five things Friday: Christmas music edition

I don't know about you, but when I gear up for some Christmas music (starting after Thanksgiving only, thank you very much), I don't mean just any Christmas music. I mean my Christmas music. I think it's such a sentimental thing - it's so interesting to hear what people love to listen to every holiday season, because it's not often the same thing that says "holiday" to me. (And I've met exactly one person outside of my family who's ever even heard of Handel's Young Messiah, one of my very favorites.)

For the most part the albums I love are the ones I grew up on, and I'm perfectly happy to listen to these few over and over for the month; every few years I'll add something new to the repertoire, but I always go back to my three childhood favorites first. Here are five albums that I listen to every year... what's on your list?

1. A Christmas Album by Amy Grant: the very first CD I ever owned, and still the first one I listen to when the Christmas season arrives. It's just a classic in my world, and that jaunty rendition of "O Little Town of Bethlehem" is my favorite out there.

2. Handel's Young Messiah: not positive, but quite possibly the 2nd acquisition in my CD collection. I can distinctly remember my grandpa saying Handel might roll over in his grave at the sound of this jazzed up Messiah (and I now most certainly roll my eyes at the CCM musicians, of the type I'd never listen to now, excepting Amy Grant at Christmas), but I adore this album. Sadly, I see it's no longer available and used copies are going for over $50 (!) on Amazon. It does make me feel like I'm holding on to gold over here though.

3. These Are Special Times by Celine Dion: my Christmastime guilty pleasure. It's so cheesy, but how can I resist a booming diva version of "O Holy Night" or "O Come All Ye Faithful"?

4. A Holiday Celebration by Peter, Paul & Mary: this is another one I grew up on, and it's just plain excellent. On top of the classic PP&M harmonies, there's a fabulous choir accompanying them, and the song selection is a nice changeup from the usual Christmas tunes (along with a few Hanukkah-themed songs, which are some of my favorites on the album).

5. Songs for Christmas by Sufjan Stevens: aside from #4, one I'm not slightly embarrassed to be putting on here... I think the mellow feel makes for perfect background music for a holiday gathering in your home, and I listen to it a lot while I work during December too.