Christmas Is Happening!

I participated in a Facebook discussion yesterday in which we collectively lamented, among other things, the usurpation of traditional religious Christmas carols by silly, soppy secular ones.  So imagine my delight when I signed into Facebook this morning and was greeted by the posting of another friend (not involved in said discussion) sharing this website:

http://www.christmasishappening.com/

It's an online musical Advent calendar; each day a different song is revealed with accompanying artwork or Bible verse.  Most songs are religious in nature, though one offering is a poetry recitation (Day 10, "A Stranger Comes") and two others are secular (Day 4's "All I Want For Christmas is You," which takes on a different, deeper meaning à la Sister Act in this context; and Day 13's "Panther Chorus," which is "Jingle Bells").  I spent a pleasant morning catching up through today (Day 16, "O Little Town of Bethlehem"), and there are some real gems here.  Two particular favorites are "The Race That Long in Darkness Pined" (Day 5) and "Silent Night" (Day 9).

I've no idea who the musicians are, and the website doesn't say.  The title of my friend's Facebook posting wondered if this might be "A Mumford and Sons Christmas?"  A couple of the songs do indeed sound like the British folkies, and if you are a fan of their music, or of folk music in general, you will love these carols.  And to whom it may concern: Merci beaucoup for putting this site together, and for doing your part to put the "Merry" back into Christmas.

Update:  The credits have now been posted on the website.  To see the list of artists and musicians involved with this project, click on the red question mark in the upper left-hand corner of the home page.