Christmas Music

Every November, right after Thanksgiving, I start dreaming. I dream not of a White Christmas, but of Christmas music. I love the songs of Christmas and the history of them too. Every year for about four weeks in late November and during all of December I am content to listen to the songs of Christmas as much as humanly possible, on my car radio (there are many "all Christmas music" stations to choose from), my computer, in elevators, at shopping malls, in TV shows, wherever it's played (which is practically everywhere)....and it is ubiquitous. And oddly enough, the musical melodies and lyrics of Christmas is good stuff. It can hold its won musically with just about any music format.

The music of Christmas helps define the holiday itself and more importantly, it helps us to retrieve memories of our Christmas past through timeless lyrics and melodies that take us back to when we remember hearing it, perhaps for the first time. Christmas Music is the long lost friend who returns for a visit and enchants us while here. It calms us, stirs our imagination and sense of anticipation, even inspires us to live out the ideals embedded in the holiday itself.

It's impossible to list every Christmas song that we enjoy because there are so many. They come from every era and of every persuasion, be it religious, lay, silly or somber. So much of the religious and somber Christmas music came from the 19th century. That was the time when churches were the center of life, including musical lives. That style endures because the songs still inspire us and set ideals for us to achieve. Humans never stop needing ideals. Perhaps 'Silent Knight' best typifies those 19th century Christmas tunes. It tells us that we can't let those songs disappear because they have become a part of our humanity that is too important to forget.

In the 20th century Christmas music turned more buoyant and commercial. But it is lively and fun...like the favorite 'Jingle Bells'. The songs of that era prove that it doesn't matter what is one's religious persuasion when enjoying Christmas songs is the subject. Most people can recite and hum the Christmas carols they've heard repeatedly since childhood. We all try to sing them, both in and out of the shower, because they just make us feel better about ourselves, and the world around us.

Since the second half of the 20th century writers have turned to composing silly songs for Christmas. From 'Grandma Got Run over By A Reindeer' to The Chipmunks crooning what that star munk Alvin almost destroys when singing with his mates to Jimmy Boyd's classic 'All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth'. Those modern novelty songs remind us that Christmas is supposed to be fun and filled with giggles.

If we allow it, Christmas music does it all. No need to be a Grinch and declare that Christmas singing is corny or "for kids and old folks". If you have an imagination and want to be instantly transported to wonderland, tune into those Christmas tunes while they are still being played and jingle all the way with them