center in Durham, Santa Claus arrives during the most wonderful time of the year to make every child feel that they’re part of the mosaic of North Carolina life.

At a pair of family potteries in Brevard and Waynesville, handmade cups — crafted with love and generously gifted — overflow with the spirit of the season.

In New Bern, the historical interpreters at the first North Carolina State Capitol invite visitors to immerse themselves in the holidays of the 1700s.

During the Civil War, Christmas became a season of longing for soldiers and their loved ones waiting at home.

Born in Monroe in 1888, a home-grown department store became, for generations of North Carolinians, the gold standard of Christmas shopping.

During World War II, sailors on the battleship enjoy a welcomed taste of home during the holidays.

Downtown shops twinkle and glow during the holidays with window displays reminiscent of yuletide celebrations of the 1940s and ’50s.

What goes around comes around. A mid-century collectible moves from the attic to the antiques stores.

In Durham, the careful re-creation of Victorian-era London in miniature takes a Dickens enthusiast back to his childhood in the 1960s, helping him honor Christmas in his heart and keep it all the year.

Since the 1980s, Fearrington House in Pittsboro has carried on a fine-dining tradition rooted in elegance and shaped by the restaurant’s late founder and its ambitious first chef.

A dramatic decade brings communities together around one more momentous event: a record-breaking storm that covers southeastern North Carolina in a blanket of snow — just in time for the holidays.

In the 1870s, a Mitchell County man’s wondrous whiskers made him famous.