As I keep my hand outstretched, catching potential snowflakes, I ponder over the past year and how quickly it has flown by. It was only a week ago that it was Thanksgiving, and now we are moving on to probably the most anticipated holiday of the year: Christmas. While New Year’s Eve is the most celebrated holiday worldwide, Christmas is one of the biggest of all the holidays here in America.
The reason in my mind is simple: as the world around us seemingly gets more crazy and chaotic with every year that passes, Christmas, and other holidays celebrated this time of year, help us to step back and remember all the good that has happened and to give us a sense of hope.
One of the many ways we celebrate Christmas is through music and singing. Christmas songs may not get rid of the insanity in the world, but it does seem to make it a lot more bearable.
‘I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day,’ ‘White Christmas,’ and Other Favorite Christmas Songs
After all, this is not the first time we have hit rough patches. This is far from the worst we have been through, and at many points in history we have been able to bring hope with song. “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” was written in 1863; however, most do not know that the song has two stanzas that are rarely ever sung. In these forgotten verses you find the inspiration for the song: The Civil War.
About 60 years later, during World War I, it was Christmas Eve 1914, when German voices were heard singing Christmas songs. The singing helped halt the war for many hours while British and German soldiers met in no man’s land to celebrate Christmas.
Then in 1942, not even 30 years later, a second world war broke out with America in the midst of the Great Depression, yet again another Christmas song was written. And this one was, “White Christmas.”
These songs prove that regardless of how things have been and even are now, there is always hope. Whether that hope is in a jolly old elf, or a small helpless child, it is the reason for the season.
– by Ella Hughes (18) Panguitch
Feature image courtesy Korver B. (9) Tropic.
Ella Hughes – Panguitch
Ella Hughes is a junior journalist and editor at The Byway. She has recently graduated from Panguitch High School and has written for The Byway for two years now. Her favorite topics to write about are history as well as present-day local events. In her free time she enjoys singing, watching movies, reading books, and spending time with her family she adores.
Ella is currently serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She is serving in the Philippines Tacloban Mission.