When Halloween merchandise starts to sell, moving in Christmas merchandise is a natural transition.

Last Christmas (2004), the staff had asked me if we could leave it up, so that's when we started.

Malls were packed on Christmas Eve. It will go down as one of the biggest days before Christmas on record. Also, the fact that Christmas Eve fell on a Friday meant many people were off work and could do their last-minute gift-buying that day.

Some of the students had their scripts since before Christmas and they are all really dedicated. We started rehearsing about five months ago and this week they spent everyday rehearsing, building the set, working on their costumes and getting the lighting and sound ready. The students are in charge of everything.

If you grew up in Macon, Georgia, the fair was almost like Thanksgiving or Christmas. It was another holiday. The food, the rides. It's just a good time.

Traditionally, Christmas Day is the busiest day of the year at 7-Eleven. A majority of our customers are men, and many have come to depend on another holiday tradition -- 7-Eleven being open round the clock on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.