The Question of Christmas Music

This is a post I've been thinking about writing for literally years at this point, but haven't until now. Partly because I think about it at inopportune times, partly because I didn't feel like I had enough information for it, partly because I'm either busy or lazy, partly because truthfully I'm still not entirely sure what I think of this subject. But anyways, welcome back to the blog; it has been a while!

One hill I'll always fight on is that there is to be ABSOLUTELY NO CHRISTMAS MUSIC BEFORE THANKSGIVING. Just. No. 

Poor Thanksgiving is like the middle child of holidays, getting blown over in favor of Halloween and Christmas. I think it's incredibly important to give each season its due, and to do our best to enter into each season while it's here, but that's a topic for another day. On that note, though, I will admit that I really struggle with where Christmas/holiday music belongs in the celebration timeline.

The more conservative Catholic in me wants to minimize the majority of the jolly tunes until December 25... but there are some logistical issues with that. First, it's almost impossible to escape. Whether it's in the vehicle, the stores, your workplace, or other peoples' homes, it feels like it's everywhere. Second, it simply lifts your spirits. How can you be in a bad mood when you're "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree"? So yeah, I do tend to feel the tug to jam out earlier than the 25th.

To be clear, there isn't anything in Catholic doctrine that prevents us from listening to Christmas music prior to Christmas. We can, and many do. It's more that we should be keeping ourselves in the season of Advent, and there is an argument to be made that most Christmas music pulls us away from the quiet, pondering, preparation that Advent is all about. Honestly, I go back and forth with my thoughts about it. I really enjoy music, and holiday specials are no exception. I think that a person can maintain the internal disposition of watchful waiting while also listening to the usual holiday classics. However, it is hard to make the case that "Joy to the World," "Go, Tell it on the Mountain," and others that explicitly speak of Jesus being born make sense to be played before December 25. Then again, technically He has been born...just 2000 some years ago.

There may also be certain activities that feel like festive music belongs. Decorating the tree, baking, looking at lights, etc. Then again, perhaps those can just as easily be paired with more specifically Advent type music.

About that Advent music.

There is hardly any compared to obviously Christmas music!

A friend tipped me off to an Advent playlist on the Hallow app, and it's actually stacked with several Advent playlists that hone in on the feel of watching and waiting for Christ. However, most of the song lists I've found (be that on Hallow, Amazon, or elsewhere) tend to have different renditions of the same songs, include music that involves watching and waiting, but not necessarily for the birth of Jesus, or Christmas songs end up somehow sneaking onto the list anyway.

No knock on any of the lists, though! I love "O Come O Come Emmanuel" and "Come Thou Long Expected Jesus." And in fairness, what we should really be pondering is the final coming of Jesus, so any music involving waiting counts. 

I guess that's the crux of it, anyways. What is our internal disposition? Are we watching and waiting, preparing ourselves for Christ to come? Is our environment fostering that disposition? If all the Christmas music does help you to enter in to Advent, then crank it up. But if it ends up being more of a distraction, then maybe the calm of Advent type tunes are more your speed. It might even vary for you from day to day.

Regardless, this is a rough layout of some holiday songs and where I think they fit. Feel free to agree or disagree with their assignment. Prayers for a fruitful Advent and Christmas season!

Explicitly Advent:

"O Come O Come Emmanuel"

"Come Thou Long Expected Jesus"

"O Come Divine Messiah"

"People, Look East"

"Breath of Heaven"

Wintery Christmas Prep:

"It's Beginning to Look a Lot like Christmas"

"Jingle Bells"

"I'll Be Home for Christmas"

"Santa Claus is Coming to Town"

"Silver Bells"

"Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!"

"Deck the Halls"

Obviously Christmas:

"Joy to the World"

"O Come all ye Faithful"

"Go Tell it on the Mountain"

"Hark the Herald Angels Sing"

"Carol of the Bells"

"Feliz Navidad"

"Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree"

"Away in a Manger"

**Credit for contribution to these lists include, but are not limited to: the Hallow app, Amazon music, Kendra Tierney's The Catholic All Year Compendium (https://ignatius.com/the-catholic-all-year-compendium-caycp/), and various family and friends who participated in my data collection! There was actually quite a bit of overlap.