Christmas Carols

A minister at a church I regularly attended to told me "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" is naughty because because " comes round the Age of Gold" is not a Christian belief. Like himself, I don't think this matters a dam because it's the feeling that counts and most people don't pay any attention to what hymns actually mean

Septimia

Where are you Aldom? None of the churches near me will be holding services exactly as you describe. There are several churches in our group of village parishes and we all make sure that the carol services don't clash (and we go to each other's), so they spread over 2 or 3 weeks and are all traditional. We usually have a Midnight Mass but the other churches in the group don't.

polomint, are you in the UK? Have you tried looking on the Church Near You website?

I'm in Oxfordshire.

I never particularly liked Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, until our group piano/keyboard teacher gave us a version to learn - which included the words.
Some of them struck me as very poignant, making me think of those no longer with us.

I play it a lot every year now.

Once had the privilege of singing in York minster, what a treat.
My favourite ,from a chorister up in the eaves, was Once in Royal David's city, so emotional and beautiful .
Part of our culture, we should treasure Christmas carols, old and new.

Yes me too polomin. I cant wait for Classic FM to start their program on 1st December although Aled Jones did play two things on Sunday morning the renegade!

If you don’t know this please look on You Tube, so beautiful ….. Katherine Jenkins and Marisha Wallace “Mary Did You Know?”

Gilly8591

My baby boy died a week before Christmas over 25 years ago and we had his funeral on Christmas Eve. The carols always make me emotional and I struggled with the school nativity and carols when I worked with primary school children. I still go to the occasional church carol service though and enjoy the more upbeat carols. Hugs to all us bereaved parents especially at Christmas.

So terribly sad, Gilly8591, 💐.

As for the parents of those 4 teen boys, I can hardly bear to think of what they must be going through. 😰

Last night I broke my own rule of No Carols Before December, and while I was cooking dinner played a few on YouTube, starting with In The Bleak Midwinter, by the King’s College choir.
I poured myself a glass of sherry too (I only ever drink it in the bleak midwinter) and actually felt quite Christmassy. 🎄

💐 to all those Christmas bereaved - and now, especially, the families of those four lost teenage boys in North Wales. My heart goes out to them. 😔

My baby boy died a week before Christmas over 25 years ago and we had his funeral on Christmas Eve. The carols always make me emotional and I struggled with the school nativity and carols when I worked with primary school children. I still go to the occasional church carol service though and enjoy the more upbeat carols. Hugs to all us bereaved parents especially at Christmas.

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Great post madeleine45. Music is good for the soul, even when you're feeling sad or down. I'll duet with you!

Rutter is one of my favourites too Twopence, as is Chilcott.

Our village ladies choir holds Christmas concert every year. It's a mixture of traditional carols, classic and newer Christmas songs. John Rutter's compositions are very popular. It's always very well attended and includes coffee or tea with a mince pie. Lovely start to the Christmas season. 🤶 🎄

polomint

That's sounds wonderful siope just what I would love. You lucky people having carol services. My favourite one is " O holy night "

O holy night, the only time I've heard that is Martin Crane on Frasier attempting to sing it! Even now I laugh at those brilliant written episodes!

In the Bleak Midwinter, beautiful words and music.

I love carols but they do make me feel sad as I always think of the loved ones I have lost especially my dear parents, my big brother and my lovely husband. Away in a manger I find particularly hard as the one time I was pregnant, after years of waiting, my due date was Christmas Eve but sadly I miscarried. I did go on to have lovely adopted children but will always shed a wee tear for what might have been.

Anniel

If only I knew how to emphasise by writing in bold. But it did not work. So I send hugs to both Primrose and Aldo’s as I too belong to the group who cry at lots of memories.

My Mum loved the Priests and I can listen to this without crying. It’s just children that sets me off 😢. I have lovely memories of my Mum with this.

O Holy Night g.co/kgs/HsMvaA

Sorry, the advent calendar app is by Naxos and there only appears to be one now. However, it is free of charge and, of course, all the carols can be listened to whenever you want.

I have always gone to church and am part of a choir and orchestra preparing for Christmas services at the moment. In 2020, when there were no live carol services, I discovered the Classic FM Christmas Carol Advent Calendar apps. There are two of them and it is lovely to be surprised by the carol of the day. My favourite is the Sussex Carol: On Christmas Night All Christians Sing.

If only I knew how to emphasise by writing in bold. But it did not work. So I send hugs to both Primrose and Aldo’s as I too belong to the group who cry at lots of memories.

I have sung all my life, professional and amateur and can be heard shouting wrong tune wrong tune when a favourite carol comes on to another tune!! But my suggestions are these. firstly I always sing in the shower and when doing jobs round the house and hanging out the washing. Then watch out in your local paper there is sometimes carols being sung in town centres that you could join in with. Also I put carol services on the television and sing along , also on the radio and of course am a keen radio 3 listener and join in with whatever comes on there. at times I get my various Carols for Choirs books out and sing a sample from them too. Keep singing yourself and enjoy it and possibly could you put a message on your local facebook or in your local paper suggestion a time and place to get together to have a sing, do you have a brass or silver band nearby? They might get together and have a little open air concert and collect for a local charity so you both have a lovely time and help others too. But whatever you choose, keep singing. Its worth it . I will think of you when I sing along with Kings College carol service. Never mind Carry on Constable I go for Carry on Carolling !!

chocolatepudding

Our DD died a few days before Christmas 40+ years ago, age 7 months. I can sing most carols but the hardest one is Away in a Manger. Even now I can only sing the first two verses and mime the rest. I go to Carol services and midnight Mass.
My love goes to all bereaved parents

So sorry for your loss chocolatepudding

I have tried everything like chewing gum, sucking a sweet, licking the roof of my mouth and staring at the ceiling but nothing works. It’s OK if you are at home and it’s carols on the radio but I used to dread my kids carol concerts and singers in shopping malls.

Primrose53

I can’t listen to Christmas Carols especially with children because it makes me cry. I lost twin boys many years ago and seeing kids faces and hearing their little voices just sets me off. 😢

I’m so sorry for your loss, Primrose. It sounds almost too much to cope with 😢🥹

chocolatepudding Christmas must be so hard for you
💐

And all bereaved parents, the hardest thing to bear

Best wishes to Primrose and her dear memories

chocolatepudding and primrose, 💐💐.

No wonder you find carols hard to take. Hearing little kids at a Nativity singing Away In A Manger is absolutely guaranteed to have me groping for the tissues, so it must be unimaginably worse for both of you.

Primrose53

I can’t listen to Christmas Carols especially with children because it makes me cry. I lost twin boys many years ago and seeing kids faces and hearing their little voices just sets me off. 😢

Primrose