My Favorite Things - Top 10 Places to Spend Christmas

A list of combined favorites this time, with a list of my favorite places to spend Christmas.  Over the past several years, we've becoming increasing fond of giving experiences instead of gifts.  We have all that we need and most of what we want.  And while the joy of giving and receiving gifts is still there, we really appreciate most being together over the holidays and seeking out new experiences.  Accordingly, this list includes several holiday locations that we have visited and a few that are on the top of our lists.

• Home with Family - They say there's no place like home for the holidays and they are quite true.  There is still something magical about being in Buna or in Winnsboro over the holidays.  I am very thankful we are able to travel and to spend as much time in these places as we do.
• New York City - New York is a magical city at Christmas.  The tree in Rockefeller Center.  Ice skating beneath it.  The potential for snow in Central Park. Macy's and the official Santa Claus.  Window decorations on Fifth Avenue.  And the Rockettes.  Plus all that makes New York such a vibrant city.  This was a favorite Christmas in the past and we are looking forward to doing it again.
• Rocky Mountains - There is something magical about snow at Christmas.  The mountains and skiing, sledding, and sleighing.  A warm fireplace in the cabin.  While our first experience here was not as enjoyable as it could have been thanks to extreme jet lag and altitude sickness, we hope to try this again in the future.
• Smoky Mountains - This has a lot of the same benefits of the Rocky Mountains, but has a more down home, country feel.  With everything we saw at Thanksgiving in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, this would make a wonderful place to spend Christmas.
• Disneyland - Few places do holiday celebrations like Disney.  The Christmas Parade and Fireworks.  The ride overlays.  Decorations everywhere.  The Candlelight Processional.  The abundance of holiday foods.  We've done both coasts during the holiday season and have enjoyed them both.  It's crowded, but it can be an amazing experience even if just to focus on the specific holiday offerings.
• New Orleans - The food and the music really make this special.  Reveillon dinners and caroling in Jackson Square. Christmas Fest in the convention center. Bonfires on the levees for Papa Noel.  The Celebration in the Oaks.  Again a place we are ready to try again.
• San Antonio - San Antonio is probably the most beautiful place in Texas at Christmas.  The lights on the Riverwalk and the Holiday River Parade.  The Holiday Night Market.  The Alamo Lights.  The Fiesta de Navidad with La Pastorela Folklorica and La Gran Posada.  Well worth experiencing.
• Bed and Breakfast in Connecticut/Vermont - This is an experience we want simply to recreate a holiday movie.  To capture that spirit of Christmas in Connecticut, Holiday Inn, or White Christmas.  Head to the northeast and hope for snow.
• Hawaii - We're hoping for a Mele Kalikimaka one year.  A tropical holiday for a change of scenery.  Beautiful poinsettias in bloom.  Christmas Luau.  Something different and something very fun.
• Hershey, PA - What could be better than Christmas in a town that smells like chocolate?  Christmas activities in the theme park, decorations around the town.  A light trail.  Lots and lots of chocolate.  Sounds sweet.

What are your favorite places to spend Christmas?  What would you add to this list?

My Favorite Things - Top 10 Favorite Christmas Hymns

Continuing from yesterday's post on favorite Christmas carols, I turn now to my favorite Christmas hymns.  As with the carols, the list is a little more expansive than traditional Christmas hymns and encompasses my favorite religious music of the seasons.  It touches on a lot of styles and types of artists, reflecting generally my fairly eclectic tastes in music.

With that stated, here is my list of top 10 favorite Christmas hymns, in no particular order.

• I Heard The Bells on Christmas Day by Casting Crowns - a great update of the classic song.  The minor key and the echo really help sell the message of the song.
• O Holy Night by David Phelps - One of the greatest male vocalists singing the most challenging Christmas hymn.  The C#5 at the end at full voice is one of the most impressive vocal performances I've heard.  I've seen him do this song live, followed by No More Night, and am continually astounded by his voice.
• The Little Drummer Boy by Bing Crosby and David Bowie - A great reworking of The Little Drummer Boy with the Peace on Earth counterpoint.  I'm a sucker for counterpoint and love this old and new arrangement.
• Joseph's Lullaby by MercyMe - It's amazing how your perspective on Christmas changes when you are a parent, and this is a prime example.  This song more than any other gets into Joseph's head for me in a way that humbles and comforts me.  The line "Lord I ask that He, in just this moment, simply be my child." has completely flipped the Christmas story for me, in a good way.  A beautiful song and a beautiful message.
• How Many Kings by Downhere - A song I've come around to and have really grown to appreciate.  A wonderful reminder of what the true gift of Christmas is and why we have reason to celebrate.  Plus, there is incredible lyric work in this song, particularly in the "Gold for His honor, and frankincense for His pleasure, and myrrh for the cross He'll suffer" section.
• Joy To The World (Unspeakable Joy) by Chris Tomlin - A great driving and upbeat Joy to the World.  The Unspeakable Joy chorus is a nice addition to the traditional hymn, providing a great opportunity for the expansion of harmony and the sound.  Now if only to add the course from Three Dog Night and it would be perfect.
• Glory to God in the Highest by the Old Friend Quartet - a classic gospel quartet song backed by the best in gospel music via the Gaither choir.  The breakout section varying the chorus is amazing and an amazing true bass in the late George Younce.
• All is Well by Voctave - this is such a simple song, but so beautiful. I've sang this as a solo before and the simple melody is so haunting and perfect to capture the message of the angels that night.  Voctave simply is one of the best a cappella groups in existence.   Exquisite arrangements, unearthly sopranos.  Many of these vocalists are part of the Voices of Liberty at Epcot at Disney World and they bring their beautiful talents to a great variety of songs in Voctave.
• Peace on Earth/Silent Night by Dean Martin - as I said before, I'm a sucker for counterpoint and this is a beautiful variation.  The Peace on Earth melody overlaid on Silent Night enriches both songs.  Originally written for Lady in the Tramp, Dean Martin performs the definitive version.
• Ave Maria by Leslie Odom, Jr. -  I have always loved the melody of this song and Leslie Odom, Jr.'s version is simply beautiful.  Pure voice with the simplest of accompaniment.  He makes this look effortless and it is so appreciated.

What are your favorite Christmas hymns?  Have I overlooked any?

My Favorite Things - Top 10 Favorite Christmas Carols

I'm moving up My Favorite Things a day, as I need two days  for this weeks lists.  Today and tomorrow will be a two part list that need to be presented together, as I start to present my favorite Christmas music.

This is such a daunting challenge that there will be two lists - one today for favorite Christmas carols and one tomorrow for favorite Christmas hymns.  Both lists will be a little more expansive so as Christmas carols will cover my favorite non-religious Christmas music and hymns will cover my favorite religious Christmas music.  And as before with favorite music, I'm going to point you to a specific artist and version.

With that in mind, here's my list of Top 10 Favorite Christmas Carols, in no particular order.

• Winter Wonderland by Jason Mraz - Jason Mraz has the funnest version of this song.  Very simply scored, with lots of fun shout-outs in the background.  It will put a smile on your face.
• Happy Xmas (War is Over) by Maroon 5 - I love this song and Adam Levine presents a very stripped down version that can truly sell the lyrics and message of the song.  The combination of his voice and the piano is really all the song needs.  And I'm of the opinion stripping the children's choir out of the background at the end is a real benefit.
• Jingle Bells by Michael Buble with the Puppini Sisters - this is another Christmas classic that is just put into a very fun arrangement.  From the "Ready Mr. Buble" banter at the beginning to the Puppini Sisters showcasing their best Andrews' Sisters, this to me is the definitive Jingle Bells.
• White Christmas by The Drifters - This is my favorite version of White Christmas.  Bing Crosby may be iconic, but this is the most fun to listen to and sing.  Otis Redding's does come a close second, though.
• The Christmas Song by Nat King Cole - The icon for a good reason.  No one has come close yet to the smooth, pure sound of Nat King Cole's voice. This is one that makes Christmas when it is played.
• Feliz Navidad by David Crowder Band - Feliz Navidad as interpreted on a Casio electric keyboard.  I'm a huge fan of David Crowder and this is a prime example of why.
• (It Must Have Been Ol') Santa Claus by Harry Connick, Jr. - Harry Connick's New Orleans jazz addition to Christmas music.  Just a great, funky beat and a great, great band.
• Please Come Home for Christmas by The Eagles -  A great song, not just a great Christmas song.  From the octave bell tones at the beginning to the end, this is the Christmas blues song (sorry Elvis).  And while Charles Brown's original is good, the Eagles own this song.
• All I Want For Christmas is You by Idina Mendzel - one of the greatest modern additions to the Christmas genre interpreted by one of Broadway's best.  This to me edges out Mariah Carey's version with the ending.
• I Believe in Santa Claus by Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers - it was hard to decide between this and With Bells On, but I Believe in Santa Claus won out because of the message.  I'm still convinced Once Upon a Christmas by Dolly and Kenny is one of, if not the greatest Christmas album of all time, and this is my favorite song on that recording.  I may be a little biased based on years of listening to this as a kid in a I Believe in Santa Claus sweatshirt, but I'm sticking to it.

Bonus - I didn't include it on the list as it's a December song not a Christmas song, but What Are You Doing New Years Eve? is quickly rising up my list, particularly as interpreted by Seth McFarlane. I'm not a fan of his style of humor, but his voice is such a perfect throwback.

That's my list.  What are your favorite Christmas songs?  Are there any underappreciated gems that you love?

Tomorrow - favorite hymns.

My Favorite Things - Top 10 Christmas Movies

It's December 1, so it's officially Christmas season!  I love Christmas and love celebrating (the desk at the office is already decorated as is the apartment), so there are going to be a lot of Christmas posts over the coming 24 days.

I'm going to start with the first of My Favorite Things, a collection of Top 10 lists related to Christmas.  With this list, I'm going to be covering my top 10 favorite Christmas movies.  To be clear, when I say Christmas movie, I mean one where the celebration of Christmas, its meaning, and its message are central to the movie.  It's not just a setting. Meaning primarily Die Hard is not on this list.

With that addressed, here are my Top 10 Favorite Christmas movies, in release date order.

• Christmas in Connecticut (1945) - I love the character actors in this one.  Sydney Greenstreet and  Szőke Szakáll.  Plus it has a Christmas marriage/romance plot that would make a Hallmark movie jealous.
• Its a Wonderful Life (1946) - The Christmas classic.  A surprisingly dark, but hopeful film from Frank Capra, reflecting a bit of how his outlook changed from what he saw in World War II.  The perfect reminder for the reach of one man.
• It Happened on Fifth Avenue (1947) - An underrated Christmas classic, revealing how Aloysius T. McKeever spends his December in New York City.  Another excellent cast of character actors and a great message on the power of generosity.
• Miracle on 34th St (1947) - We believe in Santa Claus.  The movie that made Macy's the undisputed king of Christmas.  Great performances by Edmund Gwenn, Maureen O'Hara, and Natalie Wood.  We have our own precocious little girl who has a lot of Natalie Wood in her.
• White Christmas (1954) - The Christmas musical.  The best selling Christmas song of all time, and a great quartet in the lead. And We'll Follow the Old Man at the end is guaranteed to bring a little mist to the eyes.
• A Christmas Story (1983) - In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash.  One of the funniest Christmas movies with so many great moments.  I'm determined to have a "Major Award" as our primary Christmas decoration visible from the outside once we have a house.
• Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) - Michael Cain is the best Scrooge.  He could truly be the best incarnation of Scrooge in a straight version of the Christmas Carol story, but the fact that he's still able to pull it off acting as the straight-man for Muppet craziness is amazing.  Plus, the songs are wonderful.
• Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) - This is a Christmas movie, not a Halloween movie.  The whole plot revolves around learning about Christmas and making Christmas their own.  A delightfully off-kilter Christmas movie.  Plus it leads to a great overlay on the Haunted Mansion.
• The Preacher's Wife (1996) - I debated on this one.  It's hard to beat Cary Grant, Loretta Young, and David Niven in The Bishop's Wife.  But Courtney Vance, Denzel Washington, Loretta Divine, Jenifer Lewis, Gregory Hines, and Whitney Houston come close.  This is one case where the remake is just as good as the original.  What puts it over the edge for me is the music.  A great interpretation of Joy to the World at the end. written by Kirk Franklin.  I Believe in You and Me and Who Could Imagine A King are beautiful songs.  And I love the version of the Lord's Prayer turned into song which isn't on the soundtrack, but only in the movie.
• Love Actually (2003) - I've written before how I love movies with colliding storylines.  This is a big favorite of mine and has special significance to me and Jamie.  It's a little wonky and has a couple of excesses I wish could be excised, but a couple of storylines have wonderful payoffs.  Christmas is really all around us.

What are your favorite holiday movies?  Are there underappreciated gems you love to share?