On the Second Day of a Feminine Christmas
In school, we sang traditional carols and a few “modern” ballads in our annual Christmas recitals. Over the years, I’ve retained a special place in my heart for that type of Christmas music. The radio stations that play all day/all season Christmas music never give enough play time to my favorites. So the other day, I brought a friend-made CD of Rosemary Clooney singing lovely old and new carols out to my car. That’s Clooney above dressed in her Christmas finery in the marvelous film White Christmas. I love her rich soulful voice singing carols.
But while I was caught in traffic, I listened to a piece on the CD that I had heard many times over the years but never truly heard. It is called Christmas Memories. Later, I investigated other artists’ versions of the song, like Frank Sinatra’s, and although still melodic and quaint, they were not quite as nice as the “womanly” voice of Clooney’s. And as I considered it, Christmas Memories is a woman’s song because it’s really about a woman looking back with wishful longing at all her Christmas’ especially her sweet memories of her now-grown children. It’s touchingly poignant and as a new grandmother, I found myself listening with misty eyes…
So I tell you about this particular piece of music and the way it is sung by a certain lovely artist because I want to remind you that memories will invade your present Christmas. But the sadness we feel increases the joy. Without the sights, smells and sounds of the past, Christmas would be just another day. Those are OUR gifts under the tree. Trust me. Our remembrances bring the holiday to life and twinkle from every light, whether you are baking your mother’s spice cake or unwrapping a worn and dilapidated manger scene. It’s all part of the beautiful holiday where ghosts of who we were, where we were, and most importantly who we loved and who loved us come back to gently sit upon our shoulders for another season in time.
Christmas music is a personal thing – we all have our treasured favorites but it makes me sad to think that children aren’t exposed to the old carols. This is not to say that very contemporary Christmas music doesn’t have a place…I actually like Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas, just not every time I drop into TJ Maxx. I do wish everyone would listen to Handel’s Messiah at least once but also not to forget more “modernish” ballads such as Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas or I’ll be Home for Christmas or anything sung by Nat King Cole. And I especially crave the music I grew up with and sang out from a little wooden school stage straight to my mother in her seat all those years ago.
But back to Rosemary Clooney’s Christmas Memories. If you read the lyrics, you will see that the song is of a grandmother reminiscing about her past Christmas’ and how they’ve rolled together, one after the other until she sees her own small children before her, now grown with children of their own. I couldn’t find out much information about the song online but I present the words for you here. And I ask you listen to Clooney’s rendition and please expect that you may weep a bit as she tells you of her bittersweet memories of motherhood, love…and Christmas. Sing it Rosemary!
Christmas Memories
Singing carols, stringing popcorn
Making footprints in the snow
Memories, Christmas memories
They’re the sweetest ones I know
Cookies baking in the kitchen
Cards and ribbons everywhere
Frosty, Christmas memories
Float like snowflakes in the air
And, oh the joy of waking Christmas mornings
The family gathered ’round the tree
We had a way of making Christmas
As merry as can be
I close my eyes and see shining faces
Of all the children who now have children of their own
Funny, comes December
And I remember all the Christmas’ I’ve known
~Bergman and Costa
What are the Christmas songs that take you back?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLHC2xP8Op0
13 Comments
Lilly's Mom
This is a lovely tribute you've written regarding Christmas songs. I couldn't agree with you more. When my children were in elementary school, they used to have winter concerts. Now, my little 9 year old grandson attends a well known school and there are no musical concerts at all. It makes be sad that the students have no concept of this traditional holiday music. On a bright note, I was at Ikea's Julbord dinner last week and they played traditional Christmas music, even religious carols. It was heart warming. Have a wonderful day 🎄❣️🎄 Pat
annette
"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" as sung by Judy Garland in "Meet ME in St. Louis"!
Donna Macdonald
So stirring Annette…
Amy
I'm not sure what happened to me this year, but I find I'm unable to listen to most Christmas music without an intense feeling of melancholy and almost grief, although I've had no obvious causes of grief in the past year. It's even hard to go to the grocery store this month, which pipes Christmas music over the sound system.
The only Christmas music I've found this year that is tolerable is "Jazz Christmas" on Pandora.
It's all very peculiar.
Donna Macdonald
I get it this Amy! For me, it is the passage of time that pulls at the heartstrings.
Ann
What a thoughtful post! For me, Jesu Bambino takes me back to the first time I sang in the choir…and also Angels We Have Hear On High…I remember our teacher, Sister Anne Marie, telling us to sing it GL OH Ria….with an OH sound so we looked better singing! So many songs bring a tear to my eye…but also comfort. Merry Christmas…looking forward to more posts !
Donna Macdonald
Sister Anne Marie? Had one of those too. Thank you Ann!
Carol W
Perfect post and much needed right now. We just lost another family member (3 in just over 4 months) so we are shaking things up & changing our Christmas traditions this year. After my mother died, I tried to recreate her Christmases, and that didn't work out well and caused me a lot of unneeded stress. Thankfully, I know better this time around. I'm not quite ready for the music, but I may try listening to the music in the car next week and the sappy Christmas movies the week after as I begin wrapping. White Christmas is one of my absolute favorite movies! Our first married night was at the inn in Norwich, VT that the movie styled their inn after. Carol in VT
Donna Macdonald
Carol W, that is a lot of loss…it's these emotions that make the holidays so bittersweet at times. Blessings on your new version of Christmas. Hugs
Ally M
What a lovely post. I’ve never heard this song before. It’s so perfect right now. Last night I finished hanging the ornaments on the tree and snapped at my husband for something and he asked me what was really going on. I just lost it. I ugly cried for an hour and he just held me. Our son left for college this fall and it appears I’m not taking it as well as I thought I was. I hope I can get through the season with a modicum if grace.
Donna Macdonald
Everything seems to be constantly changing (by the way, they come back for a time). Hugs.
Donna Macdonald
Oh yes Dana…the lilting Frosted Window Panes…"
Dana L.
This post touched me deeply. My daughter's school would also perform two songs at the annual Christmas show- one old classic obscure song and then a modern one. In addition- there was always a little story about the history of the classic song that I looked forward to every year. Two songs today always take me back- The Christmas Waltz (particularly Peggy Lee's version and especially that first line of "frosted window panes…") and also the very upbeat cheery – "It's a Marshmallow World."