Christmas Traditions
There have been years in recent history where I really haven’t felt like it was the Christmas season. I would go through all of the stuff: decorations, presents, maybe a party or two…but didn’t really feel like I had experienced the Christmas season like I had in the past.
It would really frustrate me.
I realized what I had missed those years. Singing the Christmas carols. I went to the Advent Chapel at school last week. Although I had no voice because of my sore throat, I was happy to sing the songs that somehow add to the mystique of the season. Then on Friday, our Community Group had a Christmas party. I got the idea stuck in my head that we would sing carols as part of the festivities. I even went and raided the hymnal collection at the school chapel. Half of us were battling colds, the other half don’t think they can carry a tune. In spite of that, everyone played along and we sang the story of Christmas for close to 45 minutes. We kept going and going. It was great!
I remember singing around the piano with my family at Grandma’s house. Those times are special to me. I remember going to church and singing the carols as a congregation. Those nights were more powerful to me than the Christmas programs that involved some type of musical production or a revamping of the carols where they are no longer recognizable. That’s the ironic thing, I guess. I have no problem with doing that to the hymns of the faith. Just don’t mess with the carols! Sometimes, it’s the simple things that are more powerful.
I have already sung with two different groups this year, and it’s only been one week since Thanksgiving. Maybe that makes me a traditionalist, I don’t really know – nor do I care. I’ve just come to realize that it’s not really Christmas to me without participation in Christmas carols.
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