The Music of Christmas

Christmas carols are part and parcel of the holiday season. But if you think about it, the music of Christmas isn’t just about the notes in a score. Well beyond the notes and harmonies, there’s a deeper sense of rhythm and melody woven throughout every aspect of the holiday season. This ‘music’ touches our hearts, brings back beautiful memories, deepens our traditions, and even comforts us in our quietest moments. Listen in and learn more about the literal and symbolic music that fills our hearts during the Christmas season. 

Transcript

Jingle Bells. Oh, Holy Night. I’ll Be Home for Christmas. And okay, I’ll even give you Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer, even if I do cringe a bit with that one. 

We all know these are the titles to a few of the much loved – and listened to – carols of Christmas. We listen to choirs as they sing them in three- or four-part harmony. They drip down from overhead speakers while we’re shopping.  Our voices blend beautifully when they are sung in church. And they offer a soothing background of comfort while curled up in our favorite chair, on a cold winter’s evening. 

Christmas carols are part and parcel of the holiday season. But if you think about it, the music of Christmas isn’t just about the notes in a score. Well beyond the notes and harmonies, there’s a deeper sense of rhythm and melody woven throughout every aspect of the holiday season. This ‘music’ touches our hearts, brings back beautiful memories, deepens our traditions, and even comforts us in our quietest moments. 

The Music of Christmas can be both literal and symbolic; it depends on how we listen to it. We may be listening to a soundtrack of our favorite carols, but those songs may also be creating a soundtrack of holiday memories. If we listen closely, we may discover melodies in unexpected places and stop to reflect on the quieter notes that often go unnoticed. Whether it’s a favorite Christmas Carol, the rhythm of family traditions, or the simple hum of gratitude, we’ll find appreciation for the many ways the Christmas season is filled with music – both heard and felt. 

I have a list of favorite Christmas music. Oh, Holy Night probably tops that list, but there are still many more. I also enjoy the different arrangements for them offered by different artists. But with each song I listen to, I’m often carried along by the music to memories of past Christmases. I can feel the excitement of the family gathering on Christmas Eve to decorate the Santa Claus tree. In my mind, I can hear the voices of my family as they visit, and the advice to ‘be sure to put that ornament over a light – the heat of the bulb will make it spin’. 

One of my most precious memories is hearing the laughter of my sister Cheryl, as we drove to our aunts’ house. We were talking about the craziest Christmas gifts, and I’ll Be Home for Christmas was playing on the radio. I don’t know which crazy gift garnered 1st place, but I still can hear the joy in that laugh every time I hear that song– and she left this earth almost 40 years ago. 

It is in the holiday traditions we hold dear that we find the rhythm of the holidays. Just as we hear the same songs over and over again, our traditions are carried out from year to year. These traditions create a comforting and familiar rhythm for our family and friends. And the rhythm of these traditions, such as decorating, baking, and sitting down to family meals act as grounding and joy-filled beats to the music of our lives. 

Just as different artists but their own spin to the musical scores, new traditions can create new arrangements and harmonies. The music is the same, the rhythm and beat just changes slightly. 

I love the upbeat and cheerful songs we sing during Christmas. They make me smile and almost want to dance along with the music. But there are others, such as Silent Night, that can settle us into a quieter moment, just as finding quiet time among the holiday chaos can do the same. It’s important to find room for those ‘Silent Nights’ to help us reconnect with a sense of inner peace. And these moments of quiet, just like the musical rests in these songs can create a balance that helps us to find even more joy in the season. 

For me, it’s the melody in the song that first attracts me. And just as music has melody, acts of kindness and generosity add the melody to the season. No matter if they are big or small, these acts of kindness act as a harmony that blends with all the others to create a beautiful symphony of giving. 

Think of them as ‘improvised’ music. A spontaneous gift, a warm smile or helping hand, or even the stealthy moves needed when playing the part of a Secret Santa can be some of the most beautiful notes you’ll hear during the Christmas season.

All too often, the music of Christmas is just background noises. We hear it, but our minds are more focused on what still needs to be done. But to truly hear the music, you need to be present in the moment. With everything we have on our lists of things to do, the tendency to feel as if we need to move faster can be overwhelming. Rather than miss out on the harmonies and melodies of the songs, it helps to slow down. And it isn’t’ just Jingle Bells and Little Drummer Boy you may not be hearing. The real music at Christmas is listening to the laughter of children, the rustling of the winter winds, the ‘rests’ in the calm of a snowfall, and the flute section of the song of winter birds.

Just as in conversations we discover ‘forgotten’ memories, there are many lesser known for ‘forgotten’ Christmas Carols from different eras. Do any of you remember your grandmother singing The Christmas Alphabet, originally performed by the McGuire Sisters? My Aunt Emily loved music, and there were many times I would listen as she sang carols performed by artists who were popular in the 30s, 40s, and even a couple in the 50s. I think by far my favorite is Angels Among Us performed by the group Alabama. It’s not quite as old, as it was released in 1993, but it acts as a reminder for the joy and love we can gift others through our acts of kindness and generosity. 

We can do the same, by sharing stories during the holidays as if they were treasured songs. These can be songs of meaning, laughter, or even wisdom that becomes the golden thread which holds our families together. 

When we tune in to the music at Christmas, we also need to tune into the unheard music of the heart. Think about the emotions, dreams, or hopes that come to life during the holidays. Consider how these inner melodies can help to guide your intentions, actions, and celebrations for the Christmas Season. And then, think of ways you can carry the Christmas spirit forward, allowing this special piece of music to resonate in your heart all year long. Whether it be through acts of kindness, spontaneous generosity, staying connected with family and friends, or even settling in for a quiet moment of heartfelt worship, it is this music at Christmas that can make your holidays glitter with beauty, warmth, and joy. 

Make the sounds of your Christmas even more enjoyable by celebrating the songs of the season, and the harmony and melody of love. 

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