World War Made White Christmas An American Favorite
Persons who continue to pine away for a white Christmas obviously love the cold weather and have no problem driving on snow-covered streets. It was apparently easy for Irving Berlin to pen the lyrics of the song sitting in the Arizona sunshine in 1940 as he wrote out his fond memories of Christmas times spent in the north. One of the oldest holiday songs in existence, White Christmas has the honor of being listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the biggest selling single of all time.
The first public performance of White Christmas was by Bing Crosby on the Kraft Music Hall radio show, receiving spotty acclaim, but following its performance in the musical Holiday Inn in 1942 as a duet with Marjorie Reynolds, the song became a favorite, especially among the troops during World War II. In 1954, it was the theme song for the movie of the same name and cemented its place in American musical history.
The song White Christmas has achieved the status of being the most widely recorded song, having been sung by well over 100 artists as singles and as part of holiday compilations. It continues to be one of the songs most often used by Christmas carolers and during holiday specials by most performers.
Song Captivates Many With Holiday Memories
While there have certainly been numerous years with a white Christmas since 1940, the song continues to evoke strong feelings and memories, especially of those who have chosen to live in warmer climates. They may settle into their beach chairs by the ocean and sing White Christmas as they long for the days gone by. However, they show little desire to leave the warmth for a cold December in the north.
For many people, a white Christmas is part of the holiday as they were growing up and the song continues to inspire wishes for snow to begin on Christmas Eve and be melted away by the following morning. Many holiday decorations use faux snow to help create the winters scenes so often associated by with the holidays. While Bing Crosby often downplayed his role in making the song famous, here is little doubt that the version re-recorded in 1947 is more famous than the original.
During the early parts of December virtually everyone living in the north planning to celebrate Christmas, begin looking at weather patterns to see if a white Christmas is in the forecast. After all, Santa Claus Can land his sleigh easier if it has snow for the runners.
