Which are you? Someone who loves Christmas music or who tolerates it?
Me? I’m a lover. But only if I’m not made to overindulge. A little can go a long way with Christmas music, especially if you’re in a mall or store and, say, the Chipmunks Christmas song comes on. Spare me, please!
Granted, I don’t usually begin listening to Christmas music until after Thanksgiving. But this year, for some reason, I started early. Some of my favorites?
Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire
Merry Christmas, Darling (by Karen Carpenter)
I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas (by so many!)
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Santa Baby (by Eartha Kitt)
Silent Night
O Holy Night
If you haven’t heard (and seen) this version of O Holy Night by Josh Groban, it’s truly beautiful…
But the Christmas song that “gets to me” most often?
Christmas in Dixie by Alabama, because it was my sweet mom’s favorite. Every time I hear it, I think of her, and I thank God that He blessed my life with her for as long as He did.
This time of year is so special, so filled with fabulous food and wonderful times with family and friends. But it can also be a very difficult and lonely time of year as we miss loved ones who’ve gone on before us. Or for the recently divorced or widowed. Or for someone who’s just lost their job.
So as all the “Christmas to dos” quickly start to mount (I haven’t yet put up our Christmas tree!), I’m determined to keep my focus on the true meaning of Christmas. And to keep an eye out for those for whom, despite the beauty of Christmas, this isn’t necessarily “the most wonderful time of the year.” Lord, give me eyes to see—and to love—like You do.
Do you have a favorite Christmas song? A song that plucks a heartstring when you hear it come on the radio or across your playlist?
In Christ alone,
Tammy
Have you listened to the Christmas playlist
for my latest release, Christmas at Carnton?
More about Christmas at Carnton
Tamera Alexander
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My favorite Christmas song is Tennessee Christmas. I liked it before but now that I live in Tennessee, it means more! I also like Christmas in Dixie!
I love TN Christmas, too, Beth. Great song!
I’ll be home for Christmas. It always gets to me.
Oh yes, Cheryl. I meant to include that one too. The lyrics are so touching. Thanks for sharing!
I love Christmas music! Not before Thanksgiving, but afterwards, I like it solid! So many great songs, and as I get older, the ones with deeper meaning strike such a chord.
One of my very favorites is Michael Card’s Immanuel, and I love this rendition where he sings a duet with Steve Green: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOvmLPNzMZo
And I totally love Downhere’s How Many Kings! Great song! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UyiAnUE53U
I LOVE Christmas music and can listen to it any time. When I was still teaching, I always put on a Christmas cd to welcome my students during their 20 minute arrival period in December. I played Vince Guaraldi’s Peanuts Christmas, Gene Autry (an oldie), as well as some tradional carols. I would add to your list “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear” (my Dad’s favorite) and “All I Want for Christmas is You” by Mariah Carey.
Looking forward to reading Christmas at Carnton next week – so excited!
Great additions to the list, Betty! And I love how you used Christmas music in your class. I bet your students loved it!
“O Holy Night” sung by Josh Groban is a beautiful hymn of worship. I also love “Mary, Did You Know?” I’d much rather hear the religious Christmas songs over the secular ones.
Oh yes, Suzanne, to Mary, Did You Know? I attended a “Reclaiming Christmas” event last week and one of the worship leaders sang that and oh…brought tears. Such a powerful song. Such a powerful Savior. Thanks for sharing!
I love the carols that keep Christ in Christmas: “O Holy Night,” “Silent Night,” “Joy to the World,” so many more. I usually start listening the month before Christmas, which can be as early as Nov. 1, and then I stop on Dec. 26.
I love how you stop promptly on December 26, Terri. So exacting! : ) Do you put up your tree that day too?? :0
The tree goes up the weekend after Thanksgiving and comes down the weekend after New Years.
I’ll Be Home for Christmas. That was also the title of a TV movie a long time ago starring Eva Marie Saint as the mother. Her son was away in the war and was due to come home just before Christmas. Can’t find it to stream!
Thanks, Paula! Will have to look that one up (if we can find it)!
I love Christmas music. I love O Holy Night, Mary Did you Know to name a few. There is another I love but forget its name. I am loving the Casting Crowns version of I Heard the Bells of Christmas day. The two I dislike are All I want for Christmas is you and let it snow let it snow let it snow (cos this is not going to happen in where I am in Australia) also don’t like Go tell it on the mountain.
I’ll look up Casting Crowns’s version of that song, AusJenny! Thanks!
Don’t you miss Karen Carpenter??? Thanks for this great reminder of a song I don’t hear very often.
Yes, I miss her. I grew up singing and trying my best to mimic her voice. LOVED her. Umm…that did not happen. ; }
The Christmas songs that pluck my heart strings are: “Believe” by Josh Groban and “Breath of Heaven” by Amy Grant.
I can’t believe Christmas is so close! 🙂
Oh yes, Meredith. Love those too!
Tammy, I’m reading Christmas At Carnton, your latest Novella, and so far, like all the rest of your books that I have read, it is very good. Although I was born in Ohio, I feel like a Southerner at heart. My Father was a Baptist Minister, and I sang in a Gospel Quartet for over ten years. I love most Christmas music, but I guess my favorite is “Beautiful Star of Bethlehem.” Every time I finish reading one of your novels, I can’t wait for the nest one. God bless you to write many more.
Thank you, Norma, for your kind, kind words. And for reading! I hope you enjoy Jake and Aletta’s story and that you have a very Merry Christmas! Much love from Nashville…
There are LOTS of obscure Christmas songs that I like. Here’s a playlist of some lesser-known Christmas music: https://open.spotify.com/user/qaz23/playlist/22Hs4AlaOFExwI0cOEBHSj