Fa-la-la-la-la

I don't think my family had a lot of Christmas traditions, or at least not traditions in the traditional sense. We definitely didn't have any cultural or ethnic traditions beyond the standard basic American practice of having a tree and presents. We also had the standard rural/German/Lutheran tradition of not showing any sentiment or affection, but that was a tradition we upheld year round. My mom wasn't into holiday baking (beyond her famous--or infamous--jello balls) and we were content with whatever cookies and treats her co-workers and students sent home with her. 

So it's not any special food or activity or present that I remember most about Christmas, but my mother's love of Christmas music. My most powerful (if not accurate) memories of listening to the Christmas records (yes, actual records!) my mom played were in the dark and sleep-deprived early mornings before school. These songs always filled me with hope, not for peace on earth or Santa, but for Christmas vacation and a chance for my young insomniac self to catch up on some sleep

Sunday at church we sang one of my favorite Christmas songs, "I Heard the Bells On Christmas Day." I learned to love this song as a kid because it was on one of my mom's most cherished Christmas records by Ed Ames. Ed's voice was very deep and the song felt very grand and sad and dramatic. In addition to Ed Ames, the other Christmas albums I most remember my mom playing when I was a kid and teen were by Peggy Lee, the Carpenters, and Amy Grant. 

Ever since those early days on the tundra, Christmas music has played a big part in my life. I don't like to start listening to it in October or anything, and I don't even listen to it all that much, but it certainly holds a special place in my heart. My favorite Christmas music is usually at least a little sad and wistful, and sometimes weird (just like Christmas). Luckily for me, there are many, many Christmas songs that fit that description. I'm hard pressed to pick my favorite Christmas songs, but here are some of the many that have moved me for various reasons:

Singing Christmas carols in
"A Christmas Carol"
a few years back

Popular music

• Little Altar Boy-- The Carpenters' version. So beautiful, but what in the world did poor Karen experience to sing this song about sinning with such emotion? 
• The Christmas Waltz--any version, just makes me want to dance around a ballroom floor
• Christmas--Blues Traveler. Love just about the whole "A Very Special Christmas" album, but this is a philosophical, poignant rocker 
• Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas--Chrissie Hynde's rendition is a favorite but this song is almost always awesome
• I Wonder as I Wander--Ed Ames or Peter, Paul & Mary 
• I Like a Sleighride--Peggy Lee...Peggy always sounds lovely and drunk and mad  and heartbroken to me
• Sister Winter--Tracey Thorn. A beautiful newer entry
• Cherry Tree Carol--Peter, Paul & Mary. LOVE their live special and album
• Merry Christmas Everybody--Slade. Discovered this as a college study abroad student in England
• We Need a Little Christmas--and when Angela Lansbury sings this, you believe her
• Happy Xmas (War is Over)--John Lennon, an obvious, but necessary choice
• Christmas Time is Here--from "A Charlie Brown Christmas." Who doesn't love this?

Traditional Christmas carols (the sexism and sometimes harsh Christianity don't bother me)

• God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
• What Child is This?
• O Little Town of Bethlehem
• It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
• The First Noel
• O Come, O Come Emmanuel

Of all my favorites, the Muppets' Christmas album with John Denver is in a class all by itself. Chad and I now have our own long-held tradition (probably close to 20 years, which is longer than any childhood tradition) of listening to this album (and drinking) while we put up our Christmas tree. I'm not sure how this tradition got started. I think I bought the CD on a whim (I had a dim memory of this Christmas special from my childhood) at Walmart or something and we discovered it was absolutely perfect. (Sadly, the television special is not available on DVD, but YouTube has some "unofficial" uploads. In "researching" this post, Chad and I spent almost half an hour watching the tv special and geeking out about how the tv show is different from the audio CD). Besides having all the crazy, brilliant muppetiness you'd expect, it has beautiful songs with wise lyrics such as "we can all know everything without ever know why" (from "It's In Everyone Of Us"). Chad has strict orders to make sure one of these songs is featured at my funeral, although I can't decide between "It's In Everyone Of Us" and "When the River Meets the Sea" (also just learned tonight from the interwebs that this song was performed at Jim Henson's funeral).

Another thing I've always loved about Christmas music is attempting to play it on the piano. I'm thrilled that Chad and I now have a digital piano so I can try to restart this hobby. I've never been a great pianist (mostly due to lack of practice) but after several years of lessons as a kid, I do have some ability that I'm able to dust off. I think I'm getting a little better every time I play, and practicing is less arduous than it was when I was a kid because now I get to drink wine. Although Oscar's increased anxiety seems to have kicked in right around the time I started playing...maybe I'm not as good as I thought. Kitty Boo Boo (Sprout) also has a pretty strong (and loud) reaction to the piano, but, as usual, I can't tell if she wants to love the piano or kill it. (This is also how I feel about Kitty Boo Boo's reaction to me). Or maybe I just don't understand demonic kitty and old puppy Christmas caroling.