Joe, I don't get tired of Christmas carols either -- except when the radio plays the same artist's recording of the same one over and over ad nauseum. I look forward to December, when I can bring out my Christmas repertoire -- and my Hanukkah songs too -- for my retirement home gigs, and even at song circles.

I'm glad we hardly ever hear songs like Jingle Bells and Winter Wonderland and O Come All Ye Faithful at song circles. But there are many wonderful, less commonly sung and heard, songs about Christmas (and Hanukkah and solstice) that probably wouldn't go over well at song circles except during December, and I welcome the chance to sing them and hear them.

My problem with many folkie song circles is that so many who are are secular humanists or pagans seem not to welcome actual Christmas carols (about Jesus). Sometimes there seems to be almost a "Bah! Humbug!" attitude on the part of half the participants (though at other times of the year no one seems to mind doing songs like Angel Band or I'll Fly Away or Amazing Grace.) I generally shrug this off and sing whatever Christmas songs I want to, when it's my turn, but it seems like maybe half the group is receptive and the other half wants to do exactly the same kinds of songs they would do in any other month of the year.

It's all good, though -- as long as I don't have to hear Stevie Nicks's version of Silent Night, Cher singing O Holy Night, or Jewel murdering Hark! The Herald Angels Sing. ; D