Thursday, November 15, 2012

Behind the Blog 28: Getting in the Holiday Spirit


BTB4

Behind The Blog is a meme to help bloggers connect their life and interests to the content showcased on their blog. The co-hosts Faye Kathe and Melissa will provide a different topic, idea, or question every week that bloggers can relate to themselves and the books, films, or media they find interesting!

It's Free Choice Week this week. I've decided to write about Holiday Music/Festivities

With Halloween done and over with, (although we still have a small bowl of leftover candy sitting on our counter) it's now time to start thinking about Thanksgiving (here in the US anyway) and then Christmas and New Years. 

So, I thought I'd write about things that I like to do to put myself in the holiday spirit.

My sister and I have been talking for the past week or so about the types of things that we're going to include in our Thanksgiving dinner. The grocery list of things we need at this point is massive. What can I say, we take Thanksgiving pretty seriously around here. I love to bake, but I'm not much of a cook as I've mentioned before, so you can bet that I'll be helping more with the desserts than the main course.

One thing I like to do to get into the holiday spirit is listen to holiday music. I try to do this sparingly in November because I know that the songs will be all over the radio in December and I'll be sick of them before too long if I start too early. So I'm laying off listening to the actual songs for now, but I did change my ringtone on my phone to Carol of the Bells. It's one of my absolute favorite Christmas songs.

When I was in 8th grade, I was in the school choir and that song was one of the pieces for our Christmas concert. I was a soprano and had to work at high ranges for this piece, and I loved the contrasts in the different musical sections for this song and how it all came together at the end. You'd think after singing it over and over again for months on end I'd be sick of it, but I love it, even now.

Another song I really like is Happy Christmas (War is over) by John Lennon. It's John Lennon, for one, so who could say that they don't like his music? But I like this song in particular because of the message it portrays, that we should all learn to put aside our differences and share in the experiences, which is really the embodiment of the holiday spirit. It's not about the presents, but about being together. 

This song actually makes me tear up a little, particularly on Christmas day. I can't explain exactly why, but it just feels like a good song for the ending of Christmas. All the rush and hustle and bustle of the season and this song just feels like the perfect way to wrap it all up. Like I said, I can't really explain it.

Another thing I like to do to spread some holiday cheer and get in the spirit is write holiday cards. I love to write cards and letters in general. There's just something about going to the mailbox and seeing a card/letter waiting  that I really love. Especially in the day and age of technology and instant gratification, it's nice when someone takes the time to write you. 

If any of you would like a holiday card to look forward to, be sure to go to This Post and fill out the request form and I'd be happy to send one out to you.

Books and Media:

For this week's books and media tie in I figured that I might list some of the holiday themed reads that are waiting on my shelves for me.

Last Chance Christmas
Photo Credit to Goodreads

Broken Christmas: Three Stories of Christmas
Photo credit to Goodreads

Those are just a couple of the holiday themed books I have waiting to be read. What's on your holiday TBR list, or what do you do to put yourself in the festive spirit?

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3 comments:

Kimberly @ Caffeinated Reviewer said...

Oh I adore John Lennon and actually have the Christmas song. I was in the choir too and remember our holiday concerts with candles and ooh caroling all night to all the parents homes.

Faye (Daydreaming_Star) said...

I love that you love Thanksgiving so much! Being from the UK, we don't celebrate it here, but it sounds like a good family holiday that a lot of people appreciate.

And some good ways of getting into the holiday spirit!

I know it gets closer to christmas when the weather here changes. The air becomes crisper, colder and there's just this smell in the air that I love. It doesn't snow often here - or it never used to - but I also think of Christmas with snow. It is the one time of year I miss Canada greatly though!

Hope you enjoy your thanksgiving this thursday! (right?) <3

Melissas Midnight Musings said...

@Kimba:

John Lennon is one of the best. :)

@Faye:

I miss Canada a lot this time of year too, even though the cold is rough, it would be nice to have snow for Christmas.

Yep, Thanksgiving is this Thursday, and thank you! :D