Holiday traditions.

Christmas time is here, happiness and cheer -this is the opening line from the song of the same name, from the perennial favorite A Charlie Brown Christmas.[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPG3zSgm_Qo&w=420&h=315] Somehow Christmas does not seem complete without all of the movies, books and music. All these things that really get you into the “Christmas spirit”. I have my own holiday traditions. Every year I read A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. This timeless story of redemption and second chances always gives me hope. Yes, -things and people CAN change. There are so many different productions of A Christmas Carol that you really have your pick. Everything from A Muppets Christmas Carol and Scrooged, to George C. Scott’s and Alistair Sims” renditions of the miserly Scrooge to several cartoon versions.
I already mentioned A Charlie Brown Christmas which is one of my absolute favorites. With its great score by Vince Guaraldi and its message of the “true meaning of Christmas”,-
“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
And the angel said unto them, Fear not; for, behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace and goodwill towards men.”
…That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.”
And so it is. -Well said Linus.
I love so many Christmas movies. From the old classics, such as -It’s a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street, Holiday Inn, White Christmas and the Bishop’s Wife to “new” classics. Home Alone (and keep the change you filthy animal!), A Christmas Story (You’ll shoot your eye out, kid!), Christmas Vacation, Scrooged (with Bill Murray), Family Man (Nicholas Cage) and Love Actually.
One of my favorites, that many people are not familiar with, is -Meet Me in St.Louis with Judy Garland and Margaret O’Brien. This is the film that brought us Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas -[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKG5X0QMSWA&w=420&h=315]
Is there anything that brings the Christmas feeling quicker than a Christmas carol? Nat King Cole’s The Christmas Song instantly transports you into that “Christmas frame of mind”
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5s8h2d1RK8&w=420&h=315]
Andy Williams reminds us that It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year –
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFtb3EtjEic&w=420&h=315]
And of course when writing out Christmas cards I usually have to have Bing singing, I’m dreaming of a white Christmas
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGAosOoKFMs&w=420&h=315]
Listening to Christmas music is such a joyful way to feel that special Christmas glow. May you and your family have all that Christmas entails. Happy Holidays from the Orland Free Library.
Posted by ~ Estel,