There’s something magical about this time of year
📷@_curtisperry
Picture this: November has at last given way to December. A brisk, pine-scented breeze sends snow whirling around your face, stinging your cheeks. Early winter ice crunches beneath your boots. The streets are alive with twinkling lights. And, somewhere in the distance, the familiar, joyful strains of a holiday carol reach your ears. Without thinking—perhaps without even meaning to—you smile.
There’s something magical about this time of year, and I’m inclined to believe that holiday music lies at the heart of it. Despite the breadth of the season’s musical repertoire, to classify anything as holiday music is to imply its ability to connect. The soulful crooning of Nat King Cole may, for some, evoke memories of cherished holiday traditions, while others may cringe as they recall far too many hours listening to it over the loudspeaker at work. If carols aren’t your style, maybe holiday music means something completely different to you; and certainly there are others who would agree and enjoy listening to your Anti-Holiday playlist with you. Whether you’re reminiscing with your loved ones, commiserating with your coworkers, or bonding with a new friend, it’s hard to deny the power that holiday music has in bringing people together.
The act of making and sharing music this time of year can help create a sense of community, too. After all, the holidays may not be bright and festive for everyone. Getting together with others to go carolling, to listen to a live orchestra, or even to make your own music banishes—at least for a time—that oppressive feeling of isolation that winter can bring. Or perhaps simply the act of pressing play and allowing someone else’s voice to echo through your space is enough to make you feel like you have company.
In a world often characterized by division, music is a transcendental and unifying force for togetherness. It is a bridge that connects us with each other and encourages us to take a closer look at the things we have in common. While the holidays, family, and tradition mean different things for everyone, the enchanting melodies of the season provide us with catalysts for reflection, gratitude, and connection with the things and people that mean the most to us. So, as this holiday season unfolds, I hope that the magic of holiday music allows you to find the joy and connection that you need to feel held this time of year and that the spirit of the season resonates far beyond the last note of the final carol.
