Christmas carols are to Christmas as fruit is to fruit cake. Okay, maybe that is the worst comparison in the world since many people will try to do without fruit cake over the holidays but very few people will try to have a carol free Christmas. It has become a treasured part of Christmas for many people and it wouldn’t seem right without the carols playing in the background.

Every year, my family and I head out to the local tree grower where we purchase our tree for the holidays. When we get it home, we crank up the stereo and decorate the tree to the accompaniment of Christmas classics.

Christmas Carols have become a treasured part of our holidays and I always look forward to the first week in December when I can finally look like a sane and normal person playing Christmas music. (You should see the looks I get when I play a Christmas CD in May.)

As with most people, I have my own favorites and there are some that need to go on a holiday playlist. These are the classics from my childhood, usually the ones that were associated with a television show at one time or other.

Favorites such as “Frosty the Snowman,” or “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer,” Christmas carols that warm the heart, ignite the imagination and send warm reminders of Christmases when I was too young to worry about the shopping list and all the stocking stuffers that I will need to purchase.

And maybe that is what Christmas carols are for; a way to not only celebrate and enjoy the season but also a way to remember all the Christmas seasons of childhood. Seasons filled with cheer, without all the doubts that are often associated with the holidays; seasons where you aren’t worried about all the little things and all the big things that as adults we have to worry about.

Christmas carols are about the merriment of the holiday so let’s get ready to be merry by enjoying a few lyrics to some of the classic carols out there.

Frosty the Snowman

Written by Walter “Jack” Rollins and Steve Nelson (1950)

Maybe this carol holds a special place in my heart because of the movie that was made in 1969 but then again, it might not be. It is a fun song about childhood magic and should be enjoyed every year to remind us of the magic of Christmas.

Lyrics:

Frosty the snowman was a jolly happy soul,
With a corncob pipe and a button nose,
And two eyes made out of coal.
Frosty the snowman is a fairy tale, they say,
He was made of snow but the children
know how he came to life one day.
There must have been some magic in that
Old silk hat they found.
For when they placed it on his head,
He began to dance around.

O, Frosty the snowman
Was alive as he could be,
And the children say he could laugh
And play just the same as you and me.
Thumpetty thump thump,
Thumpety thump thump,
Look at Frosty go.
Thumpetty thump thump,
Thumpety thump thump,
Over the hills of snow.

Frosty the snowman knew
The sun was hot that day,
So he said, “Let’s run and
we’ll have some fun
now before I melt away.”
Down to the village,
With a broomstick in his hand,
Running here and there all
Around the square saying,
Catch me if you can.
He led them down the streets of town
Right to the traffic cop.
And he only paused a moment when
He heard him holler “Stop!”

For Frosty the snowman
Had to hurry on his way,
But he waved goodbye saying,
“Don’t you cry,
I’ll be back again some day.”
Thumpetty thump thump,
Thumpety thump thump,
Look at Frosty go.
Thumpetty thump thump,
Thumpety thump thump,
Over the hills of snow.

Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Written by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane

Performed by Judy Garland (1944)

Since I was talking about the merriment that is associated with Christmas carols, I can’t pass by the chance to share this Christmas Classic and sign off by saying that I hope you and yours has a very merry Christmas.

Lyrics:

Have yourself a merry little Christmas,
Let your heart be light
From now on,
our troubles will be out of sight

Have yourself a merry little Christmas,
Make the Yule-tide gay,
From now on,
our troubles will be miles away.

Here we are as in olden days,
Happy golden days of yore.
Faithful friends who are dear to us
Gather near to us once more.

Through the years
We all will be together,
If the Fates allow
Hang a shining star upon the highest bough.
And have yourself A merry little Christmas now.

-Sirena Van Schaik