Holiday music dates back to the 12th century with the creation of carols, which were spoken in Latin. Closer to the 13th century, carols were recorded and spread throughout Europe. Though today carols are mostly religious, sung in churches leading up to Christmas, they started out as folk songs performed to celebrate the winter season. Throughout the 1800s, orchestral classical holiday music hit the stages, adding to the joy of carols. Composers like Vivaldi, Mendelssohn, Tchaikovsky and Bach wrote and composed many of these holiday pieces.
During the holiday music renaissance of the 1940s and 50s, famous musicians like Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, Bing Crosby, and Bob Hope began singing holiday hits that remain popular today. It is clear that holiday music has gone through many evolutions throughout the years, with many musicians releasing holiday albums, including The Supremes, The Jackson Five, The Beach Boys and Wham! Even Bob Dylan made a Christmas album. These days, the more contemporary side of Christmas Music hits the heart of new generations with songs produced by Michael Bublé, Kelly Clarkson and Mariah Carey.
Holiday music highlights the transition from Autumn to the wintry months and darker, colder days. As the sun begins to set earlier and earlier, seasonal depression can hit hard, but music adds cheer to what can be a dark time for many. From listening to cheerful tunes during car rides to tree decoration, music is vital for getting in the holiday spirit.
Holiday music creates a cozy and comforting space for many, because it is often associated with comfort, family, and happy memories. Katerina Stoichkov (‘29) stated, “I connect certain songs to my time in the mountains, offering me comfort. Certain lyrics and melodies are associated with the winter.”
Isabella Cavalli (27’) also discussed the connection between Holiday music and loved ones. “I think about all the fun traditions I do every year with my family!”
Stoichkov also discussed the effect music has on her winters and what it means to her. “I tend to listen to music in the car when we’re traveling for vacation and my family and I play Christmas music in upstate NY, where we spend our winters. Holiday music means spending time with the ones I love most, escaping from the real world’s worries by merging myself into my novels whilst the snow falls outside, setting a mood for everyone to enjoy.”