It was December the year after Hurricane Katrina that I attended a conference in New Orleans. We didn’t have much free-time but I did get to stroll through Jackson Square one evening. The doors to St. Louis Cathedral were open and gentle, wonderous music flowed out to the steps. A local trio of violin, guitar and voice drew me in. I was blessed to hear an enchanting and almost haunting song, “Peace Stories” (from an album of Christmas songs of the same name). I pull this CD out every Christmas. It begins: “Maybe one day we’ll be telling peace stories…” and it captures my annual holiday prayer with fresh lyrics and tune.

Since I was a little kid, I have favored the gentle, peaceful carols of the season over the Santa tunes.  Silent Night, O’ Holy Night, Little Town of Bethlehem always conjure up a scene of peace and tranquility that stir me and lift me up during the Christmas season. These songs pair so well with the Christmas and Holiday cards  depicting starry nights, bucolic snow scenes and blue/green globes with Peace on Earth banners across them.

When I was introduced to Celtic Christmas music, I connected to the gentle rendition of many hymns and songs I already knew. I also was introduced to songs of that tradition that were new to me: “In the Bleak Midwinter”, “I Saw Three Ships a Sailing” and “The Wexford Carol” among my favorites.

To me, all these songs put ‘Christ back into Christmas’ while simultaneously sharing the universal message of the season and ALL its holidays. The third stanza of Hark! the Herald Angels Sing robustly begins “Hail! The heaven-born Prince of Peace”. The candles of Chanukah represent the Light of Peace over darkness and conflict. Peace is inherent in the seven values of Kwanzaa as well as the Diwali Festival of Lights and many other religious and multi-cultural celebrations.

And, of course, when we talk about beautiful words of peace, one of the all-time best is the ancient Celtic poem Deep Peace, with many versions including the most famous “St. Patrick’s Breast Plate”. My favorite version is the one I quote in Celtic Spirit. It also has been made into a song.

While it is not a Christmas song per se, please consider it my gift to you thanks to the wonderful musical artist Bill Douglas.

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Merry Christmas and May Peace Be with You and Yours this Holiday Season.