Last-minute listmaking

Being unable to resist any reason for making a list (and maybe checking it twice), here is my last Christmas music post of the season (probably): a list of my 10 favorite carols. I was raised Catholic but do not believe in the reality of any religion--frankly, I'd rather believe in Zeus and his compatriots than the Christian god because it's easier to understand why the Greek gods behave the way they do--but I think the Nativity story is a lovely, magical, hopeful myth, and I love immersing myself in the music of the season. These are the carols I like regardless of who performs them:

1. "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing"--lovely melody, angels, and messages of peace and mercy.

2. "Good King Wenceslas"--no obvious connection with the Nativity, but an equally magical story.

3. "Carol of the Bells"--currently on the verge of overkill, but still a powerful melody which goes from a whisper to a full onslaught of voices (or bells) and back

4. "Soulcakes" ("The Souling Song")--apparently more appropriate for Halloween (or November 1st), as it was sung when English youths went begging for pastries in exchange for promising to pray for the dead.

5. "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel"--an Advent carol, minor key and almost spooky

6. "Lo How a Rose E'er Blooming"--a beautiful, beautiful melody

7. "It Came Upon the Midnight Clear"--a most magical skyful of angels

8. "Wassail, Wassail" (aka the Gloucestershire Wassail)--a grand Saturnalian caroling song, with cheer and eating and drinking, and even a threat of violence if the food and drink aren't produced quickly enough

9. "Patapan"--Nicely rhythmic drum song, less drudgy than The Little Drummer Boy

10. "We Three Kings"--Speaking of drudgy..., but still all its lyrics are ingrained in me, and it's got a weird little twist in the way it conjures up both joy over birth and sorrow over death.

Merry Christmas to all!!