100 Day Project 2021

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Do You Here What I Hear?

There’s music in the air!

Christmas music that is!

Christmas Eve was a night of song that wrapped itself about you like a shawl. But it warmed more than your body. It warmed your heart... filled it, too, with melody that would last forever. ~ Bess Steeter Aldrich
 
Christmas music has been an essential part of Christmas for centuries, people have gathered together in villages, town squares, churches, and barns to celebrate the birth of Jesus by singing.


Christmas carols and hymns are one part of the holiday season that always lifts my spirits. It’s also nice that I’m not required to do anything to enjoy this lift…no decisions, no shopping, no baking, and no assemble necessary. All I have to do is listen and of course, sing along!
 
My favorite Christmas carol is “The First Noel.” I especially love the chorus. When I hear these words, I always think of a chorus of angels singing their glory to God.
 
(the ornament below is one from my childhood, dated 1961)
The first noel the angel did say
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep
On a cold winter’s night that was so deep
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!
 
Very little is actually none about the origin of this song. It’s believed to have been sung in France during the 15th century and then brought to England before 1823. Noel is a French word meaning “birthday.”  Carols such as this were sung when the village gathered for singing and celebrating the bringing in of the Yule log. I thought it was very interesting that at this time carols were thought of as popular religious songs meant to be sung outside the church rather than within.
(these angels are also from my childhood)
 
Christmas music brings to me :
  • the story of the birth of Jesus (Away In A Manger, O little Town Of Bethlehem, Silent Night, Oh, Holy Night)
  • worship (O Come All Ye Faithful, Angels From The Realms Of Glory)
  • joy (Joy To The World, Angels We Have Hear On High)
  • hope (Let There Be Peace On Earth)
  • decorating ideas (O Christmas Tree, The Holly And The Ivy)
  • traditions of old (We Wish You A Merry Christmas, Deck The Halls) I'm thinking a yule log would be nice next year, but I don't think Mr. H will agree!!
  • ideas for gift giving (The Twelve Days Of Christmas) Let me know what you want off this list!!
  • dreams and wishes (I’m Dreaming Of A White Christmas, Let It Snow, Let it Snow LET IT SNOW) emphasis mine, yes, please LET IT SNOW!
  • childhood memories (Here Comes Santa Claus, Jolly Old Saint Nicholas, Jingle bells)
So crank up your radio. Listen to your Mp3 player, CD's, records, or what ever you have and enjoy this season of beautiful music. Oh, and don't forget to sing along!

8 comments:

  1. I love the Christmas carols too, Cathy, and I like to sing along too (poor neighbours!)
    How lovely to still have an angel ornament from your childhood!

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  2. I too enjoy Christmas music, my number one is still Bing Crosbys White Christmas. Listening to all my Christmas CD's takes me everytime on a sentimentel journey and give's me a cosy feel.

    Love your little angels.

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  3. Thanks, what an evocative post. I love Christmas music.

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  4. I love Christmas music too. I listen to it all year long.

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  5. For me, "Silent Night" means Christmas - when I was young, our church held a candlelight Christmas Eve service and "Silent Night" was what we would sing as each individual candle throughout the congregation was lit. The memory still gives me goose bumps and that feeling of happy anticipation.

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  6. Beautiful post, I love Christmas music so much

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  7. christmas music is one of my favorite parts of the holidays. :) so interesting the history to the first noel. love the photos you've shared cathy - i can totally feel the joy you have for music in them. so now i think i'm going to have to get my christmas music going. thank you for sharing the joy. :)

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  8. I love love love Christmas carols! I have my CD player loaded up and love to sing along. It really puts me in the mood.

    Your angel collection is lovely!

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Thanks so much for stopping by!!