Christmas Post--Winter Wonderland, Once In Royal David's City, & Silent Night

So, I forgot to post the day before yesterday, which is strange because I know I thought about it once or twice. And yesterday was really busy, so this will be three posts in one.
It's strange because I think this will be our first winter here without snow. We had a whole lot of snow in November, but then somehow it all melted by last week. On Wednesday, we had a light sprinkling, but it's almost gone now, with just little patches of white here and there.
First up is 'Walking in a Winter Wonderland' sung by the Carpenters:

Second is a lovely carol sung by Kings College Choir of Cambridge, England

Thirdly, Silent Night on violin. *sigh* If only I could play like this :)

The interchange of presents was a very small ingredient in the older English festivity. Mr. Pickwick took a cod with him to Dingley Dell; the reformed Scrooge ordered a turkey for his clerk; lovers sent love gifts; toys and fruit were given to children. But the idea that not only all friends but even all acquaintances should give one another presents, or at least send one another cards, is quite modern and has been forced upon us by the shopkeepers.-- C. S. Lewis (Go here to read the rest of Lewis' article on the commercial racket of Christmas)