A man walks past snow-covered Christmas decorations on apartments in Berea, Ohio, December 26, 2012. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)
This
is Steve Ember with a VOA Special English holiday program.
Music
fills the air. Colorful lights shine brightly in windows. Children and adults
open gifts from loved ones and friends. These are all Christmas traditions.
Another
tradition is snow. Christmas in the northern part of the world comes a few days
after the start of winter. In many places, a blanket of clean white snow covers
the ground on Christmas Day. This is what is meant by a “White Christmas.”
Of
course, many places do not get snow at Christmas. In fact, they may be very
warm this time of year. People who like snow, but live where it is warm, can
only dream of having a white Christmas.
American
songwriter Irving Berlin captured these feelings in his song “White Christmas.”
It is one of the most popular Christmas songs of all time. The opening words
explain why the singer is dreaming of a white Christmas. Most people never hear
these words, so they never really understand the true meaning of the song. Here’s
how it starts:
The
sun is shining.
The
grass is green.
The
orange and palm trees sway.
I’ve
never seen such a day in Beverly Hills, L.A.
But
it’s December the 24th
And
I’m longing to be up north.
Up
north, where it is cold and snowy.
Not
south, where it is warm and sunny.
Over
the years, hundreds of singers and musicians have recorded “White Christmas.”
But the version most people still know best was sung by Bing Crosby.
Songwriter
Irving Berlin was born in Russia in 1888. He did not celebrate Christmas as a
religious holiday. He was Jewish.
But
his song celebrates an idea of peace and happiness that anyone, anywhere --
snowy or not -- can enjoy.
To
all of you, best wishes this holiday season from all of us in VOA Special
English.
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