On the Third Day of Christmas

a) “Barenaked for the Holidays” by Barenaked Ladies

Traditional Christmas songs are great. They've lasted throughout the years, rerecorded, reinterpreted, and yet they are universally recognizable. Whether upbeat or downtempo, “Jingle Bells” is just catchy.

When bands record original Christmas songs, though, I'd say it takes a special creativity. There are only so many times someone can sing about Santa or the gift of giving. BNL (yes, we're calling them BNL now) produced a holiday album (Christmas + 2 songs for Hanukkah), truly original. I find it fascinating that they never once say “Santa Claus” (instead using phrases like “the fat man”) and utilize Michael Bublé and Sarah McLachlan in ways I don't find irritating. However, the highlights of the album are the slow, understated songs “Snowman” and “Footprints,” the latter of which is apart of my top-10 songs of all time (holiday or otherwise).

b) “Abed's Uncontrollable Christmas” from Community

Christmas isn't always bright. Even when we have the best intentions of staying merry and positive, there is a certain melancholy element to the holiday season that I find attractive. Sometimes the darkest times can mean the most and Community has always been great at mining at these dark times to show growth and maturity.

This episode isn't that funny-haha, but it has a lot of smiling moments (specifically the misfit toys each of the characters become). At its core, this episode has a lot of heart and every aspect of it shows how much work was put into the production. I can't say enough good things about this episode.

c) Mall Santas

I have no idea what happened to all of the pictures of me sitting on Santa's lap, but I know there had to have been one for every year I believed in Santa (so, at least twelve). Visiting Santa Claus at the mall must be what it feels like to meet your favorite athlete or Iron Chef contestant. I mean, he's a rock star in the eyes of a child (almost as cool as meeting the Kung-Fu Panda) and he's visiting your specific shopping center! What are the odds that the Meridian Mall would be one of the stops on his meet-and-greet tour around the country? And every year?! Santa's nothing if not persistent.

Sitting on Santa's lap and telling him what you want for Christmas pretty much solidifies his realism for kids for an extra few years. You can touch his beard, hear him laugh, and get photo documentation! (Santa photos count as picture ID at most voting stations.) And bless Santa's heart for sitting there, hour after hour, listening to non-contributing pissants explain in detail what they want. Right, because a six-year-old really needs Black Ops II...