agreed that if you take away the songs which address the sacred nature of Christmas there ain't much left...

there is no appreciation for historically-valued permutations of culture in the poltically-correct atmosphere of many modern school districts...but what ya gonna do? Either they're praying at volleyball games and can't have a Hallowe'en parade, or they have to celebrate Christmas, Hannukkah, Kwaanza, Ramadan and Yule equally (which means all lose their sacredness and uniqueness).

Some of my favorite memories of performing Christmas music in school (we had an award-winning concert choir led by an amazing music teacher) were the Messiah, of course; Palestrina's "O Magnum Mysterium," as well as another version of that text by a contemporary composer (Pinkham, I think); Sweet Little Jesus Boy; various versions of Lullay songs; and Lo, How a Rose ere Blooming...