Funny conversation number one:

My son, listening to the car radio and speaking from the back seat: “Mommy, who is this singing?”

“Ah, this singer’s name is Celine Dion.”

“Why is she screaming?”

“Ummm….” (laughing) “I guess you could say it’s her style.”

Funny conversation number two, separate, but related:

My sister: “Hey, Josh Groban has a new album.”

My brother-in-law: “Oh, how nice. What’s it called: ‘Listen to My Voice’?”

Yes, holiday hymns and anthems are being blasted from everywhere. You can’t run into the Quickie Mart without hearing one. Heavy orchestrations. Big name vocalists. Christmas can carry a lot of emotion, and some carols call for it. “Fall on your knees! Oh! Hear the angel’s voices!”

Our family’s favorite Christmas album is by Elvis Presley. Elvis loved Christmas, and his take on the traditional melodies is marvelous. We adore it.

If you have a well-loved Christmas recording, tell us about it. Does Frank Sinatra’s Christmas album strike your fancy? Judy Garland’s?

It is fun to get a new recording for your collection every year. And it would be delightful to hear what you have, as well as know what you want to buy. Non-Christian reader responses to big Christmas numbers and the season’s tone are also most heartily welcomed. I know well that this is not everyone’s holiday. Do you seethe, or just go with it? Mr. Chattering is Jewish, but he professes a soft spot for “Joy to the World,” and even sings along. Everybody’s different.

I’ll post my suggestions for soothing Christmas, Solstice, Hanukkah, and generically spiritual winter music next week. There’s a lot of it, and I love it all.