All is calm. All is bright.
The world is pretty insane these days. It can all be very dark and dreary. I hope this holiday season you’re able to find a moment of peace and bask in the warmth of a nice fire. Take care of yourself.
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Christmas Cheer for a Fireplace Near
Created for some warmth during the holidays.
*****
Christmas is my favorite holiday by a wide margin. I love the constant reminders of peace on earth, goodwill toward men. Feels like we could use more of that lately. Gifts are nice too, sure, but kindness and generosity of spirit are way nicer.
I like thinking about the pagan roots of Christmas, where they essentially needed to bring some light into their homes to brighten their dark winters and beckon forth the lengthening days and sunnier weather. I love that we bring trees inside and dress them up in pretty lights and trinkets. It makes me feel more connected to the earth and humanity all at once, these objectively silly traditions.
There aren’t any other times of year that specifically make me feel this depth of love for humanity. It’s nice to be reminded.
I used to love sitting in front of the fireplace and watching the embers burn bright and fade.There’s a reason there’s a million yule log videos on YouTube. It’s incredibly meditative. I wanted to create a collection of songs that facilitated that same sort of feeling, that lets you reconnect with humanity.
This mixtape is meant to be listened to with the crackle of the fireplace in the background. The music is only half the soundtrack to a cozy Christmas day or night. Hopefully you can supply the other side.
*****
Love you all. Hope you enjoy!
Join Me: It’s a Wonderful Life @ IFC Center, all December.
Friends Dan & Michele introduced Kristin and I to an annual tradition of theirs: seeing It’s a Wonderful Life at the IFC Center around the holidays. It has since become an important tradition of our own, and it doesn’t quite feel like Christmas until we’ve sat down with a small popcorn and that bell starts ringing.
I had never seen the film before seeing it in theaters that first year, and it instantly become one of my favorite films of all time. Without fail, it makes me cry (a few times!). It’s one of the most life affirming stories I’ve ever encountered, and you owe it to yourself to see it on the big screen.
RIYL: Christmas movies, crying in a theatre, Jimmy Stewart.
Check out the trailer for It’s a Wonderful Life here.
Some Other Classic Christmas Films That I Love
(that you might love too!)
It Happened on 5th Avenue - Some homeless men move into an NYC mansion while its occupants are wintering down south. A delight.
Meet Me in St. Louis - A turn of the century love story told in seasonal vignettes with incredible tunes including the wildly famous and lovely “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” Honestly, a must watch/love.
Remember the Night - A defense attorney brings his client, a jewel thief (Barbara Stanwyck), home for Christmas so she doesn’t have to spend the holiday in prison, and, you guessed it, they start to fall in love. This movie rocks and has a barn dance scene, so big Brady bonus points there.
3 Godfathers - A western (hi, I’m Brady and I like cowboy movies) Christmas allegory that inspired one of my other favorite Christmas films, Tokyo Godfathers.