I'm finding it harder and harder for me to be in any type of Christmas spirit. It's not my favorite holiday and since leaving and becoming atheist I've slowly gotten rid of nativity sets and anything religious-y.

But...

I love most Christmas music and my favorite carol is Carol of the Bells and pretty much anything Mannheim Steamroller Christmas. It's like I can turn all Jesusy again with the music.

How bouts you all? Favorite Xmas tune?


heather



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/16/2012 11:04AM by Pil-Latté.

Handel's Messiah imo is almost un-human. One poster on the board put up a link to an awesome version of one of the more famous songs;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76RrdwElnTU

Agree....Handel is great. You should just try to be happy and find something you like this season. Thanks for your post.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifuPCur0g-k

not because i like the words,but because the music is beautiful.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/16/2012 12:10PM by karin.

I don't particularly enjoy traditional holiday music. I was alerted to the existence of the song at the following link yesterday, and it is now my favorite holiday song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTx-sdR6Yzk&feature=youtu.be



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/16/2012 12:04PM by hard6.

Handels messiah is fantastic. in excelsis deo always a classic.

The Christmas song I would recommend (and yes, it is one of my personal favorites as a practicing agnostic) is Greg Lake's "I Believe in Father Christmas". While the singer (who did not write the song) claims that the song is anti-materialist and not "the atheists' Christmas song", the first part of the song's second verse (see below) disputes that claim:

"They sold me a dream of Christmas.
They sold me a silent night.
They told me a fairy story
Til I believed in the Israelite."

The Spirit of Christmas by Ray Charles

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsMf-6F1aVM

I've always enjoyed run dmc's christmas in hollis

Carol of the Bells has always been my most favorite carol.

I've always liked the Gloucestershire Wassail.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfPfKHeXcjw

Oh, I really like that :-) Thank you!

Once in Royal David's City sung by a boy soprano.

White Christmas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJSUT8Inl14

I'll Be Home For Christmas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFGfCn5rKIM

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gdwat-W-6D8

I could go on....

I really like O Holy Night

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACvDYTfWupM

This one: Gaudete https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjU3TPyH7YQ

and one from Greece

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4v5vPgKoUho

Briggy



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/16/2012 05:54PM by brigantia.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQrdxtWgHbE

bet you wont be able to get this little ditty out of your head...



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/16/2012 06:37PM by wowbagger.

Once in Royal David's City
(There's a particularly nice version with handbells, choir, and piano.)

The Friendly Beasts
(a favorite from childhood-- my nanny did our Christmas pageants for a few years and didn't limit us to hymns found in official LDS sources)

Light One Candle
(A Hannukkah song by Peter Yarrow of (Peter, Paul, and Mary)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/16/2012 06:58PM by scmd.

I'm a musician and have done so much Christmas music over the years I can't even count it all. But, this is my first Christmas as a self-realized and "outed" atheist, so it's a bit weird. I love the season, lights, food, and music, but I'm definitely looking at it all differently. Still, I love my Christmas music, though I'm not as highbrow as many of you - I've done and still love many parts of the Messiah, but I also love the Wilson Phillips Christmas stuff, Ann Wilson's unplugged Blue Christmas (stunning), Mannheim Steamroller, Andy Williams, and others.

You need a Krampus carol!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EmqsEHl3P8

O Come O Come Emmanuel

I love the version of "Baby It's Cold Outside" with Dolly Parton. Whoever does the male voice sounds like a dirty old man trying to get in her pants. It makes me laugh.

I also love the Trans-Sibieran Orchestra. Please excuse any spelling mistakes, I'm tired.

I love Eartha Kitt's "Santa Baby"

I thought Jewel's Christmas album was awesome.

O Holy Night
What Child Is This
The Wassail Song
and
Sleigh Ride--instrumental (Boston Pops?) or Harry Connick versions

My kids love the CD "Ashanti's Christmas"... it's so light and upbeat, we all came to like it.

Berlioz Shepherd's Farewell. Love Oboes

shepherds farewell berlioz Cambridge singers (this isn't them, but it's pretty good)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpgWhHv2dJw

Jesus Christ the Apple Tree - The American Boychoir
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8o1_xQVRG8

All of them really.

I especially like Jingle Bells as sung by Jim Reeves.

Silver Bells by Elvis or Chris Isaak

Christmas Wrapping by The Waitresses
O Holy Night
Carol of the Bells
Fairytale of New York by the Pogues (okay, not a carol, but a Christmas song, anyway)



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 12/21/2012 05:27AM by inmoland.

I love "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen", but there are lots of fun non religious songs:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQliZiSCDYQ

Or at least not mormony:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SerNB3meHA

Also, Loreena McKennitt has 2 Holiday albums: To Drive The Cold Winter Away and A Midwinter Night's Dream, both of which are on youtube!