Mercury Radio Arts presents American Traditions: Christmas exclusively for Insider Extreme members, premiering on Tuesday, December 7, at 8 pm ET. The documentary features the true history of the American observance and the favorite yuletide memories of Glenn Beck, Ted Nugent, Andy Williams, Janine Turner, Alveda King, Buzz Aldrin, Peter Billingsley (aka Ralphie from A Christmas Story) and, of course, Santa himself. 

Christmas. Think about it for a second. If you’re like millions of other Americans the very word opens a flood gate of memories and emotions.  That special reunion, a favorite gift, a trip home.  It seems like Christmas has been around forever but it might surprise you to know, in historical terms, it’s a relatively new American tradition. In fact, it wasn’t all that long ago that the New York Times called Christmas trees "a rootless and lifeless corpse not worthy of the day," or a frustrated member of the Salvation Army grabbed a lobster pot and hand bell and set out on his own to raise money for the poor." 

For more on American Traditions: Christmas visit www.glennbeck.com where Insider Extreme members can get a sneak peek at what's to come this week.