Tag: Christmas music

Posted on in entertainment, family, Food and drink, holidays, poetry

My favourite holiday things

Cardinal and cardinal garland on a Christms tree

Over the years, I’ve shared many of my favourite things about the holidays. To me, Christmas has never been about one day, or the presents under the tree. It’s about all the small moments and simple joys that make this time of year special and bring me happiness and peace.

Frosty cold mornings and snow laden trees
And favourites like Elf, Home Alone and White Christmas on TV

Pretty green garlands of fresh spruce and pine
Glasses of egg nog, hot cocoa and wine

Local church concerts and carols sung on high
Finding the perfect gift then waiting for the Amazon guy

Filling the gaps in our old Christmas tree
With shiny bright lights, homemade ornaments and memories

White chocolate-dipped Oreos and Mrs. Garrett’s butter tarts
Nanaimo bars and haystacks and shortbreads cut in hearts

Candles glowing softly and red cardinals in the air
Reminders of those we’ve lost but still with us everywhere

Bowie and Crosby, The Pogues and Buble
Handel’s Messiah king of kings on Christmas Day

Gatherings with neighbours and laughter with friends
A time to reflect and to make amends

Fighting over the chocolate in the advent calendar
And constantly refilling the Scotch mint candy jar

The anticipation Christmas Day brings
These are a few of my favourite things

This week’s #HappyAct is to enjoy your favourite things in the lead up to the holidays. What are your favourites?

Posted on in community

May the songs of the season fill your heart with joy

Christmas carollers
Carollers at the mill in Delta, Ontario

One of the greatest joys this time of year is the music of the holiday season. Sadly, I’ve heard a lot of pathetic Christmas songs on the radio lately (what are some of these artists thinking?)

Music has always been a huge part of the holidays for me. This year, I’ve been to five events and concerts. While I enjoy the kids’ school concerts and piano recitals, my favourite concerts have been our local church cantata, and the Kingston Choral Society’s concert of the Messiah at the Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts in Kingston, which was magnificent. This Thursday, I’m hoping to catch one of the final advent lunchtime concerts at St. George’s cathedral with guitar player Jeff Hanlon.

Here are a few interesting facts about seasonal music:

  • The singer who sang “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” Thurl Ravenscroft was the same singer/actor who was the voice of Tony the Tiger, the mascot for Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes “
  • The word carol actually means dance or a song of praise and joy. Carols used to be written and sung all year-round, but over time, the tradition of singing carols is now associated with Christmas.
  • Many modern-day Christmas songs were actually written by Jewish composers like Irving Berlin and Johnny Marks
  • Jingle Bells was actually written to celebrate Thanksgiving (my Ryerson alumni team got this answer wrong at a recent trivia night)
  • If you’re looking for some last minute gifts, Sia, 98 Degrees, Josh Groban and Gwen Stefani all have new Christmas albums out this year.

This week’s #HappyAct is to listen to old familiar carols play and songs of joyful ring. What’s your favourite Christmas song? Leave a comment.

Church concert
Christmas concert at Trinity United Church in Verona