filed in Holiday Cheer
Tis the Season
A few years ago, during the lead up to the holidays, I needed a root canal. Trapped in the dentist’s chair, forced to listen to a loop of Christmas carols, I thought I might lose my mind. For the follow up visit, I brought noise canceling headphones and unseasonal music.
Cartoon by William Haefeli for The New Yorker
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I worked retail (in a mall) for quite a few Christmas seasons. I wanted to scream by the end. I thought I’d go ballistic if I had to hear Winter Wonderland or Let It Snow one more time!
That said, I am quite fond of some of the more “church-y” carols that don’t get much airplay these days (or ones from other countries). God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen sung by Leontyne Price is incredible. And I quite like Noël Nouvelet and Il Est Ne Le Divin Enfant–perhaps reminiscent of my elementary school French classes where we were taught French carols by Madame Millet.
The one day that I really enjoy Christmas carols is on Christmas Day. Perhaps because I know it will be over soon.
I listen to Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, sometimes the Messiah or other sacred pieces (always disliked Silent Night though- so slow), but I loathe those White Christmas/Jingle Bell Rock/Let it snow-type ones.
I agree, Robin. Those are the good ones.
I have a December birthday, and because I was given Christmas records for my birthday for many years, I seem to have become a “collector” of Christmas music. And I EMBRACE that! Now, every year, I post different videos of different Christmas songs on my Facebook page for each day between Thanksgiving and Christmas Day (no need for repeats – there’s plenty of really good stuff out there!) I do this for me, and me alone. BUT… I’ve gotten a lot of positive feedback from my FB friends over the years (I’ve been doing this since 2010.) It feels really good when one of my friends or a relative tells me that they found a new favorite Christmas song because of something I’ve posted during the holidays. This is something that has happened multiple times in the last four years. Gotta spread the joy! 😉
On the morning of Christmas eve, the pianist in my ballet class only played Christmas songs. He’s Ukranian and really likes kitschy music. It was a lot to take in, but still enjoyable. He accompanied our class again the day after Christas and started playing some of those same songs. By then, I’d had my fill.