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Top 5 Lesser-Known Christmas Songs

I LOVE music, and Kevin calls it my medicine. Listening to some good jams while cleaning the house or cooking dinner always puts me in a better mood.

However, overplayed music has a tendency to diminish the quality of a song and its joy-inducing effects, no matter how carefully crafted its melodies and lyrics. In an effort to continue to love classic Christmas tunes but not listen to them to the point of annoyance, I've explored some lesser-known Christmas albums over the years. I wanted to share my top-five favorite lesser-known Christmas songs:


#5: Winter Moon, by Mindy Gledhill

I'm a sucker for a good love story, especially one during the magic of Christmastime. Christmas Season 2014 is when Kevin and I first started talking about marriage, for we were in the thick of our courtship. Christmastime always gives me the lovey head-over-heels feelies, and this song goes right along with that. 

#4: Christmas Eve, by Celine Dion


This album was my first introduction to Celine Dion's voice, I heard it during my keyboarding class in 8th grade. I've loved it ever since. I love the sound of her voice, but more than that, the beautiful way she talks about how time with her sweetheart is all she wants for Christmas.


#3: I Heard The Bells on Christmas Day, by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (this version is sung by Charleene Clossey) 



Before you read any other book, you should get a copy of the story of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in this gorgeously written and illustrated book detailing his life and why he wrote the lyrics. Your local library should have it, but if they don't, I have a copy (and if you know me you can totally borrow it). This song expresses to me the true miracle of Christmas--the atonement of Jesus Christ. Even when tragedies befall us and horrific events like wars and disasters overwhelm society, God is not dead nor doth he sleep. Christ can consecrate our pain to become strength. Good always, always, always trumps evil. We will never be stronger if we give up our faith. Trusting in God, following his commandments, loving other people with all we've got (and as Christ loves them!), that's what yields true happiness.



#2: The First Christmas Story, by The Strike

I love this song, because it tells about Christmas from the experience of a childhood Jesus and his young mother, Mary. I wonder about Jesus and his experience growing up, what it must have been like for him to be reminded of his divine nature and sacred calling as our Redeemer as he listened to his mother's story of his birthday. Some families (such as the lead singer of this song) have a tradition of sharing the birth story of the child celebrating a birthday. This song is written in light of this tradition. 

 #1: Jesus Christ The Apple Tree, by Elizabeth Poston


Words can't share adequately what I feel for this song. I love the lyrics because I love Christ, and I love nature. The analogy of Christ as a Tree, as portrayed in this tune, I feel reflects the analogy also given of Christ in the Book of Mormon, in 1 Nephi 8. He is the tree of life, the source of peace and redemption and true joy. I know that as I follow Him and his teachings, not only this Christmas season but always, I find true spiritual renewal and strength to continue, despite my worldly toils. I know this because I've already seen and tasted and known of the goodness of Jesus in my life experiences.

I hope you enjoy these songs as much as I do! If you have a much-loved lesser-known Christmas song, please include a link below!

<3 Sending Christmas Cheer your way!

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