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The holiday song most folks know is ”The 12 Days of Christmas.”
But which version?
The original, beginning with “A partridge in a pear tree?”
Or the localized pidgin one, starting with “One mynah bird in one papaya tree?” This rendering often is called “Numbah One Day of Christmas.”
So the issue and today’s “Just Asking” query: Which version can you sing without checking the internet for lyrics you’ve forgotten?
No searching the lyrics on the internet, please.
Do you have a favorite Christmas song?
With so many Christmas melodies recorded years ago but annually srevived and shared on radio during the holiday season, the choices are varied and plentiful.
Just asking…
So I’ll start the ball rolling.
For a holly jolly mood, I love “J-I-N-G-L-E Bells,” an increasingly popular December number, was recorded by both Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra (separately, of course). Its jingle is easy to remember, adorable and charming, and it’s a contagious sing-along that’s hard to resist. In my book, it surpasses the traditional “Jingle Bells,” and the spelling version is a novelty spin-off of the original number.
For solemnity and a pause from the hectic holiday rhythm, I turn to Willie K’s “O Holy Night.” Beats any other version available. No contest, hometown loyalty aside.
For the essence of the Christmas spirit, I vote for “We Need a Little Christmas,” performed by Angela Lansbury, in Jerry Herman’s hit Broadway musical, “Mame.” The tune establishes the holiday mood in the play’s storytelling, and has since jumped out of the soundtrack with a life and identity of its own.
A close second in the mood-maker would be “Sleigh Ride,” by Johnny Mathis, a legendary singer, with pipes had that ring-ting-jingling mood.
Sorry, Mariah Carey: I love “All I Want for Christmas” and you dominate the pop charts this time of year, so congrats.
Poinsettia are the favored blooms of the Christmas season. Their bright red color is hard to ignore.
So are poinsettia part of your yule décor? Do you display in a pot at your front door? Or in your home, as a star attraction?
And do you favor the bright red variety, or the pink or the white ones?
Share your thoughts here.
Just asking…
Have you ever indulged in re-gifting, the practice of sending something from one source and rewrapped to resend to someone else on your gift list?
Is there an element of guilt, if you re-gift, or is it simply a matter of one-less-gift-to-shop for?
This is another in a series of periodic questions through the Christmas season
In this era of emails, do you still mail an actual Christmas greeting card to selected recipients? And a related query: do you purchase Christmas-themed Forever postage stamps?
Just asking,,,