What Does God Need with a Sailing Ship: Some of My Favorite Christmas Carols
Tis the season, and for those who celebrate (either the religious holiday or the more secular good feeling one or both), the last month or so has been saturated with Christmas carols. I am an unabashed sappy dork and so I, too, love me some Christmas carols. Here are a few of my favorites as I wish you and yours a great holiday.
I Saw Three Ships: This is the most English of all Christmas carols. It couldn’t get more English if it invaded India and Ireland. Why is Jesus visiting England? Because it’s ENGLAND! Why does He need a ship, much less three? Because how else do you get to an island and/or leave the island to subjugate other nations? Why three ships then? Because he’s Jesus, so he must be rich! What are you, some kind of commie?
Plus, the lines “And what was in those ships all three/On Christmas day in the morning/Our Saviour Christ and His Lady” could be read to imply that Jesus’ had a wife. The English think Jesus fscks.
Silent Night: This is simply a beautiful lullaby, appropriate, I think, if you are a believer, foreshadowing for the pain and hardship to come in their lives. One of the things that stuck with me from my Catholic upbringing was how important it was that Jesus was also human — it made his connection and sacrifice meaningful. This song is one of the most human carols and it is all the more moving for that.
Elf’s Lament: Not a traditional mainstay, but, c’mon. What’s not to like about unionized elves?
Auld Lang Syne: My favorite kind of song: one that recognizes that things are hard, but refuses to give in. “We’ll take a cup of kindness yet … ” The world next year is going to be uglier and harder than this year. We are going to need to the strength that kindness brings, and I hope you all find your cup of kindness.
Happy holidays, everyone.