Posted on Dec 24, 2021
The Sad Story Behind ‘White Christmas,’ America’s Favorite Christmas Carol
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The most popular Christmas carol in America stands apart from the others in a number of ways.
It’s not upbeat, there are no fanciful characters and it isn’t religious. Instead, it’s melancholy and wistful – full of longing for bygone days.
Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas” was first heard on a radio show sponsored by the Kraft Company on Christmas Day, 1941. Bing Crosby and Kraft Music Hall mainly appealed to young people – the average listener age was 21 – so it’s possible that the younger generation embraced “White Christmas” first.
But the longing and coziness of the song had a deeper meaning that day. Families tuning in to that broadcast were thinking about the tragic event that happened just 18 days before: the Pearl Harbor attack.
By the following winter, young American troops found themselves overseas during the holidays. Armed Forces radio played “White Christmas” over and over to remind them of home.
It’s not upbeat, there are no fanciful characters and it isn’t religious. Instead, it’s melancholy and wistful – full of longing for bygone days.
Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas” was first heard on a radio show sponsored by the Kraft Company on Christmas Day, 1941. Bing Crosby and Kraft Music Hall mainly appealed to young people – the average listener age was 21 – so it’s possible that the younger generation embraced “White Christmas” first.
But the longing and coziness of the song had a deeper meaning that day. Families tuning in to that broadcast were thinking about the tragic event that happened just 18 days before: the Pearl Harbor attack.
By the following winter, young American troops found themselves overseas during the holidays. Armed Forces radio played “White Christmas” over and over to remind them of home.
The Sad Story Behind ‘White Christmas,’ America’s Favorite Christmas Carol
Posted from kuow.org
Christmas
Music
Singing
WWII World War Two
American History
Posted >1 y ago
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Berlin was a Russian Jew who escaped from persecution when he was just a child
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irving_Berlin
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irving_Berlin
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Did not put that together. Makes a lot of sense. Thanks for the lesson, PO1 William "Chip" Nagel. Love the song/enjoy watching the old Bing Cosby/Rosemary Clooney movie most Christmases.
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CPT (Join to see)
"White Christmas" 1954 Bing Crosby & Danny Kaye
"White Christmas" is an Irving Berlin song reminiscing about an old-fashioned Christmas setting. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the version...
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