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ZONDERVAN

Stories Behind the Best-Loved Songs of Christmas

Copyright 2001 by Andrew Collins

All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of Zondervan.

EPub Edition MARCH 2010 ISBN: 978-0-310-87387-7

Requests for information should be addressed to:

Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49530

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Collins, Ace.

Stories behind the best-loved songs of Christmas / Ace Collins.

p. cm.

Contents: Angels, from the realms of gloryAngels we have heard on highAway in a mangerThe Christmas songDo you hear what I hear?The first noelGo tell it on the mountainGod rest ye merry gentlemenGood Christian men, rejoiceGood King WenceslasHark! the herald angels singHave yourself a merry little ChristmasI heard the bells on Christmas dayI wonder as I wanderIll be home for ChristmasIt came upon the midnight clearJingle BellsJoy to the worldMary, did you know?O come, all ye faithfulO come, o come, EmmanuelO holy nightO little town of BethlehemRudolf the red-nosed reindeerSilent nightSilver bellsTheres a song in the airTwelve days of ChristmasWe three kingsWhat child is this?White Christmas.

1. Carols, EnglishHistory and criticism. 2. Popular musicHistory and criticism. 3. Christmas musicHistory and criticism. I. Title.

ML1400.C62 2001

264'.23dc21

2001026973

Lyrics for Mary, Did You Know? by Buddy Greene and Mark Lowry 1993 Word Music, Inc., and Rufus Music. All rights reserved. International rights secured. Used with permission.

For Terry, who, in a small rural church on a snowy night, brought O Holy Night to life. Thanks for all you have given me over the years. Love, Ace

There is a treasure of inspiration to be found in these pages. If you love Christmas, then this book is going to bless you time and time again. You will laugh and cry, and history will come to life. You will learn and understand things you didnt know before, giving you a much richer grasp of the music that makes this season so very special. You will probably also want to rush out and tell someone you know one of these stories.

Those who know me well know that Christmas is my favorite time of the year. I love shopping, wrapping gifts, decorating, and even the hustle and bustle that goes with the season. But above all the other traditions, I love the music of Christmas.

For me, music brings Christmas to life. Songs about the birth of Jesus transport me to the first Christmas. A carol that describes snow makes me feel the chill. When I hear the story of a shunned reindeer, I feel sorry for him. I guess because these songs offer wonderful memories along with beautiful music, I treasure the times I get to sing them at home, in church, and on the stage. To me, each one of these special songs is a pretty package that I get to unwrap again every year; and now, thanks to this book, each one of these musical packages contains a newly discovered surprise that makes it even more meaningful. These new surprises are the product of one mans quest.

Ace Collins is not only one of my closest friends, he is my favorite writer and the best storyteller I have ever known. In this book, he has touched me like never before. To know the background on these inspirational Christmas songs has changed my perspective on Christmas itself. I will never again sing any of these carols without being transported back to the place and time it was written.

Stories Behind the Best-Loved Songs of Christmas is a book that will bring the Christmas season into sharper focus for you. You will find out why I now wish my friends a mighty Christmas, how a tiny bell made a movie unforgettable, and why one of the most spiritual songs I have ever sung was once banned by the church. Yet more than simple information and holiday trivia, these stories will enlighten and inspire you in ways I cant begin to explain. I can only say that after reading this book, I believe that Christmasits roots and traditions and musicwill mean so much more to you.

Thank you, Ace, for answering the call and bringing these stories to the world. Your gift of this book helps all of us to remember the true reason for the season and the inspiration behind the music that brings Christmas to life each year. There is no doubt that reading and rereading Stories Behind the Best-Loved Songs of Christmas will be a central part of my Christmas for years to come. I can hardly wait to share this book with everyone I know and love.

Louise Mandrell