Sometimes less is more.
A friend posted on Facebook:
Why the heck are they still playing Christmas music??? That's ridiculous!
I replied:
Because Christmas doesn't end until Jan 6. And we wouldn't be so tired of it if we hadn't been celebrating for two months straight already. You've heard of the 12 days of Christmas? Christmas was intended as a festival that didn't begin until Dec 25, and ran until Jan 6, 12 days, long enough for any celebration. The four weeks before Christmas are Advent. (Actually, it starts with the 4th Sunday before Christmas, so the length varies from year to year.) Advent is supposed to be a season of fasting, repentance, and prayer.
And what about all those songs that don't have anything to do with Christmas, but are just winter songs? They play them all through Nov and Dec when there's not much snow, and it's not technically winter, but stop Dec 26, when winter is just getting under way. No wonder so many people find winter depressing!
Why the heck are they still playing Christmas music??? That's ridiculous!
I replied:
Because Christmas doesn't end until Jan 6. And we wouldn't be so tired of it if we hadn't been celebrating for two months straight already. You've heard of the 12 days of Christmas? Christmas was intended as a festival that didn't begin until Dec 25, and ran until Jan 6, 12 days, long enough for any celebration. The four weeks before Christmas are Advent. (Actually, it starts with the 4th Sunday before Christmas, so the length varies from year to year.) Advent is supposed to be a season of fasting, repentance, and prayer.
And what about all those songs that don't have anything to do with Christmas, but are just winter songs? They play them all through Nov and Dec when there's not much snow, and it's not technically winter, but stop Dec 26, when winter is just getting under way. No wonder so many people find winter depressing!
Labels: Advent, Christmas, comments, the Church Year
posted by Daniel "Captain" Kirk at
12:12 PM
1 Comments:
Well said. I remember as a kid, the Christmas music would start Thanksgiving or the day after, and run until 6 p.m. Christmas day...then back to "top 40 rock and roll" or whatever the format of the station. I always thought that was a rip...at least play the Christmas songs until midnight of Christmas.
Here the Christmas music starts November 1st nowadays, which is way too early.
As for myself, I would happily enjoy Christmas music through the day of Epiphany, If they wouldn't start up until 7 p.m. on Thanksgiving (a significant moment in KC when the Plaza lights are turned on).
And I agree, much of the so-called Christmas music...isn't. And there are offenders from many decades from the late 40's / early 50's to the present. One old one I heard yesterday - and I don't know the title - has almost a big band feel. And includes these lyrics:
"It's the holiday season"
"dickory-dock, and don't forget to hang up your sock"
"he'll be comin' down the chimney down".
Dickory-dock?
And if I never hear "Santa Baby", or "Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer" again, it'll be five minutes too soon.
And there was another one I've been tired of for years, "Jingle Bell Rock", but I finally heard a good cover; an instrumental version done in Cajun Zydeco style from a Cajun Christmas CD I checked out from the library.
Anyway, I'll climb down off my soapbox now. Have a happy, safe, and healthy New Year!
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