Christmas in Argentina is very different from Christmas in Texas. For one thing, it’s the middle of summer. It’s associated more with fireworks and eating outside than chestnuts roasting over an open fire. (Does anybody actually do that?)

I enjoy both sets of traditions, but one thing I miss when in Argentina is Christmas music. It’s not completely lacking there, but it’s not an integral part of the Christmas experience. I know it can really get overdone here, but since I mainly listen to ESPN radio, I don’t tend to get overdosed.

I took piano lessons as a child. One of our two big performance events each year was a Christmas Sing-Along. Each student learned to perform a Christmas song, and the others sang along as the victim performer played. One of the goals our teacher had was to instill in us an appreciation of and knowledge of Christmas songs. Mrs. Roberts did her job well.

In recent years, I’ve become a fan of Straight No Chaser, an a cappella group out of Indiana University. I was introduced to them through the following video, their rendition of “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” I know it’s early, but we’ve already waited 11 months. Enjoy!