Love it or loath it, Christmas music will always be part of holiday festivities. Most people don't seem to mind hearing it in season, although there are those particular tunes that no one wants to hear again till next year or beyond.

Several Journal readers submitted their favorite Christmas carols, citing memories of childhood Christmases or other personal connections. And - maybe in keeping with the spirit of holiday goodwill - very few chose to reveal the ones they dislike.

Timeless lyrics

My favorite hymn is "O Holy Night." Its lines are ageless … they describe us today, "in sin and error pining" every bit as much as they described the people of the earth on the night of Christ's birth. We are tired and weary. We feel the weight of the economy, of being jobless, of not making ends meet. We have family problems with relationships that are troubled and distant. Life is not what we dreamed it would be.

"Till he appeared and the soul felt its worth. A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices for yonder shines a new and glorious light. Fall on your knees, oh hear the angel voices, oh night, oh night divine."

The song brings hope of a new and glorious life free of these worldly burdens. It reminds us that there is light and He has come. The song also has a melody that lifts me up; it floats my spirit to a "new and glorious" level. It fills me with the hope and promise of Christmas - the birth of my Savior, Jesus Christ, my Lord."

- Donna Bland, Rapid City

Childhood memory

My favorite Christmas carol is "Silent Night."

Every time I hear or sing this carol, I think of memories from my childhood.

I grew up in a farming/ranching community called Creighton, which is located north of Wall, SD.

My education was in a one-room country schoolhouse (grades 1-8). This was mainly during the 1950s.

Every year our school would have a Christmas program - and everybody -and I mean everybody - in the community attended.

After the program was over, everyone sang Christmas carols as we waited for Santa Claus to come.

Most of the families that lived in the community emigrated from the Crimea in Russia and spoke German in their homes.

The last Christmas carol was "Silent Night" - sung in German.

Even to this day, I can still remember on the faces of the elders how much this Christmas carol meant to them as they sang.

I didn't understand German, but when "Silent Night" was sung, there was always such a feeling of love, warmth and peace on those nights in the little country schoolhouse.

- Anne Foster, Rapid City

A little too long

My favorite Christmas song is "O Holy Night." It gives you the peaceful feeling of the true meaning of Christmas.

My least favorite Christmas song is "The Twelve Days of Christmas." It goes on and on and on and on!

- Wanda Stapelberg, Rapid City