Do You Hear What I Hear?

This week we’ve been asked to describe our best holiday memories.

by Dietrich

Like most of us, I have some great memories centered around the holidays, many of them going back to childhood: the tree, the lights, the presents, and loved ones gathering.

A visit to Santa way back when

Among those memories are the classic tales set around this time of the year, stories that I’ve read over and over since childhood, ones I’ve never grown tired of. And what a joy sharing them with my son when he was growing up, getting him started on some best-loved ones of his own. There was The Nutcracker and the Mouse King (Nussknacker und Mausekönig) by E.T.A. Hoffmann; The Adventures of Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum; The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg; How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss; The Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore; A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens; and The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry.

And no festivity was complete without the traditional music ringing through the house. Classics like Bing’s “White Christmas,” and “Mele Kalikimaka,” the one he did with the Andrews Sisters. And there was Johnny Mathis doing “Sleigh Ride,” and Nat King Cole singing about chestnuts roasting over an open fire. Brenda Lee rocking around the Christmas tree, and Elvis singing about a blue Christmas. I’m sure you’ve all got some favorites – maybe you’re humming one right now. 

Then there were the films that still remain perfect for this time of year: Classics like Miracle on 34th Street, The Shop Around the Corner, and It’s a Wonderful Life. One of my personal favorites is the stop-motion animation classic The Nightmare Before Christmas. For those who’d argue that it’s a Halloween movie, then let’s include The Muppet Christmas Carol, and A Charlie Brown Christmas. And if classics and animation aren’t your thing, then how about Home Alone, or for some Christmas action there’s Die Hard, or if you want something darker, try Bad Santa. 

So, whether you’re planning this year’s Christmas dinner, or getting set to take the kids to see Santa at the mall, or digging through the closet for that ugly sweater, steaming the figgy pudding, or tuning in the Yule log on TV, I think we can agree that it’s the most wonderful time of the year, a time for great old memories, and a time for creating some new ones.