In the air there's a feeling of Christmas

✯ Day 329 of Vintage 365 ✯

Silver Bells

 

City sidewalk, busy sidewalks

Dressed in holiday style.

In the air there's

A feeling of Christmas.

 

Children laughing, people passing,

Meeting smile after smile,

And on every street corner you'll hear:

 

Silver bells, silver bells,

It's Christmas time in the city.

Ring-a-ling, hear them ring,

Soon it will be Christmas day.

 

City street lights,

Even stop lights,

Blink a bright red and green,

As the shoppers rush home

With their treasures.

 

Hear the snow crunch,

See the kids bunch,

This is Santa's big scene,

And above all this bustle you'll hear:

 

Silver bells, silver bells,

It's Christmas time in the city.

Ring-a-ling, hear them ring,

Soon it will be Christmas day.

 

 

There is something particularly magical about November 25th, marking as it does, the exact one month mark until Christmas Day.

In our minds we know that the countdown is really one now. The speed of our holiday game must be stepped up, there's cookies to make, cards to send out, family photos to pose for, menus to create, parties to attend, gifts to shop for and wrap, trees to decorate, lights to string, and beloved holiday songs to listen to.

Silver Bells, the lyrics of which are included above, has always been amongst my very favourite Christmas tunes. Unsurprisingly to readers of this blog, that point is no doubt bolster by the fact that this classic, deeply lovely song was penned and first sung in the early 1950s.

In the years since it has been recorded by dozens of different artists spanning the spectrum from vintage crooners like Bing Crosby (who partnered with Carol Richards in the beautiful, classic version that’s included as a Youtube video in today's post) and Dean Martin to contemporary stars such as Martina McBride and Harry Connick Junior.

I adore the sense of holiday time atmosphere that this song embodies and portrays, the way it further ups my excitement for splendid joys of Christmas time - even if it's a rather hectic corner of the year.

The rush and merriment, hustle and bustle seem to add to the allure of this timeless celebration and help remind us, as the song itself says, that soon it will be Christmas Day!

Vintage Deal of the Day: November 1, 2009

{I couldn’t resist, I know that many of us are still staring yesterday’s jack-o-lanterns square in the eyes, but the moment the clock ticks from October into November, I’m biting at the chomp to get the winter holiday season under way! What better way to begin preparing for the festivities that November and December bring than with a plate full of treats whipped up from this darling 1949, illustrated Christmas cookie cookbook? It’s a sweet deal for just $7.50 (US) from etsy seller Vintage Vice’s Paper Emporium.}


Growing up my family had a lovely annual tradition in which, at the stroke of midnight, we would play one Christmas song (it varied from year-to-year) to usher in the beginning of the winter holiday season. From November 1st onwards Christmas tunes were free to waft through the air any time from that point until the start of January. I don’t know if anyone else in my family still carries on this fun little practise, but I (or more accurately, my husband and I) do, for I love time-honoured traditions.

This year’s song of choice was Silver Bells, a delightful and upbeat holiday tune that I often hum throughout the year. This jaunty tune was first sung by Bob Hope and Marilyn Maxwell in 1950 for the movie The Lemon Drop Kid, though most of us are more inclined to remember Bing Crosby and Carol Richard’s version which was released later that same year. Since then dozens of other artists (from Anne Murray to Stevie Wonder) have covered this classic Christmas Carole, though I definitely have a soft spot for the Bing Crosby version.

If you’re in the mood to begin filling your home with the “feeling of Christmas”, why not take a moment and listen to Silver Bells today, too? Here’s a charming Youtube clip someone filmed of their record player playing an original 45 recording of this beautiful Christmas carol.





I know I may be jumping on the holiday bandwagon a tad quick, but I do adore Christmas and love having a celebration to look forward to. And speaking of festivities, how was your Halloween? Mine was lots of fun, low key, but still terrific. My husband shot a few snaps of me in my Halloween outfit (not a costume per se, but an outfit sporting Halloween hues) that I’m planning to post here very soon.

I hope that you each had a marvelous Halloween and that the winter holiday season will be magical for everyone!