One of the best parts of the holiday season is the music. A lot of people like the season because the music is sentimental or nostalgic, and there is a good reason for that. Each year, at the same time, most of the Western world listens to and signs along to the same classic melodies we enjoyed the year before, and what is interesting is that there are not that many that have survived the test of time. Let’s count a few and see how far we get:
"Away in a Manger"
"The Christmas Song"
"Do You Hear What I Hear?"
"Go Tell It on the Mountain"
"Jingle Bells"
"The Little Drummer Boy"
"O Little Town of Bethlehem"
"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer"
"Silver Bells"
"We Three Kings of Orient Are"
“Silent Night”
“Feliz Navidad”
There are more, but for the most part, most people end up listening to around 15-20 songs each holiday season. If you compare that to a typical Spotify playlist, it’s really not that many.
Ironically, one of the benefits of the holiday season only including 15-20 songs is that they end up becoming very memorable and easy to sing along to year after year. In general, the repetition of these songs helps ingrain them for us with all kinds of holiday memories, but even more so as a child, the exposure to these timeless melodies year after year really brings magic to the season. Each time a child hears or sings these classic melodies, they are reminded of the magic and wonder of this time of year.
With this in mind, we at Music U wanted to take time to talk about the benefits of exposure to these melodies for kiddos and even how you can take a melody that you know and love and turn it into a bedtime lullaby!
The History and Magic of Holiday Music for Children
In this day and age, the holidays are a time when you might sing a melody that is 50 years old or 500 years old! This is because most holiday music in the “west” dates back to medieval times and was primarily sung to celebrate Christmas and the winter solstice. For example, the melody for “What Child Is This?” comes from a song called “Greensleeves,” which dates back to 1580 and possibly even earlier!
What’s interesting is that even though most music that was written down was intended for religious settings, right around the time of the Renaissance, it became popular to take common religious melodies and add secular lyrics to them. This became common practice for lots of music but also for Christmas music, and thus, the musical tradition of celebrating the season with festive songs was born and is still popular today.
Also, different cultures have had different traditions over the years, so it can be fun in the spirit of this tradition to keep writing new songs using the timeless melodies we all know and love, no matter if you have a religious affiliation or not. So, with that in mind, how do we take a holiday song and make it our own bedtime lullaby?
Selecting and Adapting the Right Holiday Song
What makes a song great for the holidays is a memorable melody, but some melodies are more complicated than others, and often times if you are looking to turn a melody into a lullaby, it’s good to start with an option that is simple. Also, consider a melody that loops well since you might sing this lullaby a few times before your kiddo falls asleep
If we take the list above, it is easy to rule out a few options:
"Away in a Manger"
"The Christmas Song"
"Do You Hear What I Hear?"
"Go Tell It on the Mountain"
"Jingle Bells"
"The Little Drummer Boy"
"O Little Town of Bethlehem"
"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer"
"Silver Bells"
"We Three Kings of Orient Are"
“Silent Night”
“Feliz Navidad”
This is more of a suggestion, but eliminating the songs that are stricken-through above will get you started using a song that is easier to translate. Most of the songs that remain have short, simple, and repeatable melodies
Personalizing the Lyrics with Holiday Magic
Now, how does one adapt a song from the above list into a lullaby? Well, let’s start by using the most obvious option: “Silent Night.” It’s a memorable and simple melody that repeats well and actually already refers to nighttime, so we can keep the first set of lyrics and adapt the rest.
For example, we can take this:
Silent night! Holy night!
All is calm, all is bright
’round yon virgin mother and child!
Holy infant, so tender and mild,
sleep in heavenly peace,
sleep in heavenly peace.
And change the lyrics for something like this:
Silent night! Gentle night!
Time for sleep, counting sheep
Snuggle up and tuck in your sheets!
Cozy Squishmallows next to your feet,
Sleep and dream of sweet things,
Sleep and dream of sweet things.
With this in mind, you can repeat a lullaby similar to this one with the same lyrics or write multiple verses. Better yet, work on writing new lyrics with your kiddo and see what they come up with!
Benefits of Singing Holiday Lullabies to Your Child
There are a lot of benefits for your kiddo surrounding exposure to music and learning an instrument, but an added benefit of creating your own lullaby or even collaborating with your child on a festive lullaby is the bonding experience they can have during these special bedtime moments. Here is a list of some of the ways your kiddos can benefit from these experiences from the National Association for the Education of Young Children:
Bonding: Singing to your child fosters a strong bond, making your voice the first and most cherished in their life. It's a powerful expression of love that reassures your child of your affection.
Transitions: Establishing routines through songs for waking up, sleeping, and other activities provides a sense of security for your child, helping them anticipate and understand daily transitions.
Language Development: Singing introduces musical elements to language, enhancing your child's comprehension of words and communication. It's a delightful way for them to start engaging with language.
Vocabulary Building: While singing, you introduce new words, associating them with actions like holding up a stuffed dog. This playfully teaches your child vocabulary as they connect words to real-world experiences.
Rhythm and Rhyme: Music, inherent in language, exposes babies to rhythm and rhyme, fostering early recognition of these linguistic elements.
Playful Interaction: Singing serves as a joyful form of play, creating a fun and interactive experience for you and your child. "Sing-play" is an enjoyable way to engage with your little one.
Family Connection: Involving older siblings in singing to the child strengthens familial bonds. It becomes a delightful family activity that enhances the connection between siblings.
Singing Names: Incorporating your child's name into songs helps them learn and recognize it. Substitute their name in songs, providing a repetitive and musical way for them to become familiar with it.
Listening Skills: Similar to reading, singing develops listening skills, offering your child an opportunity to understand language nuances and emotions expressed through song.
Expression of Love: Ultimately, singing is a heartfelt expression of love. Your child doesn't judge your singing abilities; they simply revel in the joy of being sung to. In their eyes and ears, you're a star showering them with love.
With Love in Our Hearts
It’s important to create shared holiday traditions with your kiddo that aren’t just the giving and receiving of gifts; we at Music U want to provide you with a tradition that can create lasting benefits for your family.
We hope you enjoy the holidays and consider making festive traditions that incorporate music!
Cam & Jes
