'Tis The Season

The first of December announces the start of the Christmas season to me. I cannot begin any earlier than December. It’s just not in my nature. This afternoon, Ben asked to listen to Christmas music while he was drawing and coloring. “Sure,” I replied, “Let’s find some.” What I found was a whole lot more.

Do you know what makes a great Christmas song? Well, now I know and I’ll share this knowledge with you.

Many words and themes are repeated throughout our traditional Christmas carols and more popular songs. I started to write down these words and the corresponding song…then it got out of hand. ‘Tis the season!

If you want to write a Christmas song, and if you want to make it GREAT, include the following words in your lyrics.

Night: O Holy Night, Silent Night, The First Noel, We Three Kings

Tree: O Christmas Tree, White Christmas, The Christmas Song, Christmas Waltz, 12 Days of Christmas

Angels: O Holy Night, Joy to the World, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, The First Noel, O Come All Ye Faithful, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, It Came Upon a Midnight Clear, O Little Town of Bethlehem

Child/Children: The Christmas Song, White Christmas, Away in a Manger, Silent Night, O Little Town of Bethlehem

Bells: Jingle Bells, Sleigh Ride, Winter Wonderland, Christmas Waltz, White Christmas

Bethlehem: O Little Town of Bethlehem, O Come All Ye Faithful, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, The First Noel, We Three Kings

Peace: Hark the Herald Angels Sing, Silent Night, It Came Upon a Midnight Clear

King(s): Joy to the World, We Three Kings, The First Noel, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, Little Drummer Boy, It Came Upon a Midnight Clear, O Come All Ye Faithful

Star(s): Away in a Manger, The First Noel, We Three Kings, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, O Little Town of Bethlehem

Morning/Night: Away in a Manger, O Come All Ye Faithful, O Come O Come Emmanuel

Love: Joy to the World, Christmas Waltz, 12 Days of Christmas, Away in a Manger, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, O Little Town of Bethlehem, Silent Night

The Christmas song that includes the most popular themes of modern-day Christmas happens to be called, appropriately, The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire). Images painted within these lyrics are part of our holiday vernacular: turkey, mistletoe, Santa, reindeer, choir, and Eskimos (also mentioned within the song Winter Wonderland).

Additional research uncovered information on religious symbolism written within the lyrics of the 12 Days of Christmas song. You know this tune, “On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…” Fascinating - I never knew this before today.

1 True Love refers to God

2 Turtle Doves refers to the Old and New Testaments

3 French Hens refers to Faith, Hope and Charity, the Theological Virtues

4 Calling Birds refers to the Four Gospels and/or the Four Evangelists

5 Golden Rings refers to the first Five Books of the Old Testament, the "Pentateuch", which gives the history of man's fall from grace.

6 Geese a-laying refers to the six days of creation

7 Swans a-swimming refers to the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the sacraments

8 Maids a-milking refers to the eight beatitudes

9 Ladies dancing refers to the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit

10 Lords a-leaping refers to the ten commandments

11 Pipers piping refers to the eleven faithful apostles

12 Drummers drumming refers to the points of doctrine in the Apostle's Creed

So let the songs commence! More Christmas themed posts will be coming – stay tuned.