Pass any mall parking lot these days, and you’d think the holidays are all about presents. But when you really take time to reflect on your own childhood experiences, how many things do you actually remember receiving? Consider what you do remember about the holidays. For me, a big part of it is music. Our family parties were set to the live musical performances of talented parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles. We had the vinyl records of classic Christmas songs, and watched the TV guide each year for The Muppet Show and Donny and Marie's Christmas specials. Here’s a blast from the past:
I guess the equivalent for this generation would be SpongeBob’s "Don’t Be a Jerk, it’s Christmas." Our kids had this particular song at the top of their list of favourites for years (the way we had Alvin and the Chipmunks’ "Christmas Don’t Be Late" on our list in the 80s):
Now that our kids are older, their tastes have matured (phew! SpongeBob can grate on the nerves after 150 repeats!) and we have a new favourite. Have you heard of these guys? Meet Straight No Chaser, a great bunch of guys who have put new twists on some classic Christmas songs:
HILARIOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And about the gifts—my friend Mara, over at MomFaze, surprised me the other day with this interesting post. Her family is Jewish, and even they have had to to deal with the GIMMEES and over-focus on presents with Chanukah. Who knew? Speaking of music and laughter, here's another song our whole family loves, by the very witty Adam Sandler.
What are your kids’ favourite holiday songs? What was your favourite holiday music when you were a child? (Anyone remember "Suzy Snowflake"?)
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