Ever wonder why we still sing the same carols our great-grandparents knew, yet can’t escape Mariah Carey every December? From ancient Roman solstice bonfires to a snowbound Austrian church on Christmas Eve 1818, this warm, storyteller-driven book traces the surprising, sometimes miraculous journeys behind the world’s favorite Christmas music. Meet the outlawed medieval carolers who kept Christmas alive in secret, the Victorian reformers who rescued “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen” from the pub and marched it into church, and the songsmiths who gave us “White Christmas,” “Chestnuts Roasting,” and “Rudolph.” Discover how a heartbroken Bavarian priest and a young organist created “Silent Night” in one frantic night, why Handel wept while writing the Hallelujah Chorus, and how Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker was almost abandoned as a failure. Travel from Balkan badnjak logs and Greek kalanda to Icelandic living-room hymns and Filipino Simbang Gabi choirs, and learn why “Do You Hear What I Hear?” was written in a single afternoon as a nuclear-age prayer for peace. Part love-letter from a lifelong folk musician, part friendly rebellion against the idea that carols are mere background noise, ’Tis the Season celebrates both the humble folk tunes we belt out in the car and the concert-hall giants that still bring concert audiences to their feet. You’ll never hear “Jingle Bells,” “O Holy Night,” or “All I Want for Christmas Is You” the same way again—and you might just find yourself standing a little taller when the “Hallelujah!” chorus rings out. Perfect for anyone who loves the stories behind the songs, from church choir members and folk enthusiasts to classical fans and curious Christmas radio listeners. Includes top-ten lists, a historical timeline, and the stories of Holiday movies and TV specials. Light the fire, pour the cocoa. 'Tis the season.