What is this? Christmastown?

I was in Target this morning to get a flu shot (my arrrrrm hurrrrrrts) and they had a gigantic display of Christmas trees, Hannukah sweaters for dogs (I swear), and other holiday decorations. As I mentioned, Starbucks cups are all printed with snowflakes and other holiday icons. We have a pile of holiday catalogues at my house, and of course the TV commercials are already holiday-centric.

Therefore I declare that this “the holiday season doesn’t start until the day after Thanksgiving” rule is sheer nonsense, and as such I feel entirely justified in posting my holiday mix now. It’s mostly classical music centered but I did sneak one or two not-technically-classical songs in there just because they make me smile.

I picked out my personal favorite bits of The Nutcracker that feel especially holiday-ish to me, but it was REALLY hard to decide. You can certainly include the whole thing; I know I do!

I also avoided most Christmas carols because you can select your favorites yourself; the one exception is my own favorite, and it comes with several caveats, as you will see. Enjoy!

1. “Hallelujah Chorus” from Handel’s Messiah
2. The Nutcracker: Scene 1, Overture, by Tchaikovsky
3. The Nutcracker: Scene 3, Children’s Galop and Arrival of the Guests, by Tchaikovsky
4. The Nutcracker: Scene 8, Journey through the Pine Forest, by Tchaikovsky
5. The Nutcracker: Scene 9, Waltz of the Snowflakes, by Tchaikovsky
6. The Nutcracker: Scene 12, Divertissements, by Tchaikovsky (this covers all the candies/countries, depending on which version you’re watching; I myself prefer the Baryshnikov)
7. The Nutcracker: Scene 14, Variation 2: Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, by Tchaikovsky
8. “What’s This?” from The Nightmare Before Christmas
9. Carnival of the Animals, “Aquarium” (VII), by Saint-Saens
10. “For Unto Us a Child is Born” from Handel’s Messiah
11. Lieutenant Kije Suite, 4th Movement (“Troika”), by Prokofiev
12. “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” ONLY AS SUNG BY JUDY GARLAND, and none of this “hang a shining star upon the highest bow” crap; THOSE ARE NOT THE LYRICS. Thank you.