The merry sounds of Christmas

CEBU, Philippines - Now that Christmas day is just days away, the level of the merry sounds that suffuse the air have taken on a ‘high note’. Now these are heard everywhere.  No, it’s not the firecrackers – in fact, firecracker explosions are expected to die down a bit this year, with the government continually discouraging the practice. 

The truly merry sounds are those of the Christmas carols. These songs or hymns with lyrics on the theme of Christmas really ignite everyone’s spirits. Some say it’s the lyrics; others say it’s the tempo.

True, most Christmas carols have a happy beat. But there are the slow sentimental Christmas carols too. “Silent Night” and “O Holy Night” are practically ‘sad’ songs. These songs don’t have the power to make one get on his feet and go around rousing up neighbors for a good time.

Instead, to a certain degree, these ‘sad’ Christmas carols make one stop and take a moment to reflect on the significance of the birth of Christ for him or her. The fact that Christmas carols convey stories and ideas that are basically religious in nature, they bring forth an experience of a kind of high. Thus, although not technically happy songs, “Silent Night” and “O Holy Night” – and all other slow-tempo Christmas carols – elicit a positive vibe, just the same. People feel warmed and feel good hearing them.

People who are musically keen point out something else about a Christmas carol that makes for its joyful sound. They say it’s this dainty sound of bells that mark certain beats of the carol. Since bells are commonly associated with church rites, the sound suggests solemnity, no matter how merry the carol may be. Solemn joy is a distinct emotional experience.

And yet, even without the sound of bells that are a standard component in recordings, Christmas carols sung by neighborhood carolers are still nice to hear. They still bring the same joy.

It could be something else altogether. Psychologists believe that what brings on the good feeling from hearing Christmas carols are the emotional associations people have of it. Children get good things during Christmas, perhaps with a Christmas carol playing in the background.

Dear family members gather over good food, again with a Christmas carol playing on the stereo system. They exchange happy stories, laugh together and have fun. The Christmas carol they hear in the background – even if not consciously – soon become a symbol of those happy moments. A long time afterwards, the very sound becomes a trigger to bring back to mind those happy times.

So, is it the lyrics, the happy tune, or people’s happy associations with Christmas carols that give it its joyful character? It’s hard to say. Maybe it’s all of those together.

In the end, it does not really matter what gives Christmas carols their happy sound. It’s enough that they bring good feelings. And it’s good that everyone grows up with the same Christmas carols over and over again – and so anyone may bring forth the merry feeling of Christmas by murmuring or humming the tunes at any time of the year! (FREEMAN)