Have you ever really listened to the words to some of the secular Christmas songs? Now, don't jump to any conclusions about them having some sort of satanic message. They actually have no message at all. Inanity, inanity, all is inanity. Take, for example, my anti-favorite that is always requested by children: "Jingle Bells." Just go through the lyrics in your head. Go on. I'll wait.
Have you ever ridden in a one-horse open sleigh? Most of you have not, I'll wager. Well, I have ridden in a one-horse open carriage. And it's really not all that fun. It's pretty cold. Maybe a closed carriage would be better, but I digress.
I guess the reason this bothers me is that, in working with children, I bristle a bit when this song is requested over and over again by church kids who don't even know all the words to just the first verse of some of the traditional Christmas songs. What are we teaching kids when that is the song they want to sing most, and they have no desire for the substance and beauty of the old Christmas carols about, oh, I don't know ... Christ??
Regarding the inanity of my anti-favorite Christmas song (which I refuse to sing, btw), in a way, I'm glad. If that's the best the world can come up with as a substitute for the real reason we celebrate Christmas, then that only points to the bankruptcy of the alternate.
As the song says: good Christian men, rejoice!
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Good thoughts. I agree. I also can't stand "The Christmas Song" -- you know, chesnuts roasting on an open fire, etc., etc., etc. Alan can't stand any but the hymns -- which I also love, but I do like Winterwonderland and Silver Bells -- at least the melody -- and they're fun to play on the piano!
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