“Ya, ha, ha, ha, ho, ho, ho, ho!

Santa, laugh with me!

As he pinned the laughing song on the Christmas tree!”

Face it: whenever Santa laughs, people fall to their knees. What inspires such devotion? Some doubt the stars are fire, even truth to be a liar, but no one dares deny Saint Nick. In fact, year, after year, while it continues to crack apart little-by-little, on December 24th, the world pauses to look for a red beacon of light in the sky. His light, that is. His miracle, indeed, not just on 34th street but all through all streets, and down all chimneys, and even through electric fireplaces and air fryers. He keeps us on our toes by promising us gifts if we’re nice–but Santa’s greatest gift of all? Unity. No one else has brought everyone together such as he does. He is the King!

Every year, our Christmas playlists touch more and more on our obsessions with Santy Claus. From stealing for Santa to making Santa-friendly colonies on Mars, we continue to push towards a world made great by focusing on what really matters: the fattest man in town. This year, though, we turn our attention to the children, to better groom them to never stop believing. Kids, despite what you may have been told, you can kiss Santa good night!

This year’s playlist contains a medley of childlike glee, grooming the believer in every age for what may come to be. And then a sudden sun explodes…lo! Enter Johnny Cash as our Virgil leading us through the miracle of Christmas Eve. Do not be alarmed; instead, wonder at the lessons his Gospel journey brings as bookends to this playlist. Birth, death, resurrection, and ascension aren’t just in the books of John, Matthew, Mark, and Luke: they are in the eyes of every child–and in a more perfect world, every adult, sinner, saint, and believer–trekking through the arduous hours between Christmas Eve and Christmas morning.