Holiday Music in December

[Vanessa Tilley]

Hello everyone! I can't believe we have already entered the month of December! Time is just flying by.

I know that HOL is world wide so I am interested in seeing do you have any holiday songs that you have to listen to when you celebrate the holidays?

For me, I live in the USA, so we celebrate Christmas. As my husband will tell you, I am NOT happy unless I hear I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas and You're a Mean one Mr. Grinch in December. I may be a full grown adult but I still wouldn't mind a Hippopotamus myself lol.

[Bull J. Johnson]

Every year I like to listen to three songs. These are "This Christmas (I'll burn it down)", "Santa Claws", and "I won't be home for Christmas."

[Prof. Amy Lupin]

Though my family doesn't always observe Chanukah, I love listening to (and even singing, though only as part of a group) two of the Hebrew songs associated with lighting the candles: Haneirot Halalu (roughly translated as "Those Candles") and Maoz Tzur ("Stronghold of Rock"). In fact, these are some of my overall favourite Hebrew songs associated with the various festivals. I enjoy these songs not necessarily for their meaning, but rather the sound, emotion and vibrance of them (although this does depend on the tune).

When I was much younger, I really liked the Chanukah song Sevivon ("Dreidel" / "Spinning Top"). The catchy upbeat tune was hard to resist and, after listening to it a short while ago, the first stanza is now stuck in my head.

[Tia Ksawer]

I am extremely fond of the album "A New Thought For Christmas" by Melissa Ethridge. I don't like all the songs, but most of them are really good. Her cover of "O Night Divine" in particular was awesome. And also, being something of a World Music buff, I really like the album "Putumayo Presents Christmas Around The World". It's a pity you can't get it on Amazon Music. You can get it on YouTube though. Superb.