Day 19 – Traditional Christmas Song
Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht …
If we were to pick the most quintessential Christmassy Christmas song, for us “Silent Night” would be a very strong contestant. For most of our lives, we’ve only known this song as “Stille Nacht”, the Austrian original, and the song we have grown up singing around the Christmas tree every year.
If you turn on the radio back home in Austria, the majority of music you will hear is in English, however when it comes to Christmas music, a lot of the favourites are still all sung in German – “Stille Nacht” included.
For a long time, we weren’t aware that this solemn carol was of Austrian origin, that’s how good school education is these days đ But actually not far from the town we spent countless skiing holidays at, it was originally written as a poem in 1816, by a priest called Joseph Mohr, with the melody later added by Franz Xaver Gruber. If you want to read up on how it became so well-known worldwide that it was even declared an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO in 2011, Wikipedia knows it all.
So it is part of our Austrian DNA and we love it! We do like the history behind it and how much it is tied to the place we grew up in.
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Which brings us to today’s question and calendar task: We would love to hear a Christmas song that is specifically tied to where you are from. We have MLT Club members from all around the world, so it would be fascinating to hear the different songs that have emerged from the different corners of this great big planet.
Maybe you can think of a song that the rest of us would not be all too familiar with yet. If such a thing does not exist in your region, perhaps you can share with us the song that says “Christmas” most to you!
Another Austrian (Tyrol) Christmas song that seems to be quite unknown outside the country is Es wird scho glei dumpa. And of course a lot of “our” traditionals come from Germany too, like “Leise Rieselt Der Schnee” (which we covered on our CHRISTMAS album), “O Du Fröhliche” or “Kling, Glöckchen, klingelingeling“. These songs immediately transport us back to our childhood đ
Now we want to hear yours!
DAY 19 – TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS SONG
Task of the Day:
Share a traditional Christmas song with us that is unique to where you are from.
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Achievable Points:
10
While not a traditional Christmas song, this one seems especially relevant for this years Christmas and 2020. The song was originally written about the people we are separated from during the war, but this global pandemic has gripped us all like a war with family and friends we are separated from, and lost.
https://youtu.be/pWz_SEt_OO8
So perfect and beautiful!
The traditional Christmas song in my family was Oh Tannenbaum – we lived near Chicago. My grandma was from Germany.
The three that transport me are “Silent Night”, “Away in the Manger” and “What Child is This”. These songs in any version will usually bring tears to my eyes. I know of the story on “Stille Nacht” and it is the only carol that I know of that was written on and for guitar. It is one I love to play, if I can get through it without getting teary eyed. “Away in the Manger” was I think the first song I remember learning to sing as a child. What gets me in “What Child is This” is that the original version didn’t have a chorus, it was just verses, and it walks you through the life to come of the child. “Nails, spears shall pierce him through, the Cross be bourne for me, for you…” The three of them just transport me to a time where I still had youthful ignorance of how the world could and sometimes is, and reminds me of how fortunate I am to have made it to where I am now in life.
https://youtu.be/6jroBAl3WW8
This morning a white Christmas is looking quite possible in my neck of the woods. Keeping fingers crossed. I feel a Winter Wonderland coming on!!!
This is one of my favourites off your Christmas Album.
https://youtu.be/C2iaZIbutCE
I heard this on the radio a few days ago that really stood out. Had to find out who it was by, Simon and Garfunkle “7’Oclock News/Silent Night”. It highlights the contrast between the beauty of Christmas to the harsh realities of this world. Reminded me of one of my favourite quotes:
You could substitute Christmas or anything of beauty in there and it would be true.
https://youtu.be/JkJlmYwMgRM
This isn’t traditional, but it’s local to where I live, a Tulsa Sound (Leon Russell, JJ Cale, etc.) thing by the Tractors featuring the late Steve Ripley. It ROCKS!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUrWFBfz3SM
The most traditional Christmas song has got to be white Christmas by bing crosby which featured in the films holiday Inn and white Christmas
really never had a favorite traditional christmas song. through the years i had a few that made you feel good about the holidays and had the message of good will. below is a link to” christmas is the time to say i love you” by billy squire. it is a happy song and i always wondered why it was not a bigger hit.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPf2snTB2wo. give it a listen.
Little Drummer Boy was written by Katherine Davis, who was living in Massachusetts after graduating from Wellesley College in Massachusetts. Jingle Bells was written by a man born in Boston Massachusetts named James Pierpont. It Came Upon a Midnight Clear was written by the pastor of a church in Wayland MAssachusetts. So thereâs an MLT connection- Iâm sure Katherine would have loved the girlsâ version.
The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year by Andy Williams why you ask well I grew up on the east coast of the USA and part of our holiday growing up was watching the yearly Andy Williams Christmas Special. It was a great holiday show full of wonderful music. I even ordered from Amazon a couple of DVDs of Andy’s Christmas specials to watch this week.
Hello, I am a bit perplexed. I am visiting this page again to look at the additions made since I made my contribution and also to see if anyone had made a comment on mine that might need a reply. But I can’t find my contribution, it was there yesterday as I edited it.
Oh well here goes again, sorry if I end up being here twice. This is roughly what I wrote.
Blimey, you are really trying to test the memories of old codgers like me.
I have tried to remember some of the carols we used to sing that we knew as local. An hour or so of research online for Dorset carols has been a success and I’ve found one in particular which has vivid memories, the second verse confirmed this. It is
Shepherds Arise! Be Not Afraid.
Wikipedia states that it is a Christmas carol first recorded in a 19th Century manuscript from the parish of Winterborne Zelston, Dorset. That village is 20km (12.5 miles) from where I was brought up confirming that it was local. It is an archetypal English village with thatched cottages etc, Look it up on Google Maps.
Below is a link to a webpage with the words which has an attachment for the tune. It implies that it is a complex piece and I remember it being difficult to sing, but that never was my forte. There are several folky uploads of it on YouTube which I have to say I do not like as they are nothing like the version we sang at St John the Evangelist church Poole in the seventies.
https://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/shepherds_arise_be_not_afraid.htm
I have to say that Silent Night is probably my favourite Christmas carol too as it is just so beautiful and gentle.
The River (especially the version sung by Robert Downey Jr) is my favorite sorta Christmasy Christmas song…. the full out childhood Christmas songs are Silent Night, O Come All Ye Faithful and the Little Drummer Boy – just like many – nothing really specific to the area – a lot of what the settlers brought with them.
Hi girls and MLT Clubbers…Iâve really gotten behind in this Advent Challenge…all of a sudden this 70 yr old was rushed to the hospital and been out of commission for awhile…today I finally got my cell phone….because of Covid there are no visitors allowed in the hospital…Iâm still in the hospital but my daughter figured out a way to get my phone to me…..I live in Texas but grew up in Syracuse NY…lots of snow in NY…two songs really come to mind …Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer by Gene Autry and White Christmas by Bing Crosby…there were of course many others but those two are standouts.
Sure hope you are getting better Rick and best wishes that your out of the hospital and back home in time for Christmas!
The traditional song for oxford is the boars head Carol its fromqueens college Oxford
I love your cover of “Silent Night.” I would love to hear you sing the original, German version, “Stille Nacht.” I also love your cover of “Snow Falls Softly At Night” or “Leise Rieselt Der Schnee.” The others are also beautiful. Loved the Vienna Boy’s Choir.
Growing up with my parents who loved and listened to the music of their day, Christmas for me was the popular classics. The one that sticks out most in my mind is Bing Crosby’s version of “I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas.” Here he is performing the original 1942 version of the song.
https://youtu.be/w9QLn7gM-hY
Growing up in Argentina the traditional Folkloric Christmas songs were called “Villancicos” and are quite unique. Mostly from northern Argentina, but also popular in Bolivia, Peru and Chile. Here’s a sample
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQF2su1xf_w
TomĂĄs
Santa Claus is coming to town. By The Boss
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76WFkKp8Tjs
Here’s the screenshots to 3 of the childhood Xmas albums I recall being in our home and played at Xmas time:
Screenshot #1
Screenshot #2
Screenshot #3
A few Xmas song albums worthy of mention from my childhood and then later on in my early 20s-30s John McDermott ‘s “Images of Christmas” album/CD . The childhood Xmas albums I recall having at homecand/or listening to at Xmas Time: The Chippers Xmas album, another kid’s album had a kid on the front cover, then there’s the Tiajaunna Brass Xmas album, “Twas A Night Like This album by the Irish Rovers, Alvin and the Chipmunks Xmas Album,etc….
Traditional and unique to where you are from. I’m not even sure these two work together in my context.
My favorite traditional one might be Silver Bells by Doris Day while the one that I think is unique where I am from is L’Esprit de Noel by Arly Lariviere of Nu-Look
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qxE2PCMRA4
Like every Canadian I have to boost Bob And Dougâs 12 Days of Christmas
I already posted Bob n Doug ‘s 12 days of xmas…lol…I’m proudly Canadian-Eh!? ????????????
We have something to share! “ĐĐ°Đ»Đ”ĐœŃĐșĐŸĐč ĐĐ»ĐŸŃĐșĐ” Đ„ĐŸĐ»ĐŸĐŽĐœĐŸ ĐĐžĐŒĐŸĐč” (“A Little Fir Feels Cold In Winter”). This is a song about one little fir, which felt cold in a winter forest and was taken to a children’s party to warm up there and having fun with them. For most Russians, this is the first song to learn ever in life. I remember myself playing it on glockenspiel in my kindergarten age. It’s constantly referenced in any children books and cartoons about New Year, was recorded by many singers and of course everyone has singed it in kindergarten new year parties. Together with one more song (Đ ĐĐ”ŃŃ Đ ĐŸĐŽĐžĐ»Đ°ŃŃ ĐĐ»ĐŸŃĐșĐ° – “A Fir Was Born In A Forest”) on the same subject, they take the same niche as “Jingle Bells” and “We Wish You A Merry Christmas” in English-speaking culture.
Sasha has sung this song today especially for this challenge!!! See below (sorry for my kidding at the end of the video, just wanted to feel myself a child again).
https://www.youtube.com/embed/SB2XHm85m68
Six years ago I recorded a rock version of this song. I used the original text with 7 verses I have found (Sasha sings just 3 verses, which was the official edition of this song at Soviet era). I also changed the melody from the traditional major to some minor to make it rockier. See my track below.
https://www.realrocks.ru/siteplayer/1195020
Before that, I was making research on this song’s roots. I was slightly shocked by my findings. Below is the text I have written 6 years ago to supply the publishing of my recording at one of these web-sites where amateur musicians can post their works. It is the rough google-translation of my description and then of the songtext (I can’t keep my tears):
========
History of creation
Text writer: Zinaida Nikolaevna Alexandrova (1907-1983)
This is what interests me. If the celebration of New Year with Christmas trees was prohibited until 1935, and the text dates back to 1930-33 years, then what did she write about? I see only one answer, this verse is a memory of the author’s childhood, of the pre-revolutionary Christmas trees. She became an orphan at 12 and was 13 when the holiday was banned. And when the text was written – she was about 25. And from this point of view, these lines, written in times of famine and Stalin’s repressions, acquire a completely different eerie meaning. Especially those stanzas that later did not enter the Soviet version of the song.
Judge for yourself, the Christmas tree goes from the cold forest to a warm house. The bunny asks to bring food from there, and the squirrel asks to take her there as well. And then:
Little Christmas tree
The rooms are warm
Hare and squirrel
Breathe on the glass.
As far as I understand, the glass here is a window into the past, the line between the 30s, when it is hungry and cold, and the memories of the author’s childhood in the family of a Petersburg teacher, where, of course, there should have been warmth, comfort, and a Christmas tree, and mint gingerbread.
It is not surprising that these couplets, where first a little white bunny, and then red finches (what are these hints of white and red?) were later excluded.
Based on these considerations, I decided, while recording a track with this song, to deviate somewhat from the usual musical solution.
Text
A Little Christmas tree
It’s cold in winter
The Christmas tree from the forest
We took it home.
A White bunny
Asked the Christmas tree:
“Mint gingerbread
Bring for the bunny! ”
A Squirrel jumped
In a blue fur coat:
“Christmas tree, Christmas tree,
Please, take me there with you!”
For the Little Christmas tree
The rooms are warm
The Hare and The squirrel
Breathe on the glass.
Red finches
Curl at the window
In a warm thaw
The Christmas tree is visible.
Oh, How much is there on the tree of
Coloured balls,
Pink gingerbread,
Golden cones!
How much is under the tree
Little guys!
Stomp, clap,
Cheerfully shout:
“Christmas tree, Christmas tree,
Bright lights,
Blue beads
Christmas tree, ring!
Elegant branch
Lower it below
Us with a chocolate
Treat with the fish!
Let’s stand under the Christmas tree
In a friendly round dance.
Fun, fun
Let’s meet the New Year! “
Applause for Sasha.
The story of the Christmas tree song is very interesting
Sasha and Ivan, thank you so much for singing for us!!
Bravo Sasha…….. oh and erm to you Ivan as well. I wish that I could sing like you two.
Wow, bravo Sasha, well done. She’s so cute!
I don’t know whether I do have a favourite local (German) Christmas song, there are many – “Stille Nacht” and “Schneeflöckchen, WeiĂröckchen” are just two of them – I really like, and a lot of them are on this old vinyl with Christmas songs from East Germany: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3F-C3qFBNg . We listend to it (nearly) every year and I do listen to it ever since. I love it because the songs can provide a very Christmassy feeling and the cover remembers me on the little Saxon village I grew up in, where we had lots of snow for riding sleighs, people had schwibbogens in their houses’ windows and we lived vis-Ă -vis of the local church
There is a Christmas vinyl which remembers me of my childhood, when we played it (nearly) every year on Christmas and which I’m playing – besides others – ever since, as it achieves to produce a Christmassy feeling: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3F-C3qFBNg .I don’t know whether I do have one local (German) Christmas song, but there are several I really like: “Stille Nacht” – of course đ and all the others songs on the vinyl, as they all can bring you into the Christmas mood, and I love the cover of the vinyl, as it remembers me to the little village where I grew up in winter time with lots of snow during my childhood and schwibbogens in the windows.
As others have said, it is hard to think of a traditional Christmas song from the US. So I will go with White Christmas written by Irving Berlin and performed by Bing Crosby. https://youtu.be/w9QLn7gM-hY
Originally I am from the East coast of the US. When I lived back in Baltimore, Md. there was a song called “All I want for Christmas is Crabs”. Baltimore is famous for there steamed crabs. It was a cute little quirky song about the love for crabs.
If I had to name my favorite Christmas song it would come down to 2 picks
#1=Happy Christmas(the war is over)
#2= Oh Holy Night
I’m suprised none of us Yanks have put up “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer”. The original Gene Autry version has sold 25 million copies and inspired at least 5 TV feature and countless commercial – quintessentially American.
https://youtu.be/nZeyY0NSTW4
Had this at home growing up, I think I still have it
Well, because I was born and grew up in California I would have to pick one of the (if not the) most played Christmas songs ever because it was written in California on a sweltering hot July day in 1945. It was written by Mel Torme’ and Bob Wells and first recorded by the great Nat King Cole. The song of course is “The Christmas Song”.
The song actually didn’t start out as a music composition at all (according to Torme’) but as short descriptions of winter scenes that Wells had jotted down to try and remind himself what is was like to be cold; “chestnuts roasting on an open fire”, “jack frost nipping at your nose”… Torme’ put it to music and finished the rest of the lyrics in less than one hour! Cole first recorded it in 1946 and again in 1953. He recorded it again in 1961 in stereo which is the version most people have heard and continue to hear every Christmas.
A rock n roll Christmas song rooted firmly in California is one of my favorites by The Beach Boys; “Little Saint Nick”. But, without question my favorite Christmas album of all time is “Christmas” by MLT. And I’m not just saying that to pander the Wagner girls. Its absolutely true. It is the most played music in my house during the holidays (and many times during the rest of the year as well). I Love It!
As I mentioned in another posting, one of my wishes this year was to NOT get the song “Wilbur the Christmas Mouse” stuck in my head.It’s my wife Nina’s favorite
https://youtu.be/pnbuN59Mlqo
alternately, this song reminds me of Christmas at the inlaws-
https://youtu.be/8u_c1oyaClU
I’d like to share the German song “Schneeflöckchen, WeiĂröckchen”, which roughly translates to “Little Snowflake, Little White Skirt/Jacket”. This is more of a winter song, but I think it’s quite popular here during Christmas time, too. The song addresses a snowflake, which is asked to come down from the sky to paint pretty pictures on the window, cover and protect the plants and be there, so you can build a snowman and have a snowball fight. I loved this song when I was a small kid; there even is a video of me singing it in the middle of the year đ Maybe I should sing it again really hard, so that we will finally get some snow in Berlin…? đ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2e1CuFttLo
May did you know – Kathy Mattea
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXK50lsrdq4
Great choice Thomas. I have two of Kathy’s albums and really enjoy her a lot.
Not sure this is “traditional”, but Elvis is our native son (born Tupelo, Mississippi), so anything he does we claim as classic: https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71rE8jbpfYL._SL1368_.jpg
Also attached is hard-core, only in Mississippi, traditional blues, “Sonny Boy’s Christmas Blues”.
I’m not a big blues fan, but I loved the blues harmonica play!
This has always been my favorite.
Raised as a child in family that attended Church, I was immersed in classic traditional Christmas music. I don’t know how many chestnuts Ive heard roasting on an open fire either. However as the 60’s passed and a lot of music was becoming increasing hard rock, I got my first acoustic guitar at 19 (which still have and play) and I become drawn to artist that primarily played acoustic guitars. Jim Croce, Cat Stevens, etc. and emerged a new face we know as John Denver. He had a fantastic voice, was very creative, and appealed to a wide range of people and genre’s. So with all that being said, every year I always listed to John Denver’s “Christmas for Cowboys”. JOHN DENVER – Christmas for Cowboys (1975) – YouTube. It always moved me to think of so many people enjoying Christmas at home but others had jobs or careers that kept them away. This song gave me hope that there is a silver lining if you look for it. I thought of this song when I watched Walking In The Air and saw the beautiful horses in the snow.
This is great Kevin, thanks for posting it.
Now The Best
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwacxSnc4tI
Andrea Bocelli and Natalie Cole doing The Christmas Song, I love her Father version the best. Enjoy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVHvIGf1i0s&list=RDpRChhXccTFg&index=4
I love the father/daughter combo version of Nat and Natalie Cole of this song
I came up with a couple of songs that can be specifically tied to where I am from, but after a little research, I think that much of the rest of the world is probably familiar with them.
As a kid, I always liked “Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer”. My favorite version of this song is the one by Gene Autry, which hit #1 on the charts in 1949. The song was written by Johnny Marks, based on a 1939 story by Robert May. It has become a classic Christmas song here in the U.S.
I also thought of “Feliz Navidad”, is a song written in 1970 by Puerto Rican singer and songwriter JosĂ© Feliciano. It was very popular in the U.S, and especially popular in the southwest U.S. where we live. After checking Wikipedia however, I find that the song was popular elsewhere, including #11 on the charts in Austria – I never would have guessed that.
Since I’ve probably failed to come up with a song that the rest of the world isn’t familiar with, I will also give a song that “says Christmas most to me” a try, but it’s a tough choice. I like your choice of “Silent Night”, but I have also always loved “White Christmas” by Bing Crosby, which according to Wikipedia, “is the world’s best-selling single with estimated sales in excess of 50 million copies worldwide”. It was first recorded by Crosby in 1942. It was on of many great songs written by Irving Berlin.
This performance of Andrea Bocelli and Reba McEntire doing Elvis Blue Christmas.
Sad but sweet. Great Rendition .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRChhXccTFg
I’ve never seen that one before – beautiful and so appropriate for us this Christmas.
Love Reba and Vince Gill when tgey do Xmas songs, and Andrea Boccelli, he is quite an amazing singer, this is lovely, Thanks for sharing .
Heartwarming Joe, quite moving rendition!
I’m probably not the only American who learned to sing “Stille Nacht” while taking German in High School. I’ve long since forgotten most of the song, but I’ve decided to relearn it this year. It would be great to hear Mona and Lisa sing a verse or two during their live stream on the 23rd.
It seems fitting to mention here that my favorite Christmas Hymn is âO Come, O Come, Emmanuelâ. Fitting, because it is actually an Advent song. As for songs that originated in America, I have two recent favorites: âMary did You Knowâ, lyrics by Mark Lowry and music by Buddy Greene, and âHere With Usâ, recorded and I believe written by Joy Williams (formerly part of The Civil Wars duo). The Pentatonix version of âMary did you Knowâ is one of the best out there:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifCWN5pJGIE
As others have pointed out, the United States doesn’t have a lot of “traditional” Christmas songs. But in the spirit of geographic diversity I searched YouTube and found this fairly recent song that does a pretty good job of capturing the culture of my home region:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wx6K0B-5uAY
Nice banjo and fiddle sounds gets the Christmas spirit across.
Here in Wisconsin we have a strong German heritage so Silent Night is very big here. I am Lutheran so when we would go caroling in nursing homes all we would have to do is sing Stille Nacht to bring out the smiles of the older people! And I have to agree with Rich Holmes that “Go tell it on the mountain” is the quintessential American Christmas song!
I had so much fun writing a poem incorporating titles from your Christmas album (plus a couple others) for the poetry challenge, I considered trying again for this one. Maybe I’ll have some quiet time later to do so. I doubt I know any American Christmas songs you haven’t heard, but a few favorites are: “All I Want for Christmas is my Two Front Teeth”, ” I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas”, “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus”, Elvis’s “Blue Christmas” “Frosty…”, “Rudolph…”, “Jingle Bells” etc. And more traditional songs include: “White Christmas”, “Do You Hear what I Hear?”, “It Came Upon the Midnight Clear”, “Silver Bells”, and many more.
As for the song that says “Christmas” most to me; definitely “Silent Night”. Before covid disrupted traditions, our family would always attend a Christmas Eve candlelight service, and “Silent Night” would always culminate the evening as ushers passed flame from the Advent wreath candles to each pew, and everyone would pass the flame to their neighboring worshippers until all candles were lit. The song continued a capella with only the candles held by the congregation for light. I invariably teared up when all candles were lit, and the lovely song continued. Here’s to getting back to traditions soon!
These posts are so interesting. Different histories of songs at Christmas. Haven’t read them all yet but so impressed by how open everyone has been during these advent posts. My song has no historical context, just personal. It’s “Silver Bells”. I have a memory from long ago. I’m sitting in the back seat of my parents car, looking at shoppers walking the sidewalk with their packages, and that song is playing in the background. I was quite young and I can still remember the wonder I was feeling and the joy I felt because it was Christmas time. I don’t remember anything else about that day, just that one little moment of time.I know it probably sounds weird but that memory always stuck with me and has made “Silver Bells” my favourite thru the years. Should I see my therapist?!?
The Huron Carol by Jean de Brebouf, written in 1642-3, is the only original Canadian carol that has become traditional that I know of. It is hauntingly beautiful and has always been one of my favourites. It was originally written in the Huron language but was translated to English in 1926. The images in the text are drawn from the Huron culture.
A traditional carol that has always been one of my favourites (not Canadian but one that I grew up singing) is It Came Upon the Midnight Clear. I loved the lilt of the triple metre and the images of the angels bending low.
A contemporary favourite is River by Joni Mitchell. It moves me to tears every time I hear it.
The Huron Carol – YouTube
Joni Mitchell – River (Official Audio) – YouTube
For some reason, I can’t seem to post the links to the songs I mentioned. It keeps telling me that my post is awaiting approval. Sorry. They are easy to find on Youtube.
That happens when you have more than one link (youtube) on a post. One link per post.
Thanks. This Advent calendar has been a real education in technology for me!
Yes Jeannette.
Jung is right. I know from experience.
Try typing in the URL like website_at_domain.com.
Most of us will figure it out.
Cheers
Never heard The Huron Carol before. Very beautiful!
Mine is O Holy Night is my favorite Christmas song. Our home town person B E Taylor does such a beautiful job with this song and it is hard to pick to be honest. I do like We Three Kings by the Bare Naked Ladies and Sara McLaughlin. But can’t forget Elton Johns Step Into Christmas….LOL..See hard to pick one….
O Holy Night is definitely on my favourites list. Do your know The Elf’s Lament by the Bare Naked Ladies and Michael Buble? Such a fun song with clever lyrics. Barenaked Ladies with Michael BublĂ© – Elf’s Lament – YouTube
The rendition done by John McDermott and Dawn Langstroth ( Anne Murray’s daughter ) is beautiful.
I was just reading todayâs post out loud to my wife. When I got to the mp3 button, I pushed Play and continued reading. The music matches the reading quite well. Itâs as if the producer started the background music at just the right spot – que music âWhich brings us to todayâs questionâ.
JP
I share a Mexican Christmas carol “Sleep and don’t cry”
I do not know how to load the video, but I share a link so you can see it
https://youtu.be/k2Pe7lOhBPw
I also share the translation from Spanish to English
Sleep and don’t cry.
We announce you an immense joy.
Today the Savior was born.
In a manger on straws
And between diapers you will find it.
Sleep and don’t cry
Jesus of the soul
sleep and don’t cry
My sweet Love.
Sleep and don’t cry
That those your tears
They split the soul
Of compassion.
Your tears, pearls of heaven,
They are my treasure, garments of love.
More calm the crying,
My sweet good,
Otherwise you will make me cry.
If you cry for me, dear Jesus,
For my sins and ingratitude,
Let the crying stop, that from now on,
I will never, never make you cry.
Well, what are you looking for me?
Well, you love me
Come my Jesus, come Child come,
Your cradle will be the nest of loves,
This manger of the heart.
I listened to this and it is beautiful! Thanks for the translation.
Hi Jeannette, how well you liked it.
A quick bit a research shows a record of a Christmas celebration in Rome in the year 336, which contributes to Americaâs difficulty with traditional music, having been founded in 1776, well after most of the Christian world had been enjoying it for centuries. However, if youâd like to take a moment to reflect and warm your soul, Mel Torme and Robert Wellsâ song from 1945 will do the trick. âThe Christmas Songâ has been recorded by countless artists, but Nat King Coleâs 1961 recording is considered âhisâ version to differentiate it from the other 3 or so times he recorded the tune over about 20 years. Give it a listen!
Wonderful song, wonderful voice!
I thought of that one, too, and so many good versions, but while I like it, it’s just not one of my favorites. Still, someone mentioned it.
Like other Americans, I do not know of any viable American Christmas songs. I have to say, Silent Night has always been my favorite. Thank you for letting me know its origin. Like others have said American songs tend to be cheeky or crass.
Here in Europe we donât mind such American songs as Do You Hear What I Hear?, or Mary Did You Know?, while We Three Kings Of Orient Are is an older song, still popular with childrenâs Nativity plays.
I just looked it up, and found that the following are also American in origin: O Little Town of Bethlehem, Away in a Manger, and I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.
There are two tunes used for O Little Town of Bethlehem – this is the British one
https://youtu.be/LRuXdOb6TrA
…. and this is the North American one:
https://youtu.be/CwfkGj51S2c
Our church organist despises this tune for the carol – even though it was his great great great uncle who wrote the music! So, in our church, we have the other version that you posted earlier.
Hi Mona Hi Lisa … hi everyone .. in Brazil the most popular musical genre is “samba”. I will share a traditional Brazilian Christmas song called “Boas Festas” in an arrangement of Samba.
https://youtu.be/W4uWGMwLBCY
This makes me wish I could dance! Thanks Antonio!
There’s just so many, but another 2 Canadian musicians to whom I enjoy Xmas music from are:John McDermott ( especially his ” Images of Christmas” CD that featured Canadian musicians) and Xmas music from “the Canadian Crooner”– Michael Buble….
This one, though not local, I play dutifully around Xmas and on Xmas Day, by The Irish Rovers : (Though, their ” Merry Bloody Xmas To Me” is just as funny as this classic of theirs– I like all tgeir Xmas stuff actually)
Their classic Xmas fave:
https://youtu.be/-KR3PSonpD4
This is a family favourite that gets played many times every Christmas!
I had totally forgotten about that one – just plain fun!
Oh yea Jacki! It wouldn’t be Christmas without playing this!
Hello Ladies,
My Christmas song takes me back to when I was little, and to this Day is my favorite Christmas Song. ( a certain Christmas Album by 2 twins is my favorite by far. )
In 1958 Ross Bagdasarian was asked to write a Christmas Song, but the producers wanted it released in the Summer. Much to his reluctance he did what they asked. He and his wife wrote and Recorded their little song. It would be their LAST number one song. Released in August 1958. Though his son Ross Jr. Does everything now with his partner. They have sold millions of albums the world over. 3 Double Platnium Albums, the Only 2 time Grammy winner for engineering on the same song. You may know them better as ALVIN, SIMON AND THEODORE, THE CHIPMUNKS.
Bh the way, their first number one song? Witch Doctor.
https://youtu.be/np2ZapISRzM
The Chipmunk Song is one of the top 10 Christmas songs of all time.
A foot note for Mona, the Chipmunks had a number 3 song in 1961 called Alvin’s Harmonica.????https://youtu.be/uGTXtxIU2CU
A local theatre group presents a show every Christmas called a Really Retro Crooner Christmas. They do an a capella version of this song that is so beautiful.
Like many others, I grew up loving this. Its on my Christmas Play List and my grandson absolutely loves it!
And I can’t forget to include this special Canadian Xmas song by my fave Canadian band and also buddies of mine — Glass Tiger:
https://youtu.be/gj2XI2R7yRo
Here’s another Classic Canadian Xmas song gem:
https://youtu.be/l2oPio60mK4
Oh ya, this one is a classic ????. Too funny
I know– EH!?????????????
Haven’t listened to that in years. Thanks!
It seems that Bill & Ted have kindred spirits up there – Eh?
Nice Jacki, it doesn’t get more Canadian than that.
There’s 2 Canadian ones that stand out for me, the first being a local favorite as it was part of a series of Christmas album series that was made over the years here by local area musicians:
https://youtu.be/7ieRCZLV-q4
Good one Jacki. Never heard it before. Itâs got a nice country flavour to it.
Thankyou Howard, Wayne’s song is a classic local for around my area, he did a series of CDs for years, each year with different musicians joining him on the album
I am originally from Duluth, Minnesota, and there is a song recorded by Merv Griffin in 1962 called “Christmas City” that was produced specifically for the annual “Christmas City of the North” parade in downtown Duluth. Merv Griffin – Christmas City – YouTube
Like the recipe question, this is a tough one for Americans. We tend to borrow (and corrupt!) tradition rather than to originate it.
But I think “Go Tell It on the Mountain” is an exception. It’s a song created by enslaved Black Americans from sometime before 1865.
There have been many versions of the song and some versions have nothing to do with Christmas, but the first published version, “adapted” by John Wesley Work, is about the Nativity.
It’s not one of the most frequently heard Christmas songs and might not be known well elsewhere. The music’s here: https://www.google.com/books/edition/28_Carols_to_Sing_at_Christmas/EfK7CgAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA38&printsec=frontcover
I love that carol and sing it every year!
Here in Europe we also donât mind such American songs as Do You Hear What I Hear?, or Mary Did You Know?, while We Three Kings Of Orient Are is an older song, still popular with childrenâs Nativity plays.
The only time I sing/hear it is in church during Xmas time
Hard to pick one favorite but “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas” might be my favorite. At least at this moment. The Bing Crosby version is the one I remember mostly as kid. I still have the Bing Crosby Christmas CD.
We Finns are very melancholy people and thatÂŽs why our dearest Christmas songs are often sad though Christmas is a time of happiness. One of our most loved song is this “Sparrow on The Christmas Morning”. It tells about a little girl who feeds birds on the Christmas morning and offers seeds to the little sparrow, The bird thanks her and says that heÂŽs not entirely from this earth. The soul on the girlÂŽs dead brother lives in that sparrow. The lyrics are written in the 1800 tale where child death was more common than nowadays. Here the song is sung by Tarja Turunen, the ex-singer of the Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish. https://youtu.be/RQU0NTCVh4k
Oh my goodness! What a hauntingly beautiful song! Why are Finns so melancholic?
Thank you Jeannette ! There are many theories why we are so melancholic and like sad music. I guess itÂŽs because we are so north and we have long cold winter (well, maybe nowadays itÂŽs long, dark and wet winter in Southern Finland where I live) and short summer. But believe me we can have fun too. Happy Christmas time to you
Canât say I know of any local Christmas creations. Upstate New York has a very diverse population. My area was settled mostly by Dutch, German and Irish folks. I am a little of everything with a touch of nonsense thrown in for good measure.
The song that means Christmas to me is Silent Night. That and Amazing Grace send shivers up my neck. I remember when I was a child going to candle light service at our church, Silent Night always assured me everything was OK.
On a side note, I sent an MLT Christmas CD to my parents. They called to say they love it and they were listening to it while wrapping presents. They added it was already on itâs second spin.
It was funny when I first introduced them to MLT with the Sheâs Leaving Home video, Momâs first reaction was,âWhy did they do that to their hair?â LOL so old fashioned
Merry Christmas
JP
fröhliche Weihnachten und ein glĂŒckliches neues Jahr
Yes, Silent Night does that to me too. We always end our Christmas eve service with that carol as we pass the light from candle to candle in the darkened church. So peaceful.
Likewise except we each have our own candles to hold
I too was used to hearing and singing along to Stille Nacht when I was born in Germany, but the Christmas song/carol that has stuck in my memory all my life is one that I was taught at junior school in Nottingham, 1960s called ‘Snowy Flakes’. The tune is still there in my head. Over the years I have asked many in the UK if they have heard of it, but not many, if any, have?
I have done a little research recently and found out that it was a Polish Carol, so may have some northern Germanic roots.
Snowy Flakes
Snowly flakes are falling softly
Clothing all the world in white
High above the stars are shining
Twinkling through the wintâry night
Was it just like this, we wonder,
Starry bright and crisp and cold
On that Christmas night of old?
Angels spread their wondrous story:
Jesus Christ is born today
âPeace on earth,â they sang, âand glory
Be to God on High alwayâ
So we sing the sweetest carols
Telling how the King of love
Came to save from heaven above
https://youtu.be/ZeCaROjsG5w
That child has a beautiful voice – perfect for the carol!
Nigel thanks for sharing this. It is absolutely beautiful and that little girl is more than wonderful! What an enchanting voice. I only hope she is still singing somewhere.
So many of the Traditional Christmas carols in America came with the folks that emigrated here from other countries. O Holy Night which is my favorite traditional Christmas Carol got it’s humble start from a poem written in France by an atheist to celebrate the renovation of the church organ by a local priest who asked him to write a poem suitable for the occasion when the organ was put back into action near Christmas. The poem was then set to music by a Jewish composer who strangely composed several Christmas Carols over the years. When word got out that the lyrics were written by an atheist and the music was composed by a Jew many Christian churches attempted to ban the song being sung in their churches. However the song proved to be too popular to successfully get rid of. It was later discovered by an American minister, John Dwight, Dwight was a Transcendentalist, essentially a reactionary movement to Intellectualism that states there is an inherent goodness to everything and everyone. âO Holy Nightâ presents the night and the event itself as being holy, an element absent from the original. This version became popular, overshadowing the original, and with a few tweaks here and there over the last hundred and sixty-odd years, we have the modern version.
ï»żMost Original American carols we hear today were pop songs written either for a movie like White Christmas by Irving Berlin or catchy big band songs like Santa Baby written by Phil Springer that was considered too racy to be played in the South because of it’s sexy sounding lyrics. Springer wasn’t entirely proud of his song and apologized when he submitted it to his publishers. It’s coyly crass message and the way it so blithely revels in the seasonâs greediness set it apart from the usual Christmas standards. But the publishers loved it. I know a couple of Austrian twins who had a fun time recording their own version of it for the world to enjoy.
I didn’t know the history of O Holy Night – how interesting it is!
For me in Sheffield South Yorkshire one of the local carols is “Hark Hark What News”, commonly referred to in the area as Ark Ark (for those not aware that the H is often dropped in the Yorkshire dialect).
This is the most popular carol throughout the whole region and goes under several titles including Good News, Swaine Hark and Oughtibridge. The tune is attributed to a local man, John Hall of Sheffield Park, who âworked at the anvil, composed oratories, and died in the poorhouseâ
https://youtu.be/m2yFNPQo3iQ
The Huron Carol by Jean de Brebouf, written in 1642-3, is the only original Canadian carol that has become traditional that I know of. It is hauntingly beautiful and has always been one of my favourites. It was originally written in the Huron language but was translated to English in 1926. The images in the text are drawn from the Huron culture.
A traditional carol that has always been one of my favourites (not Canadian but one that I grew up singing) is It Came Upon the Midnight Clear. I loved the lilt of the triple metre and the images of the angels bending low.
A contemporary favourite is River by Joni Mitchell. It moves me to tears every time I hear it.
Well, there’s certainly nothing local around here. The best I could do is pick something “American.” Unfortunately, most well-known American Christmas songs range from whimsical to crass. There are many traditional hymns that top my list, including Stille Nacht, which does occasionally get sung around here in German, especially in choirs, so I’m familiar with it both ways.
One of my favorites, though originally written in French and later translated into English, is O Holy Night. Unfortunately, most recordings of it I can’t listen to because they replace the word “divine” with “deevine” and it ruins it for me. But for those that get it right, it can be absolutely rapturous.
Tim always wins when all-time favourite Australian Christmas songs are put to the vote. Enjoy some searing socio-political critique before reaching for the tissues.
White Wine In The Sun (Tim Minchin)
https://youtu.be/fCNvZqpa-7Q
And for something not so serious!
The 12 Days Of An Australian Christmas (from yesteryear)
https://youtu.be/xsDqq0dngVc
Thanks for introducing me to Tim Minchin, Howard. I’ve been checking out some of his other songs. The guy is a genius!
The carol in English, Child In A Manger, is translated from Leanabh an Ă igh in Scots Gaelic, which means Blessed Child. The tune (Bunessan, named after a place on the isle of Mull) will be familiar to more of you as Cat Stevensâ Morning Is Broken, which played at our wedding.
https://youtu.be/lWj9_uCLflo
If I had to pick just one carol for myself, however, it would be In The Bleak Midwinter. The most memorable performance of the song I heard was Barbara Dickson singing it in Liverpoolâs Everyman Theatre in 1974 as part of the musical, John, Paul, George, Ringo âŠ. and Bert. Barbara Dickson then segued into Here Comes The Sun, the music being the setting for four Beatles waiting near Lime Street Station for Brian Epstein to return from London where he had been trying to secure a recording contract, or even an audition, for âthe boysâ.
https://youtu.be/GeXO7mu1yeg
https://youtu.be/lWj9_uCLflo
Huron Carol is the oldest Canadian Christmas hymn based on a French folk song going back to 1642 written by Jesuit missionaries. Originally it was written in the native Huron language of the Huron people in Ontario. In 1926 the English lyrics were added to it making it the song it is today.
https://youtu.be/DgPeEvUl06Y
My childhood quintessential Christmas song would have to be because of this little cartoon that always said Christmas to me. It always left a big lump in my throat. Perhaps it’s why the Little Drummer Boy has always been my top Christmas song growing up.
https://youtu.be/dZvjPCcHI4g
This was a must-see every Christmas, and yes, it always left a big lump in my throat too.
Ah, I remember this well! It always confused me as a kid, though: if he wanted to play his best, why did he close his eyes?
Yes Jung, another Canadian Xmas fave of mine, glad you mentioned this ????????????
The other two traditional Christmas music that means Christmas the most are What Child Is This, and Silent Night. The Greensleeves melody has always moved me, and What Child Is This adopted that melody, and so I find it so uplifting at Christmas.
https://youtu.be/kQWKjTvPgiM
‘Wonderful Christmas Time’ by the almighty Paul McCartney definitely says Christmas is here for me. I love the lyrics as they talk about good spirits and togetherness. I also like the tone as its upbeat but not over the top. đ
Yes great one, I always liked this McCartney Christmas song, such a wonderful melody and lyrics too, lifts the spirit.