Merry Christmas!
Yes, I’m actually kicking off your weekend with a blog post on Christmas Day that undoubtedly none of you will actually read until two or more days from now. You are likely expecting a Christmas song which is understandable but ultimately not happening. The song I’ve chosen has nothing to do with Christmas, save for the title which alludes to something we all embrace this time of year. And I suppose the broader subject matter of excessive drinking kind of relates to modern Christmas but also but it’s kind of a stretch.
If you’re of German heritage, like I am, today is the day you rest and recover from the traditional focal point of the holiday season, Christmas Eve. Growing up, Christmas Eve was the big celebration day. It was the day Santa would visit; literally. It was the night of the magical candlelight service at church. And it was the night the Schmidt family gathered at Grandma and Grandpa’s for gift opening, food and drink, and phone calls to family out West. It truly was the best night of the year.
Time has marched on, as it does, and the family has spread itself far across this land. Grandma and Grandpa have passed on and now that role is filled by my parents and aunts and uncles. We don’t gather at the Printery anymore, but rest assured in our various homes we Schmidts will have gathered with as many loved ones as possible to celebrate the season. It’s tradition.
And so, I won’t kick off your holiday weekend with a Christmas song, though it would have been “Silver Bells” had I done so. Instead, in recognition of Christmas Eve and as homage to my Schmidt family roots, this is “Family Tradition” by Hank Williams Jr. from his identically named 1979 album. All the best, everyone.
Studio Version:
Live Version: