Christmas music — good news and bad news

[NewUlm1976_2000]

Christmas music on the radio started a week ago here.

I am not remotely in the mood right now. Yet that is capitalism. If they start this early I wish they would go 12 days after Christmas, but that is not retail.

 

[DaveBj]

Christmas music on the radio started a week ago here.

I am not remotely in the mood right now. Yet that is capitalism. If they start this early I wish they would go 12 days after Christmas, but that is not retail.

Just got an all-hands email from Robert Aubrey Davis, the program director of the XM Satellite Radio Vox channel:

Recognizing strong feeling among many of you about Christmas music (pro and con), our philosophy remains the same: note the Advent season, keep it spare until the week or so before the actual day, and then rigorously keep the 12 Days until Epiphany (and a hint or two through the Octave of Epiphany). But remember, Elena is at the helm in the mornings and loves all your suggestions and comments!

(Emphasis mine)

I have a feeling he might be Catholic. He also does the Millenium of Music program (chant, ren-music, etc.), and his co-host/sub-host is a Catholic priest; the name slips me right now.

On the other hand, the XM Pops channel is full-time Christmas music, not that I’m complaining

 

[Edwin1961]

My pastor tells us that Advent is the preparation time for the coming of Christ (the past and the future ones). We CELEBRATE Christmas AFTER the fact and not before. He tells us that for example, why celebrate a wedding before the bride and groom show up? (they could call off the wedding! )

Chrismtas is celebrated 40 days AFTER (and at that time, the secular world has put away ALL the trimings, tree and music).
Also, how would you explain where the Twelve Days OF Christmas comes from, the song is about AFTER Christmas.

I was shocked of my best friend who has already begun playing Christmas song in his car and listening to all the 'only Christmas songs radio stations here). The more I hear Christmas songs on the radio, I will start tuning them out and just play music at home from my computer.

We as Catholics (and Christians) to be ‘counter-cultureal’ when it comes to following Christ and the rest of the world. In this case, it’s just another example of this fact.

 

[DaveBj]

My pastor tells us that Advent is the preparation time for the coming of Christ (the past and the future ones). We CELEBRATE Christmas AFTER the fact and not before. He tells us that for example, why celebrate a wedding before the bride and groom show up? (they could call off the wedding! )

Chrismtas is celebrated 40 days AFTER (and at that time, the secular world has put away ALL the trimings, tree and music).
Also, how would you explain where the Twelve Days OF Christmas comes from, the song is about AFTER Christmas.

snip

This is a very good point. I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that Christmas music starting in mid-November is part of the drive to get people shopping.

Having said that, I still like to start listening to it early. And it doesn’t affect our shopping habits, because we already have a decidedly non-commercial Christmas.

Another counterpoint is that there is a LOT of Christmas music that has been written, but there’s not much in the line of Advent music.

 

[KCT]

Wal Mart has also been playing religious Christmas music.
—KCT

 

[snowgarden]

I’ve collected Christmas music since my teens and taped off the radio for over 20 years…I just can’t get enough. Two of the stations in my area started playing around Thanksgiving. I always pray that if a lost, hopeless soul happens to hear one of the religious Christmas songs on the radio or in a store that God will touch his or her heart and open them to the possibility of trusting in that little baby who came into the world to die for our sins and make us new again. God bless all the searching, lonely souls.

 

[MarthaMartha]

I was very surprised to hear, amidst all the other pop stars wailing such contemporary offerings as “Do They Know It’s Christmas” and “Christmas Is the Time to Say I Love You,” a truly beautiful and faithful rendition of “The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came.” DH and I were driving in the car, and we said to one another: “Who’s that? Who’s that?” Turned out to be – Sting!

 

[Cracker_Mom]

My pastor tells us that Advent is the preparation time for the coming of Christ (the past and the future ones). We CELEBRATE Christmas AFTER the fact and not before. He tells us that for example, why celebrate a wedding before the bride and groom show up? (they could call off the wedding! )

Chrismtas is celebrated 40 days AFTER (and at that time, the secular world has put away ALL the trimings, tree and music).
Also, how would you explain where the Twelve Days OF Christmas comes from, the song is about AFTER Christmas.

I was shocked of my best friend who has already begun playing Christmas song in his car and listening to all the 'only Christmas songs radio stations here). The more I hear Christmas songs on the radio, I will start tuning them out and just play music at home from my computer.

We as Catholics (and Christians) to be ‘counter-cultureal’ when it comes to following Christ and the rest of the world. In this case, it’s just another example of this fact.

Exactly. Good for you.
What troubles me more than Christmas music played in November is the complete cessation of Christmas music the next day after Christmas, which as you mentioned is still very much in the Christmas season. And then seeing all the Christmas trees in the trash Jan. 1st or earlier…We don’t put our’s up til Christmas Eve & leave it decorated through Jan.6th.