1. Angels We Have Heard on High

Angels We Have Heard on HighDuring December, I’m posting my Top 10 favorite holiday songs. Each song has a special story or meaning behind it for me. What stories or meanings do you have for your favorite holiday songs?

My number one song “Angels We Have Heard on High” combines all of the great features from the rest of the songs on my list. I sang it in every choir from elementary to high school and in the caroling group at AST. It has a great melody and unforgettable bass line. It includes Latin for practicing my language skills. It is easy to sing while being full of joy and passion. “Angels We Have Heard on High” best embodies the meaning and spirit of Christmas. This year, we especially need that spirit.

This has been a tough year for a lot of people, and I’m not just referring to the often depressing headlines. I know people who have gone through health problems, lost their jobs, and suffer family conflicts. Sometimes, we feel like we’re going through one blow after the other with no relief in sight. We need hope. That is what the holiday season gives us.

When we start hearing holiday songs like “Angels We Have Heard on High,” we can’t help but feel uplifted, regardless of what religious views we have. The songs sing of hope. When situations seem endlessly bleak, we can at least hold on to a wish that things can be better. The start of the holidays also means the start of a new year and the opportunity to start fresh.

When I hear “Angels We Have Heard on High,” I remember my past and get a boost so I can deal with the present and have hope for the future. This joy fills my heart until I find myself joining in the chorus, “Gloria, in excelsis Deo!”

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