As soon as the clock strikes 12 on Nov. 1, stores around the world replace candy corn with candy canes, costumes with Christmas trees, and boring pop songs with the beautiful crooning of Michael Bublé’s “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas.”
While the coming of Christmas brings joy and happiness to many, it also has the ill effect of turning your closest friends into Ebenezer Scrooge. All of a sudden, they squelch your joy with annoying arguments about the theological repercussions of listening to the wonders of Christmas too early. But don’t let “bah, humbug” be the last word — I say we don’t listen to Christmas music early enough.
Christmas is a time to celebrate the incarnation of Christ made manifest to the world through his birth. This holy occasion is a cause for joyful, and serious, preparation. Many churches commemorate the liturgical season of Advent for the purpose of preparing you for the coming of Christ, as both the baby in the manger and as the triumphant king at the end of times. But if you believe that the Church is responsible for the entirety of your preparation for these sacred events, you will be dangerously ill prepared for both.
Imagine a close friend is pregnant. There is nothing wrong with looking for baby clothes, diapers, and strollers months before the baby is born. In fact, it is expected that you do. Early preparation is appropriate. It increases your excitement and your seriousness about welcoming the child into the world.
Christmas music is similar. It prepares us for Christmas by reminding us of the birth of Jesus and filling us with the joy that only his nativity can bring. Even secular Christmas music can be an aid to your preparation for the holiday. Christ’s coming sanctified the world and secular Christmas music is no exception. It is impossible to listen to the most secular of Christmas songs, like “All I Want for Christmas is You,” and not think of the holy season. While the music can be consumeristic, Christmas consumerism exists as an expression of the Christmas spirit. Just because the message does not explicitly revolve around Christ does not mean it can’t aid you in your preparation.
Remember, Mary herself was preparing for Jesus for nine months. Join the Queen of Heaven in anticipating her son’s birth and listen to Christmas music early.
