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Simple Holiday “De-Stressors”

By: Cathy Dunkin | 12/22/2008

It's no secret - I LOVE the traditions of Christmas! It's natural: I grew up singing carols around the piano with my family; power shopping for the perfect gifts for friends, family and even pets; and crying at all of the great holiday movies from "It's a Wonderful Life" to "A Christmas Carol."

Despite the frenzied activity and depressing economic news this year, I still feel energized by the holidays. My best way to de-stress is to listen to Christmas music throughout the season. I hope some of my favorite sources may add some fun this year to your own holiday celebration: 

• Watch Straight No Chaser sing on YouTube. (The excellent male a cappella group from Indiana University offers its own rendition of "The 12 Days of Christmas.") Really fun!
• Learn how much it will cost this year to send your true love all of the gifts of the 12 days of Christmas. (For the past 24 years, PNC Financial Services Group has been tracking the price of Christmas by calculating the cost of the traditional tune's goods and services - from the 12 drummers drumming to the partridge in a pear tree. Check out the CPI (Christmas Price Index) to see how the prices have changed over the years.)
• Listen to the radio stations that switch for the season to an "All Christmas All the Time" format. In St. Louis, try out KEZK 102.5, "The Christmas Station, and WMVN 101.1 "Holiday 101."

Wherever your plans take you this holiday season, bring along your holiday music. With some unstoppable holiday cheer from legends like Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby to newer favorites like Kristin Chenoweth and the Singing Dog's "Jingle Bells," the stress of the season will return to joy!

Happy holidays!

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