How about some Advent hymns?
You will not believe how beautiful they are. Learning these songs ourselves and singing them together as a family will go a long way to healing the insanity brought on by Feliz Navidad (why is acceptable, in an otherwise aggressively secular atmosphere, to play a song that refers to the religious event, however obliquely, and however obnoxiously delivered, just because it's in Spanish?), Frosty the Snowman (odious creature), and Let It Snow.
It's an insult even to mention these titles in the same post as one on Advent hymns. But maybe we can change our present culture if we, little by little, make more known the treasure trove of lovely hymns for this season.
Better to light a candle than curse the darkness, as can be aptly said of Advent!
So, look here for some words and MIDI files. (Children particularly love On Jordan's Bank.) It's worth getting a traditional hymnal for the family, such as the Adoremus Hymnal— and why not get the choir version so you can learn the harmonies?
A more recent song by Eleanor Farjeon is a favorite here: People Look East.
This should keep you busy for a while. Even if this year the little ones learn O Come, O Come Emmanuel, a medieval chant that contains Scripture and prophecy, you will have made great strides against the snow/jingle bells/chestnuts incursion.
Catholic Culture is a great resource for doing little or much (full disclosure: this is the home of the Chief's site, Catholic World News) in living the Liturgical Year. Click on the tab of that name and be amazed at all the resources that are already in place for you! This article from Christmas to Candlemas in the Christian Home is a good start!
magda says
I have it made: As an Orthodox Christian, we started singing the katavasia of Christmas on November 21. Since my husband's Romanian, I have dozens of beautiful new carols to learn, too. (The trouble is, they're *all* wonderful earworms, but I don't yet know the words or the meanings. I just like them lots.)
Kari says
I love to celebrate Advent! But, as a Protestant sometimes it is hard to find Advent readings that are actually prophetic, expectantly waiting, 1st or 2nd Coming, etc instead of reading the Christmas Story including the wise men (what!? Let's wait until January people!) over the course of 4 weeks. I was pseudo-joking to my husband that we should write a book or compilation of everything that we've found and liked. As a child we always burned a candle during advent (then later the 4 candles in a wreath) but our additional Advent "tradition" was to decorate our home slowly. We'd put out 1 thing on December 1 (ALWAYS the favorite nativity), 2 things on Dec. 2, 3 on the 3rd etc. Not exactly church-year advent, but still fun and a slow way to get everything decorated. I try to do that now in my home, but have found that it's been so hard the last few years as I'm working full time. I so want to do things full of order and wonder this year, but with morning sickness all day and working full time, it's about all I can do to get food on the table and the dishes (sort-of) done. We'll see what happens this year…slowly. I'd love to take my toddler on walks to gather greenery (hmmmm, in the desert?) and decorate slowly. Someday (probably not this year) I want to have the whole family over for a feast for Epiphany (we're gentiles–lets celebrate the Light coming to the gentiles!)I also somewhat insist that in our home Thanksgiving last all weekend until Sunday which begins advent. We should have more than a day to thank God for our blessings (even if it isn't a liturgical holy-day).And yes, Advent and Holy Christmas Music is lovely–perhaps someday I'll be organized enough to separate out my recordings into advent and Christmas tunes.The thing that really floors me is our church, which we love most of the year, sings Christmas carols (including "We Three Kings") during advent and then, just like in Secular society, after Christmas Eve, it's gone! What do we do? Do we go to another church that knows what advent is? Yet, how can we not be a part of this community during this season and how can we really observe and celebrate Advent in a church that is not our community/home? Alas, Advent has been largely lost in Protestant churches…..Thanks for such lovely advent reflections!Kari
Mrs. Pickles says
THANK you. I always find it depressing when stores start decorating for Christmas RIGHT AFTER HALLOWEEN. Can we please celebrate fall, just for a couple more weeks?Anyway, we have the choir version of Adoremus, and have used it many times to learn new hymns (or all the verses of popular ones!). Thanks for the reminder to pull it out again. I LOVE "People Look East" — one of my favorite Advent hymns!Happy Thanksgiving and a blessed Advent to you!
Pam says
I'm so completely new to all this, but am longing to start an advent tradition in our home. Can anyone recommend a CD of advent hymns? That way we could learn some while out on errands.Many Blessings!Pam
Pippajo says
After these lovely (and so very timely) posts on Advent, I think I would like to see one on the ridiculous gift-giving habits we've developed. In my opinion, it's another aspect of Christmas that needs reform…although…it does occur to me that if we were to simply put the focus back where it belongs, on Christ's miraculous birth, everything else would fall into perfect order.Thank you for this series of posts. I am loving re-reading them.
Decadent Housewife says
Maybe when Spanish becomes an official language in the U.S that's when Feliz Navidad will no longer be allowed. Are you guys allowed to publicly sing Stille Nacht?Am enjoying your Christmas posts.
Sue says
Thank you so much for this series! I love it, and you have really got me thinking (and planning!). I am in awe, really, to learn that you have four birthdays in December. I thought I had it rough with two in December and two in January!
Faith says
My brother-in-law is a Romanian Byzantine Catholic– he is always warning us that we will grow hair on our tushes if we sing Christmas songs in Advent!Just thought I'd jump in here. 🙂 I am geared up for a GREAT Advent! Thanks for the Advent song links- and Catholic Culture is one of my favourite sites, and the first one I go to when I'm online.
Kimberly says
Thank you so much for the Advent posts, i was wanting to do more this year, without doing more if you know what i mean…As the mother of 9 every moment wasted searching for something on the internet, is a moment that could be used chasing children or matching socks.We will be putting our fall things away today, and hunting desperately for the advent wreath…i have resigned myself to the fact that we may have to just make a new one…i always swear i am going to label that box, but by epiphany, i don't do it..We have 3 birthdays between now and Christmas, and have decided to have our Christmas tree, and house lighting on Dec. 13, the feast of St. Lucy, which will be our youngest daughters 2nd birthday…I love the hymns of Advent, but never of playing them at home…we have the mass music books, as my daughter plays the piano for church sometimes, now i have an assignment for her…she will be so grateful, she thought playing St. Lucia for her sister was it until Christmas..
Anonymous says
Thank you for the Catholic Culture link. I became Catholic last year right before the birth of our second child and feel I have so much to learn!Erika O.