Christmas is magical for many different reasons. For me, I love that it’s one of the few times of the year when it’s still socially acceptable to burst into song.
Even better, a lot of folks will sing along.
As we enter the last week before Christmas (and the languid week between the big day and New Year’s), I encourage you to lift up your voice in song.
It doesn’t matter how good or bad your voice is. This isn’t a contest. This is Christmas. Everyone wins when you sing.
Try out your favorite “fa-la-la-la-la” in “Deck the Halls.” Bust out your best “thumpety-thump thump” in “Frosty the Snowman.” Holler out a “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” and just “jingle all the way.”
If you want some inspiration or encouragement, I have a full Christmas songbook online at www.bit.ly/Christmas-Songbook with chords or sheet music to nearly every song under the winter solstice sun. (Except “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas.” Maybe I’ll add that next year.) Feel free to download and enjoy.
And my good friends at the Lewis County Christmas Carollers Facebook group (they spell it with two Ls, probably for fa-la-la) have a great lyrics sheet that will help you sing along to the classics. You can download and print it here: www.bit.ly/Christmas-Singalong.
Those Christmas Carollers have been spreading cheer around the Twin Cities this month, with another appearance scheduled for today. They’ll be caroling at the Centralia Christmas Market, starting at 2:30, at the Centralia Outlets in the old Dress Barn space.
This informal group is open to everyone who loves to sing and spread cheer. Stop by and lend your voice to the festivities.
And if you’re in the mood to listen to some great music (plus a few singalong tunes), come by the Twin Cities Christmas Chorale on Sunday, Dec. 18, at 5 p.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Centralia. Retired music teacher David Judd will be leading the chorale in a program called “The Majesty of Christmas” as the singers return to the stage after a pandemic hiatus. I’m privileged to be involved with helping lead a few carols in the intermission as part of a performance by the Lewis County Brass Society (newly founded by Dan Judd, David’s brother and another musical superhero of the Twin Cities.)
Like Buddy says in “Elf,” a modern Christmas movie classic, "The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear."
Lend your voice to the season. You’ll be jollier for it, I guarantee.
Volunteers of the Year
I was absolutely delighted to see that Centralia City Councilor Elizabeth Cameron has created a volunteer award earlier this year to help bring recognition to the work volunteers provide to the city of Centralia.
The finalists for the Centralia Volunteer Award were announced last week. It’s a long list (as it should be) and I recognized a few of the many names among the finalists.
They represent a broad swatch of community-minded folks. They have helped at Greenwood Memorial Park, the Centralia Clean Team, the Public Works leadership team, the Seminary Hill Natural Area, the Twin Cities Sports Commission, the Lewis Conservation District, the Pine Street Plaza, Veteran’s Day, the Lewis County Master Gardeners and much more. The winner will be announced on Jan. 24.
These are the people who make our neighborhoods more lively and our world more lovely.
I’d love to see this type of award taken county-wide. Does anyone want to help me honor Lewis County’s volunteers of the year?
Drop me a line with your nomination for people who really help keep our community strong, or if you want to help me brainstorm ways to honor them.
Finding a way to give back to your community makes your life richer and our community stronger. I’d encourage you to volunteer and to give a hearty “hurray” for the people who are leading the way.
Brian Mittge can be reached at brianmittge@hotmail.com or by singing a carol in his direction.
