Notes Of Nostalgia Christmas

By Dale

It is the Holiday Season and I have to say that Christmas Time is my favorite time of the year. I love how everything changes during this season, I love the lights, the shopping, the decorations, the holiday get-together but what really seems to trigger the Christmas season for me is Christmas Music. Sure, we have all heard the Christmas songs before, but it really does change moods and focus. It is interesting how you go along all wrapped up in the day to day grind that we all face and the Holiday season starts and your focus inevitably migrates from just business to include more family time. It has been said that even though you hear about how rushed everyone is and you have a sense of how rushed you yourself can become during this season a calming feeling seems to settle in. I believe there is a magic in the Christmas season.

I mentioned Christmas music and what a big part it plays in the overall Holiday season so I decided that I would put together a list of what I would consider my personal favorite Top Thirty Christmas songs of all time and for fun call it Dales Collectible’s Top Thirty Christmas Songs, now that was original, right?

Top 30 Christmas Songs

1. White Christmas by Bing Crosby
2. Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer by Gene Autry
3. Blue Christmas by Elvis Presley
4. Rockin Around the Christmas Tree by Brenda Lee
5. It’s the Most Wonderful Time of The Year by Andy Williams
6. Feliz Navidad by Jose Feliciano
7. Hallelujah by Pentatonix
8. Santa Baby by Eartha Kitt
9. Sleigh Ride by the Ronettes
10. The Christmas Song by Nat King Cole
11. A Holly Jolly Christmas by Burl Ives
12. It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas by Michael Buble
13. Christmas(Baby Please Come Home) by Darlene Love
14. Mary, Did You Know by Pentatonix
15. Here Comes Santa Claus by Elvis Presley
16. Run Rudolph Run by Chuck Berry
17. It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas by Johnny Mathis
18.  Baby It’s Cold Outside by Dean Martin
19.  Jesus Is the Light of The World by Charlie Daniels
20.  Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas by Frank Sinatra
21.  Santa Claus Is Coming to Town by the Jackson Five
22.  Here Comes Santa Claus by Gene Autry
23.  Let It Snow, Let It Snow by Dean Martin
24.  Wonderful Christmastime by Paul McCartney
25.  Joy To The World by The Mormon Tabernacle Choir
26.  Little Saint Nick by The Beach Boys
27.  Pretty Paper by Willie Nelson
28.  The First Noel by Andy Williams
29.  Jingle Bell Rock by Bobby Helms
30.  The Chipmunk Song by David Seville & The Chipmunks

I think back to when I first remember listening to Christmas records as I grew up, I was fortunate as I had a mother that would sing many of the songs which added special meaning to them for me. I learned to enjoy Christmas Carolers and hearing choirs sing those songs, enjoyed songs on the radio, on TV and in person. Great memories, wonderful memories that will be with me forever.

Those family times for some of us included going out and finding just the right Christmas Tree, bringing it home and decorating while the music of the season played in the background. I remember when I was very young having my mother teach me just how to decorate not only the tree but our home so everything looked really good, a near perfect blend of color personified in ornaments, lights and garland. You know I still treasure those lessons and they have never left me.

In addition to the decorating I always treasured the time when the decorating was complete, and we got to sit back for a little while, drink a cup of hot chocolate and enjoy the beauty of what we created. Then there was the fun of showing off our tree and home to my friends and the pride I felt when they would say how pretty everything looked. All the while we had the music of the Christmas season softly playing in the background.

Nearly every Christmas Eve and Christmas Day when I was young there were trips to my grandparents’ homes to deliver presents and spend some quality time enjoying Christmas Dinner and visiting. It always seemed like Christmas music was playing be it in the car as we traveled or when we we revisiting. Several of my relatives, like my mother could sing and it was fun to have them gather around a piano and sing the songs of the season. Great memories of happy times from the past stay with us forever, and what really brings them out is hearing those great Christmas songs. Christmas music allows me to escape for a trip back to days that have passed, remember the people, the places and the love. These wonderful memories triggered by the wonderful sounds of the season make my Christmas season so much brighter.

What’s your favorite Christmas Song?

Enjoy all those special holiday moments.

Dale