"New Tradition"

I was introduced to a new holiday song that I want to share with you.  Hey Romeo, a country group from Edmonton, Alberta, released a new song yesterday titled "New Tradition."

The group Hey Romeo are the 2011 Canadian Country Music Awards "Group of the Year."

I've included a sound clip here for you to check them out: http://soundcloud.com/heyromeo/new-tradition-hey-romeo.

The History of The 12 Days Of Christmas

There is one Christmas Carol that has always baffled me. What in the world do leaping lords, French hens, swimming swans, and especially the partridge who won't come out of the pear tree have to do with Christmas?

From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics. It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality which the children could remember.

1. The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.
2. Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.
3. Three French hens stood for faith, hope, and love.
4. The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, & John.
5. The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.
6. The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.
7. Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit -- Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.
8. The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.
9. Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit -- Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control.
10. The ten lords a-leaping were the ten commandments.
11. The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.
12. The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed.

Name That Christmas Tune - Part Two

Name That Christmas Tune Answers

1. GRYMG
2. WTK
3. TFN
4. TLDB
5. SN
6. DYHWTH
7. JTTW
8. WCIT
9. OLTOB
10. OHN
11. AWHHOH
12. AIAM
13. ICUAMC
14. DTH
15. WWYAMC
16. OCAYF
17. SB
18. JB
19. HTHAS
20. AF
21. GGROBAR
22. TTDOC
23. IDOAWC
24. TCS
25. OT
26. HYAMLC
27. LISLISLIS
28. IBHFC
29. WC
30. SCICTT
31. WW
32. ISMKSC
33. RTRNR
34. AIWFCIMTFT
35. HCSC
36. JBR
37. RATCT
38. COTB
39. HWCAC
40. GKW
41. OCOCE
42. GTIOTM
43. HAHJC
44. FTS
45. FN
46. IGNFC
47. IWAHFC
48. WAYC
49. MGUCL
50. WC

1. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
2. Wee Three Kings
3. The First Noel
4. The Little Drummer Boy
5. Silent Night
6. Do You Hear What I Hear?
7. Joy to the World
8. What Child is This?
9. O Little Town of Bethlehem
10. O Holy Night
11. Angels We Have Heard on High
12. Away in a Manger
13. I Came Upon a Midnight Clear
14. Deck the Halls
15. We Wish You a Merry Christmas
16. O Come All Ye Faithful
17. Silver Bells
18. Jingle Bells
19. Hark the Herald Angels Sing
20. Adeste Fidelis
21. Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer
22. The Twelve Days of Christmas
23. I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas
24. The Christmas Song
25. O Tannebaum
26. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
27. Let It Snow Let It Snow Let It Snow
28. I'll Be Home for Christmas
29. White Christmas
30. Santa Claus is Coming to Town
31. Winter Wonderland
32. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
33. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
34. All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth
35. Here Comes Santa Claus
36. Jingle Bell Rock
37. Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree
38. Carol of the Bells
39. Here We Come a Caroling
40. Good King Wenceslas
41. O Come O Come Emmanual
42. Go Tell It on the Mountain
43. Have a Holly Jolly Christmas
44. Frosty the Snowman
45. Feliz Navidad
46. I Got Nothing for Christmas
47. I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas
48. Where are You Christmas?
49. My Grown Up Christmas List
50. Welcome Christmas

Congratulations to all of you who got all the song titles correct! Unfortunately, no one got all correct. Thanks, everyone, for playing.

Name That Christmas Tune

These are all Christmas songs. The clues are the first letters of each word in the title of the song.

Post your answers on your blog then share the link below via Mr. Linky.

Everyone who gets all the correct song titles will have their name entered for a small Christmas goodie package.

1. GRYMG
2. WTK
3. TFN
4. TLDB
5. SN
6. DYHWTH
7. JTTW
8. WCIT
9. OLTOB
10. OHN
11. AWHHOH
12. AIAM
13. ICUAMC
14. DTH
15. WWYAMC
16. OCAYF
17. SB
18. JB
19. HTHAS
20. AF
21. GGROBAR
22. TTDOC
23. IDOAWC
24. TCS
25. OT
26. HYAMLC
27. LISLISLIS
28. IBHFC
29. WC
30. SCICTT
31. WW
32. ISMKSC
33. RTRNR
34. AIWFCIMTFT
35. HCSC
36. JBR
37. RATCT
38. COTB
39. HWCAC
40. GKW
41. OCOCE
42. GTIOTM
43. HAHJC
44. FTS
45. FN
46. IGNFC
47. IWAHFC
48. WAYC
49. MGUCL
50. WC

The answers will be shared later this week.

The Hidden Meaning

The Hidden Meaning of the 12 Days of Christmas

People often think of the twelve days of Christmas as the days preceeding the festival. Actually, Christmas is a season of the Christian year that begins December 25 and lasts until January 6th -the day of Epiphany - when the church celebrates the revelation of
Christ as the light of the world and recalls the journey of the magi.

From 1558 until 1829 people in England were not allowed to practice their faith openly. It was during this era that someone wrote 'The Twelve Days Of Christmas' as a kind of secret catechism that could be sung in public without risk of persecution. The song has two
levels of interpretation: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of the church. Each element in the carol is a code word for a religious reality.

1. The partridge in a pear tree is Jesus Christ.

2. The two turtledoves are the Old and New Testaments.

3. Three french hens stand for faith, hope, and love.

4. The four calling birds are the four Gospels.

5. The five gold rings recall the Torah (Law) -- the first five books of the Old Testament.

6. The six geese of laying stand for the six days of creation.

7. Seven swans a swimming represent the sevenfold gifts of the Spirit.

8. The eight maids a milking are the eight Beatitudes.

9. Nine ladies dancing are the nine fruits of the Spirit (Gal.5).

10. The ten lords a leaping are the Ten Commandments.

11. Eleven pipers piping stand for the eleven faithful disciples.

12. Twelve drummers drumming symbolize the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed.

http://home.att.net/~JesusIsTheReason/8.htm

25 Days of Christmas Songs - Day 25 - Auld Lang Syne

We wrap up the 25 Days of Christmas not with a Christmas song, but with a song traditionally sung on New Year's Eve. The song's origins have been traced all the way back to a 1568 Scottish verse, which over generations has been shaped into it's current form.

Auld Lang Syne

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And days of auld lang syne?
And days of auld lang syne, my dear,
And days of auld lang syne.
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And days of auld lang syne?

We twa hae run aboot the braes
And pu'd the gowans fine.
We've wandered mony a weary foot,
Sin' auld lang syne.
Sin' auld lang syne, my dear,
Sin' auld lang syne,
We've wandered mony a weary foot,
Sin' auld ang syne.

We twa hae sported i' the burn,
From morning sun till dine,
But seas between us braid hae roared
Sin' auld lang syne.
Sin' auld lang syne, my dear,
Sin' auld lang syne.
But seas between us braid hae roared
Sin' auld lang syne.

And ther's a hand, my trusty friend,
And gie's a hand o' thine;
We'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.

25 Days of Christmas Songs - Day 24 - Blue Christmas

B.Hayes, J.Johnson (c) 1948

I'll have a blue Christmas without you;
I'll be so blue thinking about you.
Decorations of red
on a green Christmas tree
Won't mean a thing if
you're not here with me.

I'll have a blue Christmas, that's certain;
And when that blue heartache starts hurting,
You'll be doing all right
with your Christmas of white,
But I'll have a blue, blue Christmas.

25 Days of Christmas Songs - Day 23 - Deck the Halls

The melody to this popular Christmas carol belongs to Welsh folk song heritage, and may date back as far as the sixteenth century. The lyrics to Deck the Halls first appeared, without music, in a New York newspaper, in 1881. By the turn of the century, the melody and lyrics of Deck the Halls were wed, and the carol as we know it was already part of the American carol tradition.

Deck the Halls

Deck the halls with boughs of holly,
Fa la la la la la, la la la la.
Tis the season to by jolly,
Fa la la la la la, la la la la.

Don we now our gay apparel,
Fa la la, la la la, la la la.
Troll the ancient Yuletide carol,
Fa la la la la la, la la la la.

See the blazing Yule before us,
Fa la la la la la, la la la la.
Strike the harp and join the chorus.
Fa la la la la la, la la la la.

Follow me in merry measure,
Fa la la, la la la, la la la.
While I tell of Yuletide treasure,
Fa la la la la la, la la la la.

Fast away the old year passes,
Fa la la la la la, la la la la.
Hail the new, ye lads and lasses,
Fa la la, la la la, la la la.

Sing we joyous, all together,
Fa la la la la la, la la la la.
Heedless of the wind and weather,
Fa la la la la la, la la la la.

25 Days of Christmas Songs - Day 22 - Frosty the Snowman

Frosty the Snowman was written in 1950, for Gene Autry, as a result of the astounding success of Autry's Rudolph, the Red Nosed Reindeer, recording the previous year.

Frosty The Snowman

Frosty the Snowman
Was a jolly happy soul
With a corncob pipe and a button nose
And two eyes made out of coal

(chorus)

Frosty the Snowman
Is a fairytale 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

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

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

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

Thumpety thump thump
Thumpety thump thump
Look at Frosty go
Thumpety thump thump
Thumpety thump thump
Over the hills of snow

25 Days of Christmas Songs - Day 21 - God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

The lyrics of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen date back to 15th century England, when town watchmen would sing the song to the upper class, to earn additional money during the Christmas season.

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

God rest ye merry, gentlemen,
Let nothing you dismay,
Remember Christ our Savior
Was born on Christmas day,
To save us all from Satan's pow'r
When we were gone astray;

O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy,
O tidings of comfort and joy.

From God our heavenly Father
A blessed angel came.
And unto certain shepherds
Brought tidings of the same,
How that in Bethlehem was born
The Son of God by name:

O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy,
O tidings of comfort and joy.

"Fear not," then said the angel,
"Let nothing you affright,
This day is born a Savior,
Of virtue, power, and might;
So frequently to vanquish all
The friends of Satan quite";

O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy,
O tidings of comfort and joy.

The shepherds at those tidings
Rejoiced much in mind,
And left their flocks a-feeding,
In tempest, storm, and wind,
And went to Bethlehem straightway
This blessed babe to find:

O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy,
O tidings of comfort and joy.

But when to Bethlehem they came,
Whereat this infant lay
They found him in a manger
Where oxen feed on hay;
His mother Mary kneeling,
Unto the Lord did pray:

O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy,
O tidings of comfort and joy.

Now to the Lord sing praises,
All you within this place,
And with true love and brotherhood
Each other now embrace;
This holy tide of Christmas
All others doth deface:

O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy,
O tidings of comfort and joy.

25 Days of Christmas Songs - Day 20 - Jingle Bells

James Pierpont wrote the classic Jingle Bells in 1857 for the Sunday school class of a church in Boston. The song was originally titled "The One-Horse Open Sleigh", and was a Thanksgiving song. The children's performance was so well-received that they were asked to repeat it at Christmas. It soon thereafter became known as a Christmas song.

Jingle Bells
James Pierpont. publ.1857

Dashing through the snow
On a one-horse open sleigh,
Over the fields we go,
Laughing all the way;
Bells on bob-tail ring,
making spirits bright,
What fun it is to ride and sing
A sleighing song tonight.

Chorus:
Jingle bells, jingle bells,
jingle all the way!
O what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh.

A day or two ago,
I thought I'd take a ride,
And soon Miss Fanny Bright
Was seated by my side;
The horse was lean and lank;
Misfortune seemed his lot;
He got into a drifted bank,
And we, we got upsot.

Chorus

A day or two ago,
the story I must tell
I went out on the snow
And on my back I fell;
A gent was riding by
In a one-horse open sleigh,
He laughed as there
I sprawling lie,
But quickly drove away.

Chorus

Now the ground is white
Go it while you're young,
Take the girls tonight
And sing this sleighing song;
Just get a bob-tailed bay
two-forty as his speed
Hitch him to an open sleigh
And crack! you'll take the lead.

Chorus

25 Days of Christmas Songs - Day 19 - Here Comes Santa Claus

Gene Autry wrote this Christmas carol in 1947, after overhearing some children at a Christmas parade repeating, "Here comes Santa Claus! Here comes Santa Claus!" In 1998, Here Comes Santa Claus was chosen one of the top holiday songs of the twentieth century by ASCAP.

Here Comes Santa Claus
(Gene Autry, Oakley Haldeman)

Here comes Santa Claus!
Here comes Santa Claus!
Right down Santa Claus Lane!
Vixen and Blitzen and all his reindeer
are pulling on the reins.
Bells are ringing, children singing;
All is merry and bright.
Hang your stockings and say your prayers,
'Cause Santa Claus comes tonight.

Here comes Santa Claus!
Here comes Santa Claus!
Right down Santa Claus Lane!
He's got a bag that is filled with toys
for the boys and girls again.
Hear those sleigh bells jingle jangle,
What a beautiful sight.
Jump in bed, cover up your head,
'Cause Santa Claus comes tonight.

25 Days of Christmas Songs - Day 18 - The Christmas Song

Jazz singer Mel Torme (aka "The Velvet Fog") and lyricist Robert Wells wrote this beautiful Christmas song in July of 1945. Apparently, the two were so hot, they were inspired to write of snow, and Christmas to help cool them down. Nat King Cole went into the studio one year later to record the carol, and The Christmas song has since become one of the most popular Christmas carols ever.

The Christmas Song
(Torme-Wells)

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire
Jack Frost nipping at your nose
Yuletide carols being sung by a choir
And folks dressed up like Eskimos

Everybody knows some tofu and some mistletoe
Help to make the season bright
Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow
Will find it hard to sleep tonight

They know that Santa's on his way
He's loaded lots of toys
And goodies on his sleigh
And every mother's child is gonna spy
To see if reindeer really know how to fly

And so, I'm offering this simple phrase
To kids from one to ninety-two
Although its been said
Many times, many ways
Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas to... You!

25 Days of Christmas Songs - Day 17 - White Christmas

Written by Irving Berlin in 1942 for use in the movie Holiday Inn, White Christmas became popular with American WWII soldiers and their families. Originally recorded by Bing Crosby, the song became so popular it spawned a movie of the same name, also starring Crosby.

White Christmas
Irving Berlin 1942

verse (intro):
The sun is shining, the grass is green
The orange and palm trees sway
There's never been such a day
In Beverley Hills, L. A.
.. But it's De-cember the twen-ty-fourth
.. And I am longing to be up north

main song:
I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
Just like the ones I used to know
Where the treetops glisten
and children listen
To hear sleigh bells in the snow.

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
May your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be white.

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
May your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be white.

May your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be white.

25 Days of Christmas Songs - Day 16 - Let It Snow

Sammy Cahn, Jule Styne (c) 1945

Oh, the weather outside is frightful,
But the fire is so delightful,
And since we've no place to go,
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.

It doesn't show signs of stopping,
And I brought some corn for popping;
The lights are turned way down low,
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.

When we finally say good night,
How I'll hate going out in the storm;
But if you really hold me tight,
All the way home I'll be warm.

The fire is slowly dying,
And, my dear, we're still good-bye-ing,
But as long as you love me so.
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.

25 Days of Christmas Songs - Day 15 - O Christmas Tree

This holiday carol has German origins - it was originally titled "O Tannenbaum". When, and who wrote the English lyrics is unknown. It is interesting to note that the melody of "O Tannenbaum" is used by four states - Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, and New Jersey - as their state song.

O Christmas Tree

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree!
How are thy leaves so verdant!
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
How are thy leaves so verdant!

Not only in the summertime,
But even in winter is thy prime.
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
How are thy leaves so verdant!

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
Much pleasure doth thou bring me!
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
Much pleasure doth thou bring me!

For every year the Christmas tree,
Brings to us all both joy and glee.
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
Much pleasure doth thou bring me!

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
Thy candles shine out brightly!
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
Thy candles shine out brightly!

Each bough doth hold its tiny light,
That makes each toy to sparkle bright.
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
Thy candles shine out brightly!

25 Days of Christmas Songs - Day 14 - Silent Night

The lyrics to this famous Christmas carol were written by Father Joseph Mohr in 1816. Two years later, in 1818, Franz Xaver Gruber composed the music, and Silent Night as we know it was born, albeit a German version of the song. Silent Night has since been translated into more languages than any other Christmas song.

Silent Night

Silent night, holy night!
All is calm, all is bright.
Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child.
Holy infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight.
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia,
Christ the Savior is born!
Christ the Savior is born.

Silent night, holy night!
Son of God love's pure light.
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth.
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth.

25 Days of Christmas Songs - Day 13 - Walking in a Winter Wonderland

Winter Wonderland was written in 1934 by Felix Bernard and Richard B. Smith. The carol has been recorded by everyone from Perry Como and the Andrews Sisters to the Eurythmics.

Walking in a Winter Wonderland

Sleigh bells ring
are you listening
in the lane
snow is glistening
A beautiful sight
we're happy tonight
walking in a winter wonderland

Gone away is the bluebird
here to stay is a new bird
He sings a love song
as we go along
walking in a winter wonderland

In the meadow we can build a snowman
Then pretend that he is Parson Brown
He'll say: Are you married?
we'll say: No man
But you can do the job
when you're in town

Later on
we'll conspire
as we dream by the fire
To face unafraid
the plans that we've made
walking in a winter wonderland

In the meadow we can build a snowman
and pretend that he's a circus clown
We'll have lots of fun with mister snowman
until the alligators knock him down

When it snows
ain't it thrilling
Though your nose gets a chilling
We'll frolic and play
the Eskimo way
walking in a winter wonderland

Walking in a winter wonderland
walking in a winter wonderland

25 Days of Christmas Songs - Day 12 - It Came Upon a Midnight Clear

Written by Massachusetts minister Edmund Hamilton Sears in 1849, It Came Upon a Midnight Clear was originally a poem. The music for the carol was written ten years later, by Richard Storrs Willis.

It Came Upon a Midnight Clear

It came upon the midnight clear,
That glorious song of old,
From angels bending near the earth
To touch their harps of gold!
"Peace on the earth, good will to men,
From heaven's all gracious King!
The world in solemn stillness lay
To hear the angels sing.

Still through the cloven skies they come
With peaceful wings unfurled
And still their heavenly music floats
O'er all the weary world;
Above its sad and lowly plains
They bend on hovering wing.
And ever o'er its Babel sounds
The blessed angels sing.

Yet with the woes of sin and strife
The world hath suffered long;
Beneath the angel-strain have rolled
Two thousand years of wrong;
And man, at war with man, hears not
The love song which they bring:
O hush the noise, ye men of strife And hear the angels sing.

For lo! the days are hastening on,
By prophet bards foretold,
When, with the ever-circling years,
Shall come the Age of Gold;
When peace shall over all the earth
Its ancient splendors fling,
And all the world give back the song
Which now the angels sing.

25 Days of Christmas Songs - Day 11 - Joy to the World

The words to Joy to the World were "written" by Isaac Watts in 1719, although the song is a word-for-word translation of Psalm 98. The music to the carol was composed by George Frederick Handel (1685-1759).

Joy to the World

Joy to the world! The Lord has come:
Let earth receive her King.
Let ev'ry heart prepare Him room,
Let heaven and nature sing,
Let heaven and nature sing,
Let heaven and heaven and nature sing.

Joy to the world the Savior reigns
Let men their songs employ
While fields and floods
Rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat repeat the sounding joy


He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, and wonders of His love.

Joy to the world! The Lord has come:
Let earth receive her King.
Let ev'ry heart prepare Him room,
Let heaven and nature sing,
Let heaven and nature sing,
Let heaven and heaven and nature sing.