christmas music 16


Memory is closely tied to songs. For many people, some of the most powerful and inspirational feelings come from warm memory of the holiday season. Christmas music is a valuable part of this well-loved time of year. The holiday songs are endearing and they evoke many emotions and fond memories.

Make sure that you keep the tradition of sharing Christmas music during your holiday celebrations. This seems to be a dying practice among many families. Last year, we visited my sister-in-law’s home for the holidays. She had all of the elements of a great celebration but no Christmas music.

While the evergreen tree was decorated to the finest detail and the lights were sparkling with charm, the absence of Christmas music was quite pronounced. She had made several of our favorite holiday dishes and the gathering was nearly perfect but there was definitely something missing.

At first, my husband and I didn’t realize why the party fell flat. There was good company and good food. The decorations were lovely and everyone enjoyed sharing stories while watching the kids open their presents. However, we left with an empty feeling that couldn’t be explained.

The guests wandered around most of the evening. The kids mostly played video games and some attendants watched television. The occasional conversation was interrupted with commercials and some channel surfing. We hadn’t realized that the absence of Christmas music was a factor in these distractions.

We thought that the new tradition of going to my sister-in-law’s home for the holidays was the reason that we were feeling a little deflated. After all, we had gone to his parents’ home for years and years. But his parents were in attendance and they seemed a little let down, too. No one could put a finger on why there was the odd feeling that something very important was missing.

It wasn’t until I went to another holiday affair that I realized what the significant difference between the events really was. There was no Christmas music. The absence of the holiday songs may not seem like a big deal but it makes a huge difference. The other celebration was warm and inviting and the Christmas music helped create an atmosphere fit for a grand event.

If you are planning a holiday occasion to share with friends and family, try turning the television off for awhile. Play some lovely Christmas music instead. You will see what a difference the songs really do make.