I'll be the first to admit it's a bit on the tacky side, but this has been one of my favorite Christmas stories since I first heard it on a Kingston Trio concert album a few years back. It goes something like this:


Three men all die on Christmas Eve and meet St. Peter at the Pearly Gates. St, Peter tells them that, since it is Christmas Eve, he can't let them pass through unless they can present some sort of item associated with the holiday.


The first man reaches into his pocket and pulls out a cigarette lighter. He lights it, holds it up and says, "It's candles."


St. Peter says, "Go on in."


The second man walks up, reaches into his pocket and pulls out a handful of coins. He shakes them in his hand and they make a jingling sound. He looks at St. Peter and says, "It's bells."


St. Peter says, "Go on in."


Now the third man had been at a pretty wild party shortly before he died. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a pair of frilly ladies' panties.


With a smile he holds them up and says, "It's Carol's..."