In the spirit of another thread...Best "traditional" Christmas song?

[distantearlywarning]

My favorite is O Holy Night, as long as it's sung by someone who can actually sing the high notes.

[MarianJack]

1. Hark The Herald Angels Sing

My favorite!

[Redstone]

2. Not so much the song, but a very unusual instrumental of

"O Come Emmanuel" done by an Irish group with a hurdy-gurdy playing lead and some stunning guitar work as backup.

I listen to that one all year, not just at Christmas.

Redstone

[borlis]

3. I'll second that.

Years ago I saw a young woman singing "O Holy Night" on the "Christmas in Washington" special (or something like that.) Clinton was the president. I had no idea who she was, but she really could hit the high notes. Turns out it was Christina Aguliera.

[livetohike]

4. "Good King Wenceslas"

http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/g/o/goodking.htm

It always brings tears to my eyes, but it probably has to do with my heritage (Slovak).

That and "I'll be Home for Christmas" always tears me up because I have spent so many Christmases away from home over the past thirty years.

[kmla]

5. Any Christmas song by Nat King Cole.

And the duet of Bing and David Bowie, "Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth".

Love 'em.

[cmf]

6. I love "O Holy Night", too.

My parent's church used to have a singer at Midnight Mass who would do it beautifully, it would always bring tears to my eyes. I also love "What Child is This".