This evening, the local missionaries talked with us about how we can keep Christmas with us throughout the year. Reminding us that the spirit of Christmas is the spirit of Christ, they recommended the usual things, such as regularly studying the scriptures, especially the passages about Jesus Christ. I didn't get a chance to slip it into the conversation, but I thought another good way to keep Christmas with us is through song. Music is a great way to attract the Spirit and keep it with you, especially through songs about Jesus Christ, including those about His birth. However, there is a problem with Christmas music.
Some people dislike Christmas music, and they especially dislike hearing Christmas music outside of the Christmas season. This only gives people who like Christmas music about a month in which to play and sing that kind of song, so they tend to take full advantage of the season to play and sing as much Christmas music as they can. This over-emphasis on Christmas music at Christmastime burns people out; by the end of December, they're sick of Christmas music and they don't want to hear any more of it. Thus, Christmas music is socially banned until December, at which time Christmas music lovers go overboard.
There has got to be a way for people to enjoy the music they like, and avoid the music they don't like, without irritating each other, and there is. The answer is in moderation. Christmas music lovers shouldn't overwhelm others during the Christmas season, and those who don't love Christmas music shouldn't forbid it during the other eleven months of the year. Rather, I think we should treat the liking of Christmas music the same as any other music preference. People who like Christmas music should be able to listen to it whenever they want to, but should never cram it down other people's throats (or ears).
I think that if people were more moderate in their liking and disliking of Christmas music, those who don't like Christmas music would be able to avoid it, even at Christmastime, and those who do like Christmas music will be able to listen to it, even when it's not Christmastime. On the other hand, with headphones and MP3 players, people can already do both of those things. Those who dislike Christmas music or who feel overexposed to it can grab an MP3 player and give themselves something else to listen to, and those who do like Christmas music can get some headphones and plug in to the Christmas spirit any time they want.
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