Merry Greetings!

I got an email this week from the company secretary with the annual list of addresses of those who wish to exchange "holiday cards". I sent her a quick response that I wasn't interested in sending holiday cards this year but asked "would it be ok if I used this list to send Christmas cards?". In five minutes my phone was ringing.

It was the president of the company -- the Big Cheese, the Head Honcho, the dude every one clears their throat for before speaking to him.

He called to personally apologize for failing to call it a Christmas card list. In honor of his kind gesture, I'm dedicating the liberal use of the word Christmas in this week's newsletter to my esteemed employer:

In this issue:
-- Jimmy Stewart Remembers 'It's a Wonderful Life'
-- The Latest in Christmas News
-- Black Friday: The Hype Begins
-- Thank You Contest
-- Annual Christmas Writing Contest
-- Christmas During the American Revolution
-- Christmastide (A German Folk Tale)

The Merry News is brought to you by:

Jimmy Stewart Remembers 'It's a Wonderful Life'

This memory of the making of "It's a Wonderful Life" was written in the late 1970s by Jimmy Stewart, forever frozen in time by Christmas purists as George Bailey. With rarely talked about details of the production of the movie this classic article sheds new light not only on a holiday classic film but also on its beloved star. (The great thing about this piece is the obvious conversational writing style of Jimmy Stewart. You can hear him "speak" through this memory).

The Latest in Christmas News

We post the news about Christmas year round. But at this time of year it comes fast and furious. We try to highlight the major stories in our newsletters and via our news feeds but the sheer volume of information prohibits highlighting everything. Please see the link above for the comprehensive links you need to news surrounding the Christmas season.

Black Friday: The Hype Begins

The day after Thanksgiving is known as Black Friday. There are two reasons it is called Black Friday. In the old days, it marked the day of the year when retailers began operating "in the black" for their selling year. And amongst retailers it is an ongoing joke of the "dark days" of chaotic shopping highlighted with throngs of customers. But for simple Christmas fanatics Black Friday is an event -- a tradition as beloved as putting up the tree, hanging the stocking and sipping the eggnog. Our good friends at The Xmas Place have deputized the community and are gathering ads in advance of the big day. The link above will take you to the forum where breaking news of Black Friday is announced. Find out the specials now and make your plan for where you will be in the wee morning hours of November 24th, 2006. We also offering the following Black Friday related links:

Malls to Open at 12:01 AM on Black Friday
How to Make the Most of Black Friday
Confessions of a Black Friday Junkie

Thank You Contest

Over the next week or so we're holding a little contest for users of the Merry Forums. To enter the contest you need only visit the forums ONCE before November 16th and your name will be placed in the hat for a free pound of See's Candies. Please see this link for more details. For ten users of the Merry Forums this is our way of saying thanks to you for sharing Christmas with us.

Annual Christmas Writing Contest

It has become a tradition at My Merry Christmas -- the annual Christmas Writing Contest is already underway! Put your special Christmas memory down on paper and send in your entry for this season. You could win $500! And while you're at it, check out last year's winning entries. You'll shed a tear or share a laugh. And you'll feel the Spirit of Christmas for sure.

Christmas During The American Revolution

We're big nuts for history, especially as it relates to Christmas. Christmas during periods of war (such as this year) always bring different experiences. Some of the most critical events of the American Revolution transpired on Christmas Day and the lessons learned at that time trickle down through history to this day. A fascinating read brought to us by Hollee Chadwick, one of our original contributing writers at My Merry Christmas.

Christmastide (A German Folk Tale)

New to Christmas Stories at My Merry Christmas is a version of a classic German folk tale you may want to share with the kids sometime this Christmas season. The tale involves a poor wandering child in search of love and Christmas on Christmas Eve. I tried it out on my own kids this week and they loved it!

Parting Shot...

I was in Reno, Nevada on business last week and I happened to pass a Tower Records store with big signs plastered on the front shouting "Going Out of Business!". I was a little saddened to see it but I understand why they are closing. I'm not a teenager any more, that's why. When I was younger I kept Tower in business singlehandedly.

Anyway, I stopped to see if I could find any new Christmas CDs for the radio station and I was happy to find a few I wanted. I took them up to the counter and there before me stood a typical Tower Records employee -- spiked hair, pierced lips and eyebrows, black lipstick, the works -- and I momentarily wondered if I should mention that Halloween was over.

When I handed over my purchases the girl flipped through the CDs, looking rather bored and letting out a heavy sigh. "I don't know, man. I'm not so ready for Christmas." Then she said it: "It's just so excessive, ya know?"

It was everything I could do to keep from cracking up.

-- All the best, Jeff