It may not be beginning to look a lot like Christmas outside, but it’s sure sounding like it inside.
The moment the clock strikes December, whenever you flip on a station or go through a door and you hear music being played, it’s likely going to be a familiar holiday tune. All the other genres seem to be placed on hold.
Turn on the radio and you could be walking through a winter wonderland.
Head out for your daily coffee fix – already being served in a festive cup – and chances are it’s the most wonderful time of the year.
Walk into an office and you’ll likely discover Frosty The Snowman.
Hit the mall and from the time you arrive to the time you leave it’s jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way.
Even if you just drop in for a dental appointment, over the sound system it’s a safe bet you’ll be reminded that all you want for Christmas is your two front teeth.
It’s not just stations and stores providing the tunes, either. The public noticeably begins humming away this early in December, too.
I’m part of that chorus. I’ve always found the carols quite catchy and I do more than my share of singing along.
But as much as I enjoy the songs, I have a confession to make: I haven’t actually experienced many of the things I’m crooning so emotionally about.
Take those chestnuts roasting over the open fire, for example. Truth be told, all these years I’ve never seen any chestnuts roasting over an open fire. Or a closed fire, for that matter. Fact is, I’ve never seen chestnuts roasting, period.
What’s more, I’ve never even eaten a chestnut. But if I do have a chestnut one day I’d like one at room temperature, thank you very much.
I wouldn’t know when a roasted chestnut fresh off an open fire is ready for consumption. I don’t want to risk scalding my fingers picking it out of a shell or burning my lips trying to chew on one.
Also on the list of things you may hear me singing about this month that I’ve never come across? A hall decked with boughs of holly.
Nor would I know where to go to find such a hall or even recognize such a scene inside one if I did see it. I’m not so sure I even know what holly is, to be perfectly honest. Or what a bough is, it embarrasses me to say.
I wouldn’t recognize a partridge if it was sitting next to me, for that matter, let alone one in a pear tree. Which I’ve also never seen, by the way. Ditto for turtle doves. Whether they’re sitting next to me or wherever they hang out.
I’ve also never crossed paths with one lord a leaping, let alone 10. Nor did I know lords even have a tendency to leap when the spirit moves them.
Yeah, there’s much I don’t know about what I’m singing about this time of year, but that’s not going to stop me.
Nor is the weather. Which reminds me, I feel like a double double right now and though it’s evening, dark outside and a little foggy to boot, I’m not the least but concerned I’ll be able to get it. All I have to is flip on my favourite music station.
I have a strong feeling the moment I do, I’ll get Rudolph with his nose so bright to help guide me there tonight.
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