In a recent post I wrote about how the house was dressed up like Christmas, due to a feature my wife was doing with The Simple Things magazine. Well that was back in October. We obviously didn’t keep the decorations in place, but now that we have hit December the halls have been decked. Mostly with natural decorations, below are a selection that are are hanging off small tree made from a birch branch. Note Humphry in the background.
Seedhead decoration
Physalis
Pine cones
The tradition in our house is to decorate the house on the 1st of December. We have a couple of CDs that accompany us: A cheesy one with a mix of classics and some dodgy tracks (Jane MacDonald sings ‘White Christmas’ anyone?), the other much classier one is a recording of all the great carols by cathedral choir. It was this second CD that we listened to on Sunday. The other rule that we have is that I wont play Christmas tunes on the piano in any other month than December, so they are all getting an airing now. I have a great book: ‘The Bumper Book of Christmas songs’, that has a nice mix of carols and popular tunes*.
The Bumper Book of Christmas Songs
It includes my wife’s favourite carol ‘The Holly and the Ivy’, but not mine ‘In the Bleak Midwinter’. so if anyone has a nice (not too simple) version of Holst’s arrangement of this, I’d be grateful to be sent it….
I would post up a video of me playing some of the carols but i’m currently trying to perfect an none Christmassy piece that will hopefully be ready for my next post.
* The track list:
Another Rock and Roll Christmas, Away in a Manger, A Winters Tale, The Christmas Alphabet, Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire, Ding! Dong! Merrily on High, The fairtale of New York, The First Nowell, Frosty the Snowman, Hark! The herald Angels sing, Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas, The Holly and the Ivy, Jingle Bells, Joy to the World, Last Christmas, Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!, The Little Boy that Santa Claus forgot, Little Donkey, The Little Drummer Boy, Merry Christmas Everyone, O Little Town of Bethlehem, Rockin’ around the Christmas Tree, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Silent Night, Sleigh Ride, The Twelve Days of Christmas, We Wish you a Merry Christmas, When a Child is Born, Winter Wonderland
pianolearner 
I’m not too hot on christmas carols but was jigging along to Bing Crosby christmas songs in Tesco yesterday! Love the cheesy CD’s (especially Fairytale of New York) as they really jolly up the proceedings … and I’m inspired to forage for some natural decorations although I’ve only just finished foraging for autumn leaves to press for a craft project with toddlers!
I play Fairytale of New York quite well. The original being played on a piano it obviously translates to solo piano nicely.
Lovely decked halls, pianolearner! Fun to have Christmas traditions around old musical favorites. I came across a link to an old Swedish album (1962) recently, apparently a blogger’s family favourite that she digitized for sharing. And someone posted a traditional Serbian carol that is very sweet — but I can’t find a recording of it anywhere by youtube. It’s called Andjeli Pevaju.
I managed to find this one…. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SDMONHHViQ
Love those natural decorations! We are skipping the whole Christmas decorations stuff this year as we are going to Australia! But I might copy you next year…
I think it would be interesting to see Christmas down under. must be weird to have your christmas day meal on the BBQ.
Here Mr. H. is my big Christmas carol DJ, he loves them! Having a natural birch branch and natural tree decorations is not only beautiful (lovely pictures) but your house probably smells so lovely because of them.
I have my Christmas piano party this Friday when I play the Schubert piece, wish me luck! 😉
Yes the house is looking good. I wonder if there are specific french or spanish carols that are not familiar to us in the UK.
I have found your site and this post a little late as it is no longer feeling like Christmas at all but very wet and very windy. Still only another 11 months to go and the post will be current again – Happy new year
Happy New year. 🙂