Happy Holidays from Booklover’s Bench

Our authors are humming their favorite songs this holiday season. See if you match with one of us!

Although I am Jewish and very much enjoy the songs associated with Chanukah “(I Had a Little Dreidel,” “Maoz Tsur,” and Adam Sandler’s “The Chanukah Song”), there’s something about some of the Christmas songs, probably because I hear them in July and again from Thanksgiving through Christmas, that bring back memories of the few hours a year my sister and I celebrated Christmas at a friend of my parents’ home. She would have all the traditional music playing in the background like “White Christmas,” “Jingle Bells,” “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.” Each year, we thought we were lighting her tree as we would flip the switch for it after we arrived at her house – that is, until the year we drove up early and we saw the beautiful lit tree through her window just before it went dark (in preparation for us to throw the switch). I was 6 or 7 and now the lighting of the tree went the way of Santa.— Debra H Goldstein

I like listening to “The Nutcracker” ballet music by Tchaikovsky. It takes me back to my childhood days of going into New York City with my mother to attend a performance. Then my husband and I went to shows by the Miami City Ballet after we were married. The music makes me want to dance, as I used to be a serious student of ballet back in the day.– Nancy J Cohen

I love classic Christmas carols. My absolute favorite is “Angels We Have Heard on High.” I heard it sung for the first time when I saw The Trouble with Angels with Hayley Mills way back in the 60s and have loved it ever since. Loved the movie, too! – Lois Winston

My favorite holiday music is the enchanting score from “The Nutcracker.” Tchaikovsky’s melodies always make me feel as if I’ve stepped into a charming Christmas village where a mystery might unfold between twinkling lights and falling snow. I love it so much that it’s even the ringtone on my smarty-pants phone. I’ll admit, I prefer the warmth of a live orchestra, where every note feels like it’s drifting straight into my heart and sets the perfect mood for the season.– Cheryl Hollon

For many years “Silent Night” was my favorite Christmas song. But now I strongly favor “O Holy Night.” I love the lyrics, the vocal range, and the fact that I get chills every time on the chorus. The rocking, flowing feel of the time signature is a fav of mine and I get lost in that song every time I hear it.– Maggie Toussaint (aka Valona Jones)

One of my absolute favorite Christmas songs is “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” by Darlene Love. I’ve also come across a Hawaiian slack key guitar version of “Silent Night” that is absolutely mesmerizing.–Terry Ambrose

From all of us to all of you, Happy Holidays, however you celebrate. Our next Let’s Talk post will come out on January 1, 2026. See you then! Best Wishes!

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Full Photo credits
Lighted tree through window ID 110139517 © Luis E. Torres Franco | Dreamstime.com
Nutcracker ballet  ID 48683705 | Ballet Nutcracker © Mengtianhan | Dreamstime.com 
Angels we have heard on High  ID 35016507 | Angel Statues © Ricardo Reitmeyer | Dreamstime.com
Nutcracker statue  ID 27357957 © Marilyn Gould | Dreamstime.com
Holy Night  ID 48113641 | Angel © Liligraphie | Dreamstime.com
Hawaiian Christmas ID 420196718 | Hawaiian Christmas © Joanna Redesiuk | Dreamstime.com