The most popular Christmas carol in America stands apart from the others in a number of ways.
It's not upbeat, there are no fanciful characters and it isn't religious. Instead, it's melancholy and wistful – full of longing for bygone days.
Irving Berlin's “White Christmas” was first heard on a radio show sponsored by the Kraft Company on Christmas Day, 1941. Bing Crosby and Kraft Music Hall mainly appealed to young people – the average listener age was 21 – so it's possible that the younger generation embraced “White Christmas” first.
But the longing and coziness of the song had a deeper meaning that day. Families tuning in to that broadcast were thinking about the tragic event that happened just 18 days before: the Pearl Harbor attack.
Read Full Article »