I love Nutcraker Suite, and songs like "Oh Little Town of Bethlehem", "Deck the Halls", "Joy to the World", "Silent Night", any of the older, more spiritually themed carols, and the fun songs such as "Rudolph, the Red Nosed Reindeer", Frosty the Snowman" all of the songs from "Charlie Brown's Christmas", etc. Last Sunday, after church, and while waiting for my daughter, I found myself teaching a couple of young girls (ages 6 and 8) some of the carols, like Deck the Halls, and Joy to the world, and explaining to them what the lyrics mean.
To me, Christmas is both a time of spirituality, and humbleness, and joyous celebration of a very special birth. It is a time when family and freinds join together and express their love for one another through the giving of oneslf, of gifts, and of time, when worldly cares are temporarily set aside, and the clebration is enjoyed.
Christmas carols then are sung to enhance that time, both for fun, and for spirituality. My farorite Christmas carols reflect that, and can be sung by anyone who loves to sing them, even if they sing off-key, or are sung by those who are tone-deaf.
Of course I love "White Christmas", the Bing Crosby version, and "Let it Snow" which is actually more of a winter song that happens to be sung a lot around Christmas time, and anything by Nat King Cole, or Doris Day, or Patti Page, or the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, etc. I also love ManHeim Steamroller versions of the classic songs, and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra treatments of the same.
I think my favorite Christmas-time instrumental is Carol of the Bells. I love the Christmas Cartoons. But most importantly, I love seeing the joy on the faces of children and family. I have no grandbabies yet, but am anxiously waiting that time so that I can once again see the gleefull faces, and hear the excited squeels of joy. I remember the Christmases of yesteryear, with my own children, and my one son who loved the dining room table as much as he did his gifts.
We would create a smorgasbord of goodies on the table, including various deli meats and cheeses, different types of breads and cheeses (all the best we could find in our little town), and condiments to go with it all. After reading the Christmas Story in the Bible, then opening gifts, he would run into the dining room. I always got such a huge kick out of his wide eyed and excited exclamation of "The Feast!" as he liked to call it. There was genuine excitement in his voice as he prepared to dig in.
I long for that youtful exitement to again be in my home. The memories make me misty-eyed, as do the Christmas Carols that continue to remind me of those times.
Merry Christmas to all of you, and I hope this season finds you well, and blessed.
Seeeeeeya; Goodweed of the North