Did you know that the song Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas premiered in the 1949 film Meet Me in St. Louis, sung by the legendary Judy Garland? It's considered a sentimental love song, also known as a torch song. The meaning has grown and changed with the times and I believe it holds different meanings for each of us who love this song.
Whenever I sing or listen to this song, especially the Carpenters' version, there's a longing for past Christmases as a child. More of my family was alive and together, and celebrations were bigger. My heart was filled with joy and childlike wonder, and believing in the unseen, Santa Claus, was magical.
Karen's vocals really captured the emotions of the song, expressing the feelings of looking back on memorable holidays of simpler times and acknowledging things are not quite the same anymore. I long for those simpler times, when I was not so wrapped up in the world's problems or the constant churning of my own thoughts.
Even though the song's pace is slower, it still wonderfully manages to feel like a gentle pick-me-up song for the holidays, as it reassures us that we are going to be ok, just "let your heart be light." At least for the holiday season, we can forget about our troubles, as if they're "miles away." There's so much hope throughout the song to hold onto the family and friends that are still with us and do the best we can to gather together.
The build-up moment of the song, where hope really come through is, "Hang your shining star upon the highest bough." Even though these lyrics make us think of the star on the Christmas tree as well as other festive and bright decorations, I've discovered a deeper meaning: we can do our very best to keep shining our joy brightly to others, despite all our longings, hardships, challenges, or stresses. We never know how much our joy can impact someone else and give them a glimmer of hope, especially when they know we are going through something, but yet we still choose joy.
So keep on shining friends, and "have yourself a Merry Little Christmas, now!"
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