The Advent wreath, hung from the ceiling 4 Sundays before Christmas, always made me think of Christmas. My mom always made the Advent wreath and she showed me how to make one. It’s not Christmas unless this is up but, I have to admit, I don’t light the candles because I’m terrified of a fire although I have lit it in the past. This was when we would start playing Christmas music which made my dad tickled pink. He always said, “If Christmas is just for kids, then I’m the biggest kid of all.” He’s right because Christmas is about giving, being with family and friends, enjoying the peace and serenity it should bring. We now look at it that it’s for kids and what they get, let them rip up all the paper and ask for more…disgusting in my book. My mom would let us write a Christmas list of what we would like but we would go out and shop for others and get excited about getting a gift for others. We would make things and enjoy listening to the stories of Christmasses’ past. Now, check out Curious As A Cathy to hear what others think of when Christmas comes round the corner. I always love playing certain albums that must be played first and here they are…
1. THE NUTCRACKER SUITE CONDUCTED BY EUGENE ORMANDY-1972
I love the Nutcracker Suite and have this version conducted by the great Eugene Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orchestra. I only have it in tape cassette and played it so often that it needs to be replaced. I must go on the hunt for the version I have in CD. It’s the full version so, if you like to play this while baking cookies, reading or working, be my guest.
2. JOY TO THE WORLD CONDUCTED BY ANDRE KOSTELANETZ-1959
Mom told me that this was her and Daddy’s first Christmas album they bought together back in 1959, their first Christmas together. It sounds romantic….mom had everything decorated, she had Rouladen ready to serve Christmas Eve but my dad was not home. He was used to visiting the relatives who would give him a shot of whiskey or 3. When he came home, after midnight, drunker than a skunk( yeah, yeah, before anyone ever spoke about drinking and driving), my mom just about dropped the Rouladen onto his head. She told him..”Never Again!” My dad never, ever did that again and loved Christmas. He always said that mom brought Christmas to him and he was so thankful.
3. CHRISTMAS IN GERMANY -1958
Mom bought this album in Toronto and it was another album that I have to play on the first of Advent. It’s 66 years old but it just means Christmas to me. I love the church bells, the beauty of all the voices including that deep baritone. I’m not religious but this music just feels holy to me.
I hope you enjoyed the listen even if it was just one song or 2 rather than the whole albums.