ASK!

Think you know Jingle Bells, 12 days of Christmas and Rudolph at the back of your hand? Here’s 5 things you least expect of these familiar tunes that fill the malls this wonderful time of the year.

1. The music of “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” was written by composer Felix Mendelssohn. He didn’t intend it to be a church hymn. Mendelssohn wrote this piece for an event that commemorated the invention of printing.
2. “The Twelve Days of Christmas” is a code for 12 essential teachings to Catholics. The three French hens represent faith, hope and charity.
3. “Jingle Bells” was originally intended to be a Thanksgiving song
4. Jazz singer and composer, Mel Torme, and lyricist Robert Wells composed “The Christmas Song” (“Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Jack Frost nipping at your nose….”) in 45 minutes on a hot July day. (This is creativity to the max!)
5. Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer almost became Reginald or Rollo! (I think I’ll end up not liking Reginald the reindeer very much, and I can only picture Rollo to be a roly-poly, red-nosed one. I’m very glad it turned out to be Rudolph.)

Sources:

Christmas Carols. Ellis, Sian. British Heritage; Dec2000/Jan2001, Vol. 22 Issue 1, p27, 3p, 2 Color Photographs.

‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’ Susan Hogan/Albach. Knight Ridder Tribune News Service [Washington] 17 Dec 2003: 1.

HERALD ANGELS SING: [HOME FINAL EDITION] Dispatch Senior Critic; Zuck, Barbara. Columbus Dispatch [Columbus, Ohio] 21 Dec 2000: 08G.

How an advertising copywriter helped Rudolph become ‘THE MOST FAMOUS REINDEER OF ALL’ Gary W. Morrison The Grand Rapids Press. The Grand Rapids Press [Grand Rapids, Mich] 15 Dec 1998: C1.

Image source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/paparutzi/2132994977/, last accessed on 20 December 2012.

Post contributed by Ms Verena Lee, Librarian