Folk Music That Fits The Season

Christmas music, it seems, is everywhere this these days, from all-Christmas music radio stations to the background tunes played in the local grocery store. But there are a lot of celebrations taking place this time of year, and the music – especially folk music – embraces a wide range of traditions and communities.

As host of WPR’s “Simply Folk,” I recently had the opportunity to talk with Rob Ferrett on WPR’s “Central Time,” about folk music for these days of celebration, and there was plenty to talk about!

The winter solstice is a rich time for musicians and writers, with themes of light and dark, warmth and cold, beginnings and endings. In this piece by Mary Chapin Carpenter, the music wraps you in a warm blanket as the “Longest Night of the Year” settles in around you.

Winter seemingly has been with us for months now, bringing snow to all parts of Wisconsin. Rhonda Vincent has a wonderful bluegrass version of the classic “Let It Snow,” while the Wisconsin duo of Erik Kjellund and Beth Kille, also known as Kerosene Kites, has their own great twist on that winter tune.

For Christmas, we can go south of the border to Mexico where Gaby Moreno shares traditional holiday tunes on her album “Posada.” The title is based on the Mexican tradition of Las Posadas and the album includes this wonderful song, “Hacia Belen Va Una Burra Rin Rin.”

The Christmas season is traditionally a time of hope, and that is true even in the midst of war. During the Christmas Truce of 1914, small ceasefires took place along the western front of Europe during World War I, when German and allied soldiers shared food and drink, swapped prisoners and the bodies of the deceased, and shared some holiday cheer. Here’s a powerful imagining of that day by John McCutcheon.

Hanukkah is celebrated this year from Dec. 22-30, and this festival of lights remembers the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem and the experience of a miracle thousands of years ago. Lisa Loeb’s song “Light,” a “Simply Folk” favorite, captures the feel of the holiday.

Kwanzaa is an annual celebration that honors African-American heritage, running each year from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1. Central to the celebration are the Seven Principles, and the vocal group, Sweet Honey in the Rock has a wonderful sung version of those principles.

We wrap up the holiday season with the coming of the new year, another celebration rich in themes of endings and beginnings. And all these celebrations are best experienced in community, whether it be family, friends, neighbors, or people in our town. Richard Shindell’s song, “Hazel’s House” paints a wonderful picture of the community bringing in the new year.

That may be the end of the traditional holiday season, but don’t go away … Groundhog Day is right around the corner, and believe it or not, there’s folk music for that, too!