Soundtrack of Christmas Wishes
By Jessica Dorian, 12.08.04
From Thanksgiving to Christmas, Americans comb the shopping malls to find gifts on the wish lists of friends and family. It's the season of giving, and not much changes from year to year.
Christmas wishes are as consistent as December 25 — people want the same things they've always wanted.
From Thanksgiving on, radio stations play Christmas songs with timeless requests from the young and old. Here are a few songs that make a good soundtrack to the American Christmas Wish List:
"All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth"
Children want the new Barbie Doll, the latest action figure, or an X-Box, but deep down they also just want to be accepted. Whether they are in kindergarten, middle school or their senior year of high school, they hope that next year they won't have the same insecurities. They hope that teeth will magically appear, that braces will come off and that freckles will fade. Girl's hope that they won't be taller than all the boys in the class, and boys pray that the peach fuss will turn into stubble by the time school starts again.
"All I Want for Christmas is You"
Everyone's looking for love. High school sweethearts can't help but believe that they have found "the one." They don't bother with the real world issues of jobs, car payments and mortgages. They are on cloud nine. Married couples hurry to put kids in bed, cherishing the last moments together on a day they've been apart. The divorced and brokenhearted may not dream that they will ever love again, with Christmas becoming a painful reminder of what they once had.
"I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas"
Elderly sitting alone in their living room with Wheel of Fortune and remember Christmases past. They are hoping for snow this year, and anything else that will remind them of "the good old days" of their youth. They remember Christmas Eves when they were younger, sitting in the dark with their noses pressed to the glass, wishing for snow the next morning. Waking up to a White Christmas was just as good as the gifts under the tree.
"I'll Be Home for Christmas"
Especially this year, there are people who won't be home—those sacrificing the holidays with family to protect the liberties Americans enjoy. Wives cry silently on their pillows, so the little ones down the hall don't hear. Husbands tuck letters read a thousand times into their uniform as they hike their rifles back on their shoulders. Parents place pictures of their far—away sons and daughters next to the tree and know they will be there in spirit.
"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"
Above all else, every family wishes for joy this season. The anticipation of gift-giving motivates shoppers in long lines and bad weather. Families share fresh-baked cookies while they decorate the tree, stringing popcorn and garland together. More than any other wish this year, people want peace. They want love and joy. They want new beginnings and second chances. They want a brand new year with no mistakes in—yet. Christmas wishes never change. We sing the same songs every year.
