The Xmas Soundtrack: Rudolph, Frosty, and Man’s Search for Meaning

Ever wonder what “Santa Baby” is going on about? Or why “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” is so moving, even through the schmaltz? Wonder no more: this Sunday, Br. Gregory Pine, O.P., continues the student brothers’ Advent lecture series with a talk to the tune of “The Xmas Soundtrack: Rudolph, Frosty, and Man’s Search for Meaning.” Christmas music—the kind that haunts you everywhere, in the elevator, in the grocery store, on commercials—is a controversial part of the build-up to Christmas. Some people love it and can’t imagine December without it; others gnash their teeth and growl humbug-like at its simplistic lyrics and cliché melodies. Br. Gregory finds a different path to understand what Christmas music is and why—like it or not—it’s worth paying attention to. Br. Gregory’s talk is the second installment in a weekly series of talks for Advent from the Dominican student brothers, entitled “Symbols of the Season: Decoding Man’s Desire for God.” The previous installment from Br. Raymund Snyder on “Season’s Greetings: Unpacking the Liturgy of Festive Cliché” is available in audio form here. In Washington, D.C., the talks are every Sunday night at 7:30 P.M. at the Dominican House of Studies, 487 Michigan Ave NE. In Charlottesville, the talks are every Sunday morning at 10:30 A.M. at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, 401 Alderman Rd. Fliers with complete listings of the talk titles in the series can be found here for Washington, and here for Charlottesville.