Why is "My Favorite Things" considered a Christmas song?

[Coventina]

It makes no sense to me.

[Fla Dem]

1. Never thought of it as a "Christmas song". Who does?

The lyrics certainly don't have a Christmas reference.

Lyrics

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things

Cream-colored ponies and crisp apple strudels
Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles
Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings
These are a few of my favorite things

Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes
Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes
Silver-white winters that melt into springs
These are a few of my favorite things

When the dog bites
When the bee stings
When I'm feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don't feel so bad

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things

Cream-colored ponies and crisp apple strudels
Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles
Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings
These are a few of my favorite things

Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes
Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes
Silver-white winters that melt into springs
These are a few of my favorite things

When the dog bites
When the bee stings
When I'm feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don't feel so bad

Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Oscar Hammerstein Ii / Richard Rodg

[Shipwack]

7. I've seen it included in more than one Christmas compilation.

[Coventina]

10. I've seen it included in Christmas albums, and heard in the Christmas "muzak"

at Trader Joe's just now.

[tblue37]

20. It's a winter song, like Jingle Bells and Sleigh Bells Ring. It gives people the

wintry feeling they associate with Christmas.

[Marthe48]

32. It is a secular song

Stores and media outlets that play Christmas music bend over backwards to play 'seasonal music' rather than Christmas carols. If I hear the lineup with Jingle Bells, Holly Jolly Christmas and (God help me) The Chipmunk Song, once, I hear it every house, every day from Thanksgiving to Christmas Day.

I grew up listening to traditional Christmas songs like O Holy Night, Silent Night and We Three Kings. I don't know when Christmas music became popular, but you hear more of those, and seasonal music than you do the traditional songs.

I hardly hear MY Favorite Things at any time of year, but with lyrics like 'warm woolen mittens', 'brown paper packages' and others scattered through the song, I can see where some exec would say, "Yeah! That says Christmas without saying Christ!"

I'm just glad when I can stop playing my CDs and get back to the radio, which is the day after Christmas.

[PAMod]

2. I've asked this same question. nt

[chia]

3. Maybe the imagery of silver white winters, snowflakes, sleigh bells, packages tied up with strings?

Just guessing.

[Blues Heron]

4. Sleigh bells?

Im guessing its the sleigh bells, snowflakes, and silver white winters, that get it over the christmas song threshold

[debm55]

11. Blue, I agree with you. It's more of winter imagery song then an outright Christmas song. I always

liked it.

[Nictuku]

5. Because ChristmasConsumerism?

[Brother Buzz]

6. Because it's a convenient fluff song to fill up lazy artists' crappy Christmas albums

It is what it is.

[Paladin]

8. Never heard it used for Christmas.

Thankfully so; not much of a song.

[Coventina]

12. You're luckier than I. n/t

[Donkees]

9. The first time "My Favorite Things" became associated with Christmas was in 1961,...

The first time “My Favorite Things” became associated with Christmas was in 1961, when Julie Andrews performed the song on a Garry Moore TV holiday special – long before she starred in the movie version of The Sound of Music, which was filmed in 1964 and released in April 1965.

[debm55]

13. Yes, Mary Martin had the role on Broadway.

But Julie got the role for the film.

[Donkees]

25. My Favorite Things (The Garry Moore Show, 1961) - Julie Andrews

[Tetrachloride]

14. I'd rather add to the Christmas song list

than subtract if it’s a good song.

Similarly, some people have Die Hard as a Christmas movie (not me). (thread hijack. we’re going to Argentina)

[Coventina]

15. I guess it irritates me because I associate the song with comforting distressed children

(as it was used in the play/movie).

Not something I think of as "in the holiday spirit."

YMMV

I've never seen Die Hard, so I can't comment on that.

[debm55]

16. But Coventina, that's the point--it does comfort the children who lost their mother and live under

Last edited Thu Dec 1, 2022, 03:16 PM - Edit history (1)

military rule. Marie brings that love, fun and creativity into their world and their father's. If you have every read the true story of the Von Trapps, Marie was a bitch.

[Coventina]

18. I understand that, but it doesn't say "Christmas" to me. n/t

[Tetrachloride]

17. Die Hard is a good story but not required at all.

haven’t seen it in 1-2 decades

[MyOwnPeace]

19. It's the 'winter' thing.....

just like "Jingle Bells" isn't a 'Christmas' tune either. Sometimes you need something new to fill another of the 500 new 'Christmas music' cd's & albums every year........

[Sneederbunk]

21. Why is Frosty the Snowman and Jingle Bells considered Xmas?

[Coventina]

22. Good point! Also: Sleigh Ride, Winter Wonderland, Let It Snow....

There are probably others I'm not thinking of right now.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

23. I never thought of it as a Christmas song.

Perhaps not buying Christmas albums has kept that bit of knowledge from me.

[debm55]

24. no , it's more of a winter song.

[Sneederbunk]

26. My Favorite Things is also a jazz classic. Go figure.

[jmowreader]

27. Because it's less depressing than some other Christmas songs?

[oswaldactedalone]

28. My favorite Christmas song

https://m.

[Wounded Bear]

29. Because it's about getting stuff...

It's like a huge 'you're gonna get stuff' advertisement that fits the commercialized Christmases we all know and love.

[debm55]

30. wounded, how is it about getting stuff? She makes play clothes out of drapes? The rest of the song

deals with sensory things concerning winter.-smells and food, the feel of brown paper wrapping on gifts, feel of snow on the nose and eyelashes. When I watch the movie or hear the song, it makes me want to sing and dance. I saw the movie when it first came
out with my girl scout troop. It wasn't a Christmas move. If I remember correctly, we went down to Pittsburgh to see it in March. It makes me feel happy.

[TuxedoKat]

31. The movie

came out in December I think or late fall. I remember going to see it with friends that year. It was snowing. Magical.

[wnylib]

34. And the movie was often run on TV

during the holiday season. So maybe it got associated with Christmas that way.

[beaglelover]

33. Me either. It's from a musical that doesn't even take place at xmas time.