Today, I thought it would be fun to share some holiday musical traditions with you (aka my favorite Christmas carols).
I’m one of those people who could listen to Christmas music all year, but I don’t. There’s just something so special about hearing that first carol play that fills my heart with joy.
My favorite Christmas music tends to dance on the side of traditional.
The holiday season does not officially arrive until I’ve listened to White Christmas, but only if sung by Bing Crosby.
Johnny Mathis must sing It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, and, of course, Nat King Cole must croon The Christmas Song, although John Michael Montgomery’s rendition is one I will definitely stop and listen to, as well as Chris Young’s take on the song.
When I was growing up, we weren’t allowed to turn on the Christmas music until Thanksgiving morning. Then, as soon as we’d all gobbled our breakfast and Dad and I had finished watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, I’d beg and plead to turn on the holiday tunes.
As Mom worked at a feverish pace in the kitchen getting food ready, I would go to our big stereo in the living room, take a stack of records out of their jackets, stack them on the turntable, and sigh in contentment as Glen Campbell began singing “That Christmas Feeling.”
Now that I can choose when to listen to my favorite Christmas music, I generally start the day of my annual Cowboys & Christmas celebration each November.
Other favorites not in any particular order:
Mary Did You Know – Kathy Mattea
No Room – Rhett Akins
One Bright Star – Vince Gill
Carol of the Bells – Celtic Woman
The Friendly Beasts– Garth Brooks
It Wasn’t His Child – Trisha Yearwood
It doesn’t matter who sings it, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas and I’ll Be Home for Christmas always makes my eyes water. Can’t tell you why. That’s just the way it is.
What are your favorite Christmas songs?
8 Responses
We still do not listen to Christmas music until Thanksgiving day. During dinner, with the adults in one room and children (ages 2-18) in another, we turn on Pandora Andy Williams Christmas. My favorite Christmas carol is Joy to the World.
Such a neat tradition! <3
So many of yours.
Breath of Heaven by Amy Grant
O Holy Night
The Greatest Gift by Andrea, Matteo and Virginia Bocelli
Oh, how could I forget about Breath of Heaven. Love that song!
We, too, wait until Thanksgiving to play Christmas music. If it’s a year when Thanksgiving falls on Nov. 27 or 28 I might listen to some before but only a day or two before. One of my favorites is “Come On Ring Those Bells” by Evie. I have several albums that are collections of various artists that I really like. Most of the songs on your list are on these albums.Favorite albums include Wylie Gustafson’s Christmas for Cowboys and John Denver’s Rocky Mountain Christmas.
How fun, Alice. I like the collections, too, as you get such a neat mix of styles and voices.
Happy listening!
grew up in Missouri with my grandparents. I do not remember Christmas songs being played or sung until the first of December. So, as an adult, I followed that tradition!
October is celebrated as my birthday month. 🎁 I only celebrated Halloween the last few days so that I could wear a costume to work. 🎃 I celebrate November as the month of Thanksgiving (although, I am Thankful every day!) 🙏🏻 December 1 is the celebration of the birth of Christ and the reason I do not play or sing (or want to hear) any Christmas songs until this time! ✝️
That’s so fun you follow the traditions you learned in childhood! Happy listening to your favorite carols this month!