When Christmas time rolls around, I listen to Christmas music. Probably more than is healthy or prudent. And in my listening, I've noticed something strange. A remarkably large number of Christmas song express the fact that Christmas is, in one way or another, the best time of the year. This is often followed by some meta-carol, Russian doll moment, where the image of groups of children caroling is evoked.
Now first off, what self-respecting holiday needs to have sung about it the fact that it's being sung about?
Secondly, and more insidiously, why do pop carol singers feel the need to reiterate so frequently that Christmas is not just a perfectly good holiday, but is, in fact, "The best time of the year"? Halloween makes no such claims. Thanksgiving seems, by comparison, serenely content in its own sense of goodness, without the need for such braggery. And Easter. There is moderate glee at the notion of hopping down bunny trains and such like, but no need to self-promote.
So my question: What is Christmas' deal? Is it really so insecure? Did somebody disparage Christmas during its awkward adolescence? Or is this sense of slackjawed seasonal wonder just a placeholder for divinity in an increasingly secular society that wants to hold onto that "magical night" feeling, but without putting a manger in front of city hall?
Weighty holiday question, all.
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