There's always a buzz in Cleveland for the first home game, a date the locals have long treated like a national holiday.

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Governments and corporations have long considered the eve of a long holiday weekend the best time for dumping embarrassing or unpleasant news.

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In recent years, the berries have come a long way, from a holiday side dish to a year-round big business.

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Some have said this is the best retail holiday season in a long time, even before the economy went south in recent years.

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He said consumers should just think of the situation as a long holiday weekend -- they should have just a little extra food on hand.

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In Europe, for example, rail operators offer a wide range of fares and discounts for those who book in advance, travel at odd times or bundle the fare with a packaged holiday much as airlines have long done.

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Tickets are often hard to come by, and, make no mistake, this is not an event driven exclusively by tourist dollars (or the Pacific Franc) but one that is committed to preserving local culture and identity, and the dancing continues with a proud energy well into the small hours, long after weary holiday makers have retreated to bed.

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