Broaden your festive horizons
Sick of letting it snow? Desperate for some Christmas variety? Check out our list of Christmas songs from all around the world.
As many of you will know, this year we introduced a new feature into our newsletter — the song of the month. Loads of you have written in to say how much you like this musical journey around the world and have discovered loads of really lovely music already. So far we’ve been to France, Italy and Egypt but we’ve yet to go to the land that time forgot: the world of Christmas music. That is, until now!
I don’t know about you, but I find Christmas music a bit much. On the one hand, there’s something vaguely comforting about hearing the same music year upon year, but on the other hand I’ve worked in retail in the past and found myself desperate to throw some earplugs in after the fifth time that day that Mariah Carey starts playing. So, for those of you who are with me, here’s your first trio of songs, provided by Unbabelers from three different countries and collated by me for your listening pleasure.
Italy
Estonia
Portugal
Aside from those three, I was overwhelmed by a wealth of submissions from colleagues who were desperate to share their favourite. So, here’s a few more quick-fire suggestions for you!
Christmas Time (Don’t Let the Bells End)
Something of a favourite among Unbabel employees, this sometimes-forgotten classic was mentioned more times than any other!
A trio of Tannenbäume
The ultimate in traditional German Christmas songs, O Tannenbaum has travelled the world so much that it was recommended twice by Unbabelers — it’s also popular in Italy and, of course, it’s been recorded in English many, many times —for example in this version by Aretha Franklin.
Two Swedish festivities in one
The “ubiquitous” Swedish song, Mer Jul, is on Jonathan’s list, but he’s also keen to mention Santa Lucia (as sung here by Elvis), linked to the mid-December festival of Santa Lucia in Sweden. Although it’s got nothing to do with Christmas, being so close to the end of the year it’s common to see them mixed up.
What comes on the radio each year and gets you excited? Let us know in the comments below!
