A Festival of Nine Lessons And Carols, Christmas Eve

[WildRosie]

It's almost that time of year again. I assume this Christmas the FONLAC will be back to normal, i .e. with a full congregation and no social distancing, although I expect there will still be some people continuing to wear masks. Just as well if they are also lousy singers!

I like how the format barely alters from one year to the next. Always opening with the processional carol Once In Royal David's City, some reasonably familiar Bible stuff and one or two new carols, then finishing with O Come, All Ye Faithful and Hark! The Herald Angel's Sing.

By and large, I let Christmas pass me by now (or should that be 'walk by on the other side' ?) but FONLAC is something I do look forward to.

Fond memories 🙂

I go to Orthodox Church with ds2 now so it's Byzantine singing and lots of incense for me this year 😄

The festival of 9 carols on radio 4 is my moment on Christmas Eve to put the radio on, have a Sherry and a mince pie amidst all the chaos of getting everything ready for the following day

Has 'O Holy Night' ever featured in the Festival? It seems to be a popular choice on MN but I admit I'd not heard of it until about eight or nine years ago.

Tomorrow afternoon at 3 o'clock on Radio 4.

I have been in the congregation of the TV version. It is very lovely indeed in person.

I am very much looking forward to it. Given it's near-100 year broadcast history, I am a recent convert. Once In Royal David's City is my favourite Christmas carol; it takes me back to my secondary school days when we played it as our opener at the Christmas concert. I played the violin (well, nearly).

Just in case you are interested, I recorded this during the 2020 lockdown:

Lovely. Always a peak moment of the year for me. It'll be different as it will be starting when I'm still at my mum's nursing home. It will be very emotional hearing it with her. She is sleeping a lot now and near the end I think.

PermanentTemporary. That can't be easy. My own parents are both long gone now but I know Mum liked FONLAC. Whatever else happens, the Chapel of King's College at Cambridge ain't budging on Christmas Eve, for anybody or anything.

Starting in just a few minutes...

Have restarted it as I am back home late. Welling up. Beautiful rendition by the soloist.

Mum was very sleepy after being unexpectedly alert this morning so the team very kindly sent me away. Happy Christmas everyone.

We've got it on, on our way back from some last-minute shopping (shame on us!). It finally feels like Christmas!

The solo was perfect.

I'm not a big Christmas celebrant by any means and, yet, today hasn't felt much like Christmas Eve. When I went out shopping this morning, the town centre didn't seem much busier than any other Saturday. There were even spaces in Sainsbury's car park which is rare in this area! Maybe it's the cost of living biting, and the fact that I've spent two hours trying to get my washing machine to work! I failed and ordered a new part. Not Christmassy but needs must.

Going to the pub after FONLAC finishes.

I'm feeling proud by association because the organist is one of DS's friends.

That was a nice service. Same time next year?