My favorite thing about the holiday season is the beautiful seasonal songs: sacred hymns, traditional carols and even holiday pop classics. Now that Christmas time has passed most radio stations will be returning to their regular tunes. But there is one more holiday classic I look forward to hearing: the New Year’s standard “Auld Lang Syne”.

This song is widely regarded as the work of Scottish poet Robert Burns, even though several of the lyrics can also be attributed to other writers of similarly-titled works (such as “Old Long Syne”, a 1711 ballad by James Watson). Legend has it that Burns wrote a letter to a friend in which he spoke lovingly of the Scottish phrase “auld lang syne” and of an old folk song that “thrilled through [his]soul”. It is in this letter that he compiled and composed what would live on to become an enduring and well-loved holiday classic.

One of the things that fascinates me most about “Auld Lang Syne” is that, even though it has become a traditional New Year’s song throughout the world, it is still a widely misunderstood tune. There seems to be something missing in translation as holiday revelers warble the title, which roughly translates to “old long since” (and I mean that’s a rough, literal translation…or so I hear) and stumble over the lyrics.  But a simple internet search has been more than enough to uncover many wonderful things about “Auld Lang Syne” that I never knew, including full Scottish lyrics, a few nice translations of the song, and this gorgeous rendition of the song as performed by Mairi Campbell and Dave Francis.

As the song says, upon further reflection, should old acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind, perhaps we should take the time to kindly and fondly remember them. Over a pint perhaps at the pub? That’s neither here nor there, really. But this song does blossom into a moving, loving and heartfelt ballad…and strikes me as the perfect way to usher in a new year.

We’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet for auld lang syne…

If you dread hearing “How much longer?” or “Counting cows is boring!” check out your local library for things to check out for your Christmas roadtrips. DCPL has tons of interesting, entertaining and educational DVDs, audiobooks and CDs to engage you and your children on the way to grandmother’s house or wherever you’re headed this holiday season.

Try out any or all of the Harry Potter books read by the vastly talented Jim Dale. Or get a life and listen to someone’s biography or autobiography. Watch a holiday classic like It’s A Wonderful Life or Home Alone.

All it takes is a scan of your library card and you can entertain yourself and your passengers for miles. Who knows you might be so engrossed in your story that you won’t want to stop for anything but gas. If not you can always go back to counting state license plates.

It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas, at least to me, now that the winter cold is finally upon us. It always takes me a bit longer to get into the Christmas spirit than most people I know. I won’t say that I’m a Grinch or anything but, when it comes to the holidays, I’m definitely more of a Charlie Brown.

It had been years since I’d watched the beloved Christmas classic A Charlie Brown Christmas so I figured now was as good of a time as any for a nostalgic dose of holiday cheer. I needed a little reminder of the true meaning of the holiday and, thanks to the Peanuts gang,  I’ve got a new lease on this Christmas season.

As a little kid the original Charlie Brown Christmas special was a holiday tradition. But even then I can’t say that I truly understood the plight of our greatly put-upon protagonist Charlie Brown. In those days I couldn’t understand why Chuck was so glum; it was Christmas, after all. In hindsight, of course, it’s easy to see why Charlie Brown, a youngster possessed of a thirtysomething’s melancholy,was having trouble getting into the Christmas spirit. He’d become disenchanted with the commercialism of the holiday, a  complaint that has grown much timelier in this day and age. His efforts to celebrate Christmas in a more meaningful way–from agreeing to direct the Christmas play to selecting a spindly, pathetic Christmas tree–are unpopular at first. But eventually the gang come to appreciate Charlie Brown’s sensitivity and simplicity–at least, until the next holiday special rolls around.

This is one of my favorite Christmas programs of all time for a number of reasons–the sweet and simple story featuring Charles Schulz’s well-loved characters, the use of non-professional children in the voice cast. But one of the things I love most about this special is its  soundtrack by Vince Guaraldi, a charming score that lends a sweetness yet sophistication to the show. Not only does this soundtrack boast “Linus and Lucy”, the song that has come to be the Peanuts theme but it also features one of my favorite modern Christmas songs “Christmas Time is Here”.

I can’t think of a better way to get into the Christmas spirit than this:

Years ago I had the pleasure of working with Mr. Eddie Bonnemere.  He had played piano for Duke Ellington and told wonderful stories of late rehearsals and long road trips.  One story that stuck with me was this: whenever the band finally stopped for a meal Mr. Ellington would return thanks not only for the food but for the time and company as well.  All these years later I’m still grateful to Mr. Ellington, by way of Mr. Bonnemere, for reminding me that time and the people we choose to spend it on are precious.

Now, let me get to my point.  As a children’s librarian I am frequently asked, especially this time of year, by Grandma and Uncle and godpapa to help them choose books for the darling young person in their lives.  They have gotten the message that books are good for youngsters and are eager to do their part in setting that child on the path to academic success.  There’s a second, delicious part to the equation though.  Books are great gifts, but they are all the better when a much loved adult spends time reading them with the child.  If the adult is too far away there is reading together over the phone, or a video call, or even a homemade read-along with a CD or (yikes) a cassette tape of the adult reading.  Jim Trelease can tell you all about the benefits of reading aloud, even to older children, and offers many wonderful suggestions.  Any children’s staff member at DCPL can do the same.  So, buy the books, check them out of the library, it really doesn’t matter either way but be certain to treat yourself, and that special child, to time together talking, laughing or crying over a book.  Books are great, but books + time together is the best.

‘Tis the season for the library to be closed in observance of Christmas! So if you’re bundling yourself up to head out to the library, take heed: our doors are closed today. But fear not, here are some year-end book, movie, and music lists to tide you over.

Book Lists

• NPR: Best Books of 2008
• ALA: Teens’ Top Ten
• Publisher’s Weekly Best Books of 2008
• NYTimes: 100 Notable Books of 2008
• Washington Post Best Books of 2008

Movie Lists

• Metacritic: Best Films 2008
• Roger Ebert’s Best Films of 2008
• American Film Institutes 2008 Movie Awards
• Entertainment Weekly Top 10
• indieWIRE’s Critics Poll 08

Music Lists

• Rolling Stone’s Albums of the Year
• NPR Listeners Pick the Year’s Best Music
• Metacritic’s Best Albums of 2008
• AV Club: The best music of 2008
• Tiny Mix Tapes Favorite Albums of 2008

What are some of your favorite books, movies, and music of 2008? Please share in the comments section.

Note (12/29/2008): These links are meant as resources only.  The library owns many (but not all) of the books, CDs, and DVDs mentioned in these lists.

If you have procrastinated in shopping for your holiday gifts, as I have, then my list of last minute book purchases might help as you frantically dash through your local mall.

For my friends, K, who reads everything, and R, who doesn’t read anything: Water for elephants

For my cousin, S, who loves Twilight: Wicked lovely

For my cousin, M, who loves the Harry Potter series: The lightning thief, the first book of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series

For my sister, who hates reading: Babymouse, queen of the world

For my dad, who is a history buff: The Hemingses of Monticello

For my mom, who is a small town librarian and a crazy cat lady (I love you): Dewey: A small town library cat who touched the world

What are you hoping to unwrap during your holiday celebrations? I still have a few people that I’m shopping for, so any help with great books will be much appreciated! And, to those listed above, if you happen to stumble upon this post, I am sorry that it ruined the surprise. Happy holidays to our readers; may you and your family and friends have a warm and happy holiday season!

The man in the picture is Clement C. Moore, author of the famous holiday poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas”, and one of the founding fathers of the American Christmas. The poem is better known as “The Night Before Christmas”; and before it became popular, St. Nicholas was a stern man wearing a red archbishop’s robe. He travelled on a white horse or in a wagon pulled by goats, handing out coal and switches to the naughty. Mr. Moore gave him a sleigh and some reindeer with funny names and turned St. Nicholas into the fat and jolly old St. Nick everyone loves today.

Now the Library has many beautifully illustrated copies of Moore’s poem on the shelves at J 811.2 Moo in the non-fiction section or at E Moo and J E Moo in the childrens’ picture book area. Ask your librarian to help you find them. But just as St. Nick changed his name to Santa Claus and learned to work with central heating instead of fireplaces, the poem itself has been updated and parodied many times. Maybe The Soldiers’ Night Before Christmas would suit your holiday better (starring a buff and beardless Sergeant McClaus). Your family might prefer Twas the Night B’fore Christmas: An African-American Version or Prairie Night Before Christmas. One of my fellow library staffers recommends Cajun Night Before Christmas, where Santa comes in a skiff pulled by 8 alligators. He says his father reads it to them every year:

“An’ I hear him shout loud

As a splashin’ he go

“Merry Christmas to all

‘Til I saw you some mo’!”