Christmas Music

When something important in the United States is happening, I try to mention it to my students, for both my sake and theirs. For their sake: because I want them to get a fuller view of American culture. For my sake: because sometimes I feel disconnected.

The past week or so, I have been trying to get in the Christmas mood by listening to Christmas carols. Usually about this time in the season, I'm annoyed to death with the incessant Christmas carols, but this year Christmas is anything but all around.

On Wednesday, I mentioned Christmas carols to my class of 11 and 12-year olds. One of them asked me to play a song or two for them. I readily obliged.

These kids hear a heavy dose of American rock and R&B, along with smatterings of French music, Arabic pop music, and more traditional Arabic music. It never occurred to me how different Christmas carols sound compared to American pop music, but one of my 11-year olds complained right away.

"This is terrible!"

I responded, "It's not suppose to be pop music. Do you like Eid al Kabir music and listen to it all the time?"

He lowered his head, "Uh...no."

Now, I feel a little bit deceptive. The entire week I have done nothing but listen to Christmas carols...