Rush Limbaugh

Rush Limbaugh visited US forces in Afghanistan in 2005. Theories include the following:. On his June 17 radio show, he commented that: "This is a United States senator [Tom Harkin] amending the Defense appropriations bill with the intent being to get this program - only one hour of which is carried on Armed Forces Radio - stripped from that network." As of April 2005, the first hour of Limbaugh's show is still on AFRTS. No explanation of why it is celebrated on December 25 is universally accepted. Limbaugh responded by calling the move "censorship". Many different dates have been suggested for the celebration of Christmas. The amendment passed unanimously in the Senate. Related article: Chronology of Jesus' birth and death.

Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) introduced an amendment to the 2004 Defense Authorization bill that called for AFRTS to fulfill its stated goal of providing political balance in its news and public affairs programming. The cliché recreation for them is "movies and Chinese food"; movie theaters remaining open to bring in holiday dollars and Chinese restaurants being less likely to be closed. On June 14, 2004, U.S. Non-Christians in predominantly Christian nations may be left bereft of entertainment around Christmas. Other claims - for example, that there is no political counterbalance to Limbaugh on AFRTS - have been rebutted by Byron York, a columnist for the conservative National Review: "American military men and women abroad have access, for example, to the talk show of liberal host Diane Rehm...Jim Hightower and CBS News anchorman Dan Rather.". Because of holiday celebrations involving alcohol, drunk driving-related fatalities may also increase. Critics have pointed out that other programs, such as the Howard Stern show, which draws eight million listeners a week is absent from AFRTS. Suicide and murder rates may spike during the holiday season, but the peak months for suicide are May and June.

Because of that we provide him on our service.". Because of the focus on celebration, friends, and family, people who are without these, or who have recently suffered losses, are more likely to suffer from depression during Christmas. This increases the demands for counseling services during the period. 1 talk show host in the States; there's no question about that. Christmas movies generally open no later than late November, as their themes are not so popular once the season is over. [Limbaugh] is the No. Next to summer, this is the second-most lucrative season for the industry. Melvin Russell, director of AFRTS, defended Limbaugh's presence, by pointing to Limbaugh's high ratings in the US: "We look at the most popular shows broadcast here in the United States and try to mirror that. In North America, studios release many high-budget movies in the holiday season, both to capture holiday crowds and to position themselves for Oscars.

service men and women, DoD civilians, and their families serving outside the continental United States"), carries the first hour of Limbaugh's show. Frustrations over these issues and others can lead to a rise in Christmastime social problems. The article discussed the controversy surrounding the fact that American Forces Radio and Television Service (AFRTS), (which describes itself as "[providing] stateside radio and television programming, 'a touch of home', to U.S. They accuse the Christmas season of being dominated by money and greed, at the expense of the holiday's more important values. On May 26, 2004, the article "Rush's Forced Conscripts (http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2004/05/26/rush_limbaugh/index.html)" appeared on the online news and opinion magazine Salon.com. Many fundamentalist Christians, as well as anti-consumerists, decry the "commercialization" of Christmas. On Friday, June 11, 2004, Limbaugh announced that he was separating from his third wife Marta after ten years of marriage. Limbaugh indicated that he initiated the divorce. The economic impact continues after the holiday, with Christmas sales and New Year's sales, when stores sell off excess inventories.

This investigation has, as of June 2005, brought no criminal charges. Christmas Day is the only day in the year that some shops and businesses are closed. The ACLU, an organization often lambasted by Limbaugh, has come to his defense, claiming that the district attorney violated Limbaugh's constitutional rights by "fishing" through his private medical records. In the United States, the Christmas shopping season now begins on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. Limbaugh's attorney Roy Black alleges that the chief county prosecutor investigating Limbaugh, an elected Democrat, is politically motivated. Sales increase in almost all retail areas and shops introduce new products, as people purchase gifts, decorations, and supplies. An investigation into alleged "doctor shopping" is ongoing in the state of Florida. Christmas is typically the largest annual stimulus for the economies of celebrating nations.

It charged network anchors with engaging in exaggerated and inflammatory rhetoric by implying Limbaugh was involved in "drug sales" or "drug gangs." Timeline (http://www.humaneventsonline.com/article.php?id=2787). Among other classical Christmas pieces are the Nutcracker Suite, adapted from Tchaikovsky's ballet score, and Johann Sebastian Bach's Christmas Oratorio (BWV 248). Television networks add Christmas themes, run traditional holiday movies, and produce a variety of Christmas specials. An article in the January 12, 2004 issue of Human Events (The National Conservative Weekly) presents its reaction to the media attention of Limbaugh's addiction, calling it a 'Network War' against Limbaugh. Radio stations broadcast Christmas carols and Christmas songs, including classical music such as the Hallelujah chorus from Handel's Messiah. Speaking about his behavior, Limbaugh went on to say:. Radio and television also cultivate Christmas themes. He did not specifically mention to which type of pain medication he was addicted. The story behind the Christmas carol "Silent Night" and the story of "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus" are among the most well-known of these.

On October 10, 2003, Limbaugh admitted to listeners on his radio show that he was addicted to prescription painkillers and stated that he would enter inpatient treatment for 30 days, immediately following the broadcast. A few true stories have become enduring Christmas tales. and in 1998:. On Christmas Eve, a guardian angel finds him in despair and prevents him from committing suicide, by magically showing him how much he meant to the world around him. Several statements from the 1990s were found, in particular, on October 5, 1995:. Its hero, George Bailey, is a businessman who sacrificed his dreams to help his community. Following Limbaugh's admission of drug addiction, his detractors reviewed prior statements by him about drug addicts as examples of hypocrisy. A notable example is the film It's a Wonderful Life, the theme of which mirrors A Christmas Carol.

The highly addictive painkillers function similarly to morphine, heroin, or a stronger form of codeine. Since the 1980s, their many video editions are sold and re-sold every year during the holiday season. Other news outlets quickly confirmed the beginnings of an investigation. Many Christmas stories have been popularized as movies and TV specials. Limbaugh's former housekeeper, under investigation for drug dealing, alleged that Limbaugh was addicted to prescription opiate painkillers such as OxyContin, Lorcet (a combination of Tylenol and hydrocodone), and hydrocodone, and that he went through detox twice. Unlike the principals of anglophone Christmas lore, she meets a tragic end. In early October 2003 and in the same week as the McNabb controversy, the National Enquirer reported that Limbaugh was being investigated for illegally buying prescription drugs. She dares not go home because her father is drunk.

In any event, they made no public response to the comment, on the air or off. The destitute little slum girl walks barefoot through snow-covered streets on Christmas Eve, trying in vain to sell her matches, and peeking in at the celebrations in the homes of the more fortunate. It has been suggested that Limbaugh's fellow commentators on the program, both of whom were themselves former African-American football players, may have played a role behind the scenes in ending Limbaugh's career as a football commentator. C. Andersen's "The Little Match Girl". Limbaugh insisted that his comments were aimed at the media, and not at McNabb or African Americans. Some Scandinavian Christmas stories are less cheery than Dickens', notably H. On October 1, 2003, Limbaugh resigned from ESPN with the statement:. Although these Christmas icons have become widespread through television and movies, Christmas is still a time when national traditions are strong, and both Santa's appearance and the stories told vary from country to country.

Limbaugh responded by saying that he must have been right; otherwise, the comments would not have sparked such outrage. It was further developed in 1931 by Haddon Sundblom for the Coca-Cola Company. Presidential candidates Howard Dean and Wesley Clark joined in the criticism, as did the NAACP. In 1881, the Swedish magazine Ny Illustrerad Tidning published Viktor Rydberg's poem Tomten featuring the first painting by Jenny Nyström of this traditional Swedish mythical character (tomte, elf, goblin) which she turned into the white-bearded friendly figure associated with Christmas. The Reverend Al Sharpton, a Democratic Party candidate for President, encouraged Limbaugh's firing from ESPN, threatening a boycott of all Disney companies, including the American Broadcasting Company, Disneyland, and Walt Disney World. Nast's 19th-century cartoons gave Santa his familiar form (Harper's Weekly, 1863), while Moore's poem A Visit from Saint Nicholas (Sentinel, 1823, popularly known as The Night Before Christmas) supplied the rotund Santa and his sleigh landing on rooftops on Christmas Eve. McNabb had suffered a broken leg during the 2002 season, and had been slow to recover. Thomas Nast and Clement Moore provided the English-speaking countries with their popular images of Santa Claus.

McNabb was the highest paid NFL player in history at the time [6] (http://www.bet.com/articles/1,,c1gb4043-4730,00.html), and defenders of Limbaugh's comments point out that McNabb had the worst start of his career in the 2003 season and was the NFL's lowest-rated starting quarterback. McNabb's defenders say that to his credit, McNabb was a runner-up for the year 2000 league Most Valuable Player, a member of three Pro Bowl teams, and led his team to two straight NFC championship games. Dickens is sometimes credited with shaping the modern Christmas of English-speaking countries (tree, plum pudding, carols, etc.) and the movement to close businesses on Christmas day. The controversy centered on his comment:. Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol is the tale of curmudgeonly miser Ebenezer Scrooge. Scrooge rejects compassion and philanthropy, and Christmas as a symbol of both, until he is visited by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future, who show him the consequences of his ways. In September of 2003, Limbaugh ignited a controversy [5] (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=1627887) when, speaking as a football commentator on ESPN, he criticized the media for its support of Donovan McNabb, the African-American quarterback of the Philadelphia Eagles. Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker ballet tells of a Christmas ornament come to life in a young Russian girl's dream. Limbaugh's influence can be seen in the recent launch of the Air America Radio network and by author and commentator Ed Schultz's program [4] (http://www.wegoted.com) whose style and delivery are quite similar to Limbaugh's, though his perspective is opposite to Limbaugh (and a fraction of the audience). Several have become part of the Christmas tradition in their countries of origin.

Limbaugh has also received criticism from some competitors such as Michael Savage and The New American magazine. Many fictional Christmas stories capture the spirit of Christmas in a modern-day fairy tale, often with heart-touching stories of a Christmas miracle. [3] (http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/_/id/5923659). Main article: Christmas in the media. Hynde only discovered its use years later and realized Limbaugh did not have permission to play it in that form. After some indecision and negotiating, Hynde decided in 1999 to let Limbaugh continue to use it, with Limbaugh donating royalties from it to the Hynde-supported animal rights organization PETA. see also: list of winter festivals and Christmas around the world. Limbaugh loved the riff, hated the message, and thought he could both attract listeners and annoy opponents by playing it. People gather outdoors to sing carols by candlelight on Christmas Eve or another evening shortly before Christmas.

Since the 1980s he has used an edited and looped version of the powerful instrumental riff from The Pretenders' "My City Was Gone", a song written by Chrissie Hynde to bemoan the effects of overdevelopment on her native Ohio. Carols by Candlelight started in Melbourne in 1938 and spread around the world. Even Limbaugh's introductory theme music has attracted controversy. This clashes with the traditional winter iconography, and leads to such oddities as Santas arriving by surfboard to awaiting crowds on Australia's Bondi Beach. His defenders have pointed out that Limbaugh talks unscripted for fifteen broadcast hours a week, and that the number of factual errors he makes is, under the circumstances, very small. In Commonwealth countries in the southern hemisphere, Christmas occurs at the height of their summer season. FAIR later published an entire book, The Way Things Aren't: Rush Limbaugh's Reign of Error: Over 100 Outrageously False and Foolish Statements from America's Most Powerful Radio and TV Commentator (ISBN 156584260X), documenting alleged errors and lies by Limbaugh. Other states are catching up with Christmas celebrations in a bid to attract tourists.

For the full text of the original, the rebuttal and the rebuttal of the rebuttal, see [2] (http://www.fair.org/press-releases/fair-limbaugh-rebuttal.html). The festive season is celebrated with pomp and vigor in places like Bombay and Goa. Limbaugh responded to about half of the original claims; FAIR then rebutted his rebuttal. Christmas is an official holiday in almost all states. A group called Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR) released a report on October 17, 1994 listing forty-three errors Limbaugh allegedly made during various shows. Christmas is known as bada din (the big day) in Hindi, and revolves around Santa Claus and shopping. The liberal comedian and political satirist Al Franken released a book and CD titled Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot and Other Observations (ISBN 0440508649) which, among other political humor from a liberal perspective, included harsh criticism of Limbaugh and his allegedly meager fact-finding efforts. The title of the book came from the fact that during the time in which it was first published, Rush Limbaugh's weight was pushing the 400-pound mark; a few months afterward, Limbaugh began to go on various diets and his weight dropped down to around 270 pounds around the time the book's second edition was being released. In India, most educational institutions have a Christmas vacation, beginning shortly before Christmas and ending a few days after New Year's Day.

He refers to Robert Byrd as "Sheets" in reference to his former ties to the KKK, and he calls Harry Reid "Dingy Harry." Sometimes Limbaugh's opponents unwittingly provide fodder for comment, such as Ted Kennedy's ironic praise of presidential candidate John Kerry's wartime rescue of a fellow soldier from drowning. The Christmas festival is largely for lovers, and eclipses the country's two Valentine's Days. His references to Ted Kennedy invariably discuss Kennedy's alcohol use and Chappaquiddick (he has nicknamed Kennedy "the swimmer"). Japan has largely adopted the western Santa Claus for its secular Christmas celebration, but their New Year's Day is more important. The song "I Know I'll Never Love This Way Again" preceded reports about people dying of AIDS. The official holiday on that date is largely treated as if it were Christmas. For example, news about the homeless is often preceded with the Clarence "Frogman" Henry song "Ain't Got No Home". In Taiwan, December 25 is the date of the signing of the Constitution of the Republic of China in 1947.

Limbaugh's satire is very sharp, though it has been criticized for what his detractors claim to be a juvenile and mean-spirited nature often bordering on hate speech. In South Korea and in Timor-Leste, where there are large Christian populations, Christmas is an official holiday. He also has explained himself on occasion as being an entertainer, not a reporter. The godparents also bless them for a prosperous and joyful life. Limbaugh's response to this accusation is to assert that most news reporting is liberally biased (in particular, television and newspaper news); as he says, "I am equal time." He also does not claim to be a neutral reporter, and contrasts his stance with the major news media's claims of objectivity (in the United States). On Christmas Day children visit their godparents to seek aguinaldos (gifts). Many liberal critics decry the lack of a balance between liberal and conservative viewpoints on talk radio. Family members dine together on traditional fare, which includes the queso de bola (ball of cheese) and hamon (Christmas ham).

As a result the words were preemptively introduced by wikipedians familiar with the occurrence, but other wikipedians later voted to delete them. Christmas Eve is the much-anticipated noche buena—the traditional Christmas feast after midnight mass. On May 3, 2005, Rush said that he would enter the words afristocracy and ghettocracy into Wikipedia. These Misas de Aguinaldo (Gallo) (Gift Masses) are more popularly known in Filipino as Simbang Gabi. During his radio program on April 22, 2005, Rush retracted the assertion, stating that he had received incorrect information from one of his staff members. Christmas Day is ushered in by the nine-day dawn masses that start on December 16, but unofficially the season starts as far back as September. On April 19, 2005, Limbaugh mentioned Wikipedia in the final minutes of his show, calling it "… some kind of left wing Internet encyclopedia," in response to the viewing of Pope Benedict XVI Wikipedia Article (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pope_Benedict_XVI&oldid=12528936) (most likely dated April 19, 2005 at 2:52 PM EST). The Philippines celebrates the world's longest Christmas season and, like other countries influenced by hispanic culture, the nativity scene is highly visible and lamp posts are decorated with parol (christmas lanterns).

Following a later news story of his addiction to painkillers, it was alleged by some that his deafness was probably due to a known side effect of the class of painkillers he abused. Christmas lights are a nearly universal, and with the summery weather, fireworks displays are also found, especially over the cities of Brazil. In December 2001, Limbaugh underwent cochlear implant surgery, which restored a measure of hearing in one ear, and his voice and diction improved. As in Mexico, village processions acting out the events surrounding the birth of Christ are also common. Family Christmas meals are important, their contents as varied as the number of South American countries. The system worked remarkably well, but did not deceive all listeners, some of whom noted a long delay between a caller ending his point and Limbaugh responding, and occasionally speaking over a caller. In regions with large numbers of Native American descendants, such as Peru, the figures are often hand-carved in a centuries-old style. He also revealed that his radio staff was aiding him in concealing his rapidly progressing hearing loss by setting up a system where he could appear to hear his callers. Nativity scenes are featured in South American Christmas, both in homes and in public places.

However, on October 8, 2001, Limbaugh admitted that the changes in his voice were due to complete deafness in his left ear and substantial hearing loss in his right ear. Gift giving in Argentina occurs on January 6, or "Three Kings Day," when children leave shoes under their beds to be filled with snacks or small gifts by the Magi, who stop off on their way to Bethlehem. By September 2001, Limbaugh's listeners had noted changes in his voice and diction, changes that Limbaugh initially denied. South American "Santas" dress more lightly in keeping with their warmer Christmas, and have adopted a number of means, from ladders to trampolines, to enter homes at night. He was inducted into Broadcasting's Hall of Fame in 1993. The latter two resemble Santa Claus. Limbaugh was the 1992, 1995, and 2000 recipient of the Marconi Radio Award for Syndicated Radio Personality of the Year, given by the National Association of Broadcasters. Gift giving traditions include El Niño Jesus (Baby Jesus), who brings gifts to children in Colombia, Chile's Viejo Pasquero (Old Man Christmas), and Brazil's Papai Noel.

(In many places it was aired at 1:30 AM or even later.). The secular customs and gift-giving in these countries are an admixture of traditions handed down from European and Native American forebears, plus the increasing influence of American culture. Reportedly, Limbaugh ended the show due to disappointment that it was aired too late in the evening in many markets. Religious themes predominate in heavily-Catholic South America. The television show discussed many of the same topics as his radio show, and was taped in front of a live audience, which he facetiously claimed had to pass an intelligence test in order to be admitted. Over a nine day period, groups of townspeople go from door to door, symbolic of visitors to the baby Jesus, and are periodically called inside homes to participate in the breaking of a gift-filled piñata. Limbaugh then hosted a syndicated half-hour television show running from 1992 through 1996, with Roger Ailes as executive producer. The focus of secular Christmas in Mexico is the posada.

This ended badly when on one show Limbaugh got into a confrontation with some ACT-UP hecklers and had to clear the studio audience before continuing. NORAD "tracks" Santa Claus' global transit each year, to wide attention by the mass media. Limbaugh's first television exposure came with a 1990 guest host stint on Pat Sajak's late-night program on CBS. Christmas. President George W. Bush "called in" to a live broadcast during the week of the 2004 Republican National Convention to give a preview of his nomination acceptance speech. The Christmas tree and skating rink at Rockefeller Center in New York City, and the White House Christmas decorations are hallmarks of the U.S. Bush made an appearance on Limbaugh's show as part of his re-election campaign, in an effort to regain the support of the right wing of his own party (which he had earlier alienated by breaking a pledge not to raise taxes). In the United States and Canada, the Santa Claus traditions are essentially the same, except in Quebec, where Père Noël may appear.

W. In the United Kingdom Christmas is sometimes referred to affectionately by the slang terms Crimble or Crimbo. In 1992, President George H. The usual Christmas dinner meal is turkey, with christmas pudding or Christmas cakes, often decorated with white icing, as dessert. Rush Limbaugh became as much a political symbol as he was a broadcaster, comedian, and political satirist. It stands in Trafalgar Square and is the most famous Christmas tree in Britain. He attracted widespread support and attention in 1998 when he complained that some radio stations were shortening his programs by cutting out his dramatic pauses to make room for more commercials. Every year since 1947 the city of Oslo has presented the British a spruce tree as a token of appreciation for British support during the Second World War.

Limbaugh has a dynamic voice and dramatic presentation; even many of his critics admit that he is an excellent broadcaster. The festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at King's College, Cambridge is a popular religious programme. Bush. Christmas crackers form an integral part of Christmas celebrations, and the Christmas pantomime is popular with young families. The show is usually split between call-in segments and monologues by Limbaugh; on very rare occasions, Limbaugh will have guests on his show, such as Vice President Dick Cheney or even President George W. Many current customs, including their Christmas tree, or yolka, were brought by Peter the Great, after his western travels in the late 18th century. The program has for over 15 years been the most popular talk radio show in the United States. Russians kept some traditions alive by shifting them to New Year's Day, including the visit by gift-giving "Grandfather Frost" and his "Snowmaiden".

The Rush Limbaugh Show was largely responsible for the shift in AM broadcasting to a news-talk format after an audience decline in the 1970s. It centers on the Christmas Eve "Holy Supper", which consists of twelve servings, one to honor each of Jesus' apostles. As the program grew in popularity, it was carried on stations with larger audiences. Christmas celebration in Russia has been revived since 1992, after decades of government suppression. Limbaugh refers on-air to the "Excellence In Broadcasting Network", or "E-I-B"; however, there is no organization with that name. He is thought to descend more from Santa Claus than from Saint Nicholas. After achieving some local success, he moved to New York City (and his current flagship station, WABC) in the late 1980s and eventually became syndicated on August 1, 1988 via a company called Premiere Broadcasting. In Eastern Europe, Slavic countries have Ded Moroz ("Grandfather Frost"), who travels in a magical troika, a decorated sleigh drawn by three horses, and delivers gifts to children.

In 1984, Limbaugh returned to radio as a talk show host at KFBK in Sacramento, California. Both dates are official holidays. After several years in music radio, Limbaugh took a break from radio and accepted a position as director of promotions with the Kansas City Royals baseball team. In Belarus Christmas is celebrated twice, on December 25 and on January 7, because the country has significant populations of both Catholic and Orthodox faiths. (This claim is now a reality as Limbaugh does use a golden microphone on The Rush Limbaugh Show.). In 2001 a massive nativity scene was constructed and displayed in Bratislava's Plavecky Stvrtok, with plans to disassemble it for future displays in other cities. It was in Pittsburgh that many of Limbaugh's trademarks developed, such as a claim to use a "golden microphone". Christmas in Slovakia is largely a celebration of family, food, and religious observation.

He went on to Pittsburgh, as a Top 40 music radio disc jockey on station KQV, using the name Jeff Christie. The following day is often spent visiting friends or celebrated with a family dinner. Limbaugh stated that he was not drafted because a physical found that he had an "inoperable pilonidal cyst" and "a football knee from high school" [Colford, pp 14 – 20]. It is a very popular custom to attend the midnight mass called Pasterka. This would have normally made him eligible for the draft, but he was classified 1-Y due to an undisclosed medical problem [1] (http://www.snopes.com/military/limbaugh.htm). No meat except fish is eaten on that day. He attended Southeast Missouri State University for one year then dropped out. There is straw under the table cloth which is meant to symbolise the place of birth of Christ.

His father, a judge whose wealth and power gave him considerable influence in Southeastern Missouri, had once owned the radio station where Limbaugh started his career. It is inevitable that there are 12 dishes on the table and that there is a free place for an unexpected guest. Limbaugh started out in radio as a teenager in the late 1960s in his hometown of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, using the name Rusty Sharpe. There are many other traditions in connection with the Christmas Eve supper. As of 2005, Rush Limbaugh is the most listened-to radio talk show host in the United States, and has an audience exceeding 20 million listeners weekly. The feast begins with the appearance of the first star, and is followed by the exchange of gifts. A conservative, he discusses politics and current events on his show, The Rush Limbaugh Show. In Poland, Christmas Eve is a day first of fasting, then of feasting.

Rush Hudson Limbaugh III (born January 12, 1951 in Cape Girardeau, Missouri) is an American radio talk show host. Another tradition requires pouring molten lead into water and guessing a message from the shapes that appear when it hardens. ISBN 1560256141. Girls throw shoes over their shoulders; if the toe points to the door, the girl will get married. Thunder's Mouth Press. Apples are cut crosswise; if a star appears in the core, the next year will be successful, while a cross suggests a bad year. The I Hate Ann Coulter, Bill O'Reilly, Rush Limbaugh, Michael Savage, Sean Hannity...Reader: The Hideous Truth About America's Ugliest Conservatives. Other Czech Christmas traditions involve predictions.

Willis, Clint (2004). The gifts are displayed under the Christmas tree (usually spruce or pine), and people unpack them after the dinner. CD-ROM. Old traditions include fasting on Christmas Eve until a ceremonial dinner is served, in order to be able to see a "golden pig". ISBN 1592485545. Gifts are brought by Ježíšek, or "little Jesus". 2004 Conservatives and Liberals: The Political Spectrum from Al Franken to Rush Limbaugh. Progressive Management. December 25 and 26 are also holidays.

Government (2003). In the Czech Republic, Christmas is celebrated mainly on December 24, or Christmas Eve - Štědrý den, or "open-handed day", when the gifts are given in the evening. U.S. In Greece, a ship is the traditional symbol of Christmas, though the tree has been imported. ISBN 1565301005. In recent years Babbo Natale, a Santa Claus-like figure, is becoming more common. Summit Publishing Group. In some regions, presents are brought on Epiphany by La Befana, and in others by Baby Jesus on Christmas day or eve.

(1993). Rush Hour: Talk Radio, Politics, and the Rise of Rush Limbaugh. Food, religious observances, nativity displays, and gift-giving are prominent. Seib, Philip M. The pagan feast of Saturnalia coincides with the Christian advent, and the holiday season spans from then through Epiphany. ISBN 156584260X. Modern traditions combine with holdovers from their Roman forebears in the celebrations of Natale, the Italian Christmas. New Press. After a quiet December 25, another large celebration follows on Boxing Day, when children may go door to door to receive treats and money from neighbors. Joulupukki (or Christmas Goat) is the Finnish Santa Claus. He travels with a sleigh and reindeer to deliver gifts to good children.

The Way Things Aren't: Rush Limbaugh's Reign of Error: Over 100 Outrageously False and Foolish Statements from America's Most Powerful Radio and TV. The Norwegian Christmas celebration begins with feasting on December 24, followed by a visit by Julenissen, who brings gifts to children who have behaved. Rendall, Steve, Naureckas, Jim, and Cohen, Jeff (1995). The most entrenched and nationally unifying Swedish and Danish Christmas custom is perhaps that of watching a Disney special at 3 PM on Christmas Eve. ISBN B0006F58V0. The Christmas feast focuses on baked ham, but there are wide regional variations as to what day it is best served. Mighty Pen Pub. In recognition of the threat of holiday food poisoning, Swedish newspapers run seasonal laboratory tests of restaurant jullunches, warning of the danger of cold meats and mayonnaise left out at room temperature.

Rahman, Michael (1995). Why Rush Limbaugh is Wrong, or, The Demise of Traditionalism and the Rise of Progressive Sensibility. Julefrokost in Danish) in the weeks before Christmas. ISBN 0812692942. In Sweden and Denmark, businesses traditionally invite their employees to a Christmas smörgåsbord lunch (the julbord or jullunch. Open Court Publishing Company. Commercially, the Striezelmarkt becomes a Christmas gift production center, boasting the specialities of the Dresden region, from ceramics and prints to various delicacies which are shipped worldwide. Limbaugh: A Dittohead's Guide to Fallacious Reasoning. Nicholas, or by the Christkind, a sprite-like child who may represent the baby Jesus.

Logic and Mr. The gifts may be brought by the Weihnachtsmann, who resembles St. Perkins, Ray, Jr. (1995). The feast typically takes place at lunch on December 25, and usually involves poultry (typically roast goose). ISBN 0971058709. Following Saint Nicholas Day, which is mostly for children, Christmas gift-giving usually takes place on Christmas eve, with gifts put under the Christmas tree. Four-Star Press. In Germany, Christmas traditions vary by region.