This is from Wikipedia:

Eggnog, or egg nog, is a sweetened dairy-based beverage traditionally made with milk and/or cream, sugar, and whipped eggs (which gives it a frothy texture). Brandy, rum, whisky, bourbon, vodka, or a combination of liquors are often added. The finished serving is often garnished with a sprinkling of ground cinnamon or nutmeg.
Eggnog is a popular drink throughout the United States and Canada, and is usually associated with winter celebrations such as Christmas. Eggnog may be added as a flavoring to food or drinks such as coffee and tea. Eggnog as a custard can also be used as an ice cream base.

(I am not a big fan myself though. It might be something that you have to grow up with...)

And - carols in the US can be a bit confusing - sometimes the same words but different tunes to what we grew up with. Bit strange to hear at times. We had three six year girls come carol-ing on our doorstep the other day. The sweetest things imaginable, singing "Away in a Manger" bu to the American tune....

It is believed that the eggnog tradition began in Europe as an adaptation of the various milk and wine punches often served at social gatherings. In the 17th century, eggnog was used as a toast to oneâÂÂs health and was consumed by the well-to-do of society as milk and eggs were scarce commodities in Europe. Colonists started adding rum, as it was readily available from the Caribean.

"Deck the Halls" is thought to be lyrics from the Welsh, with words later on by Americans.

(I googled for the above info)

It's my understanding, completely unsupported by actual facts, that 'Deck the Halls' is derived from a much older tune. We like it, again this is only my opinion, for the imagery of much older times, holly and yule logs, etc. Also the fact that it is non-religious means that it can be sung everywhere. And it is easy to sing and very cheerful. Another very popular carol in the same spirit is 'Jingle Bells.'

As for eggnog, I think very few people actually drink it but it is widely used as a flavoring, i.e. Starbucks coffee, ice cream. We talk about it a lot at this time of year but don't actually consume it, if that makes any sense. I might be interested in making some from scratch but I wouldn't touch the junk that comes in a carton from the grocery.

I'm going to a party tonight and I wouldn't be surprised to be presented with eggnog as a beverage choice.

Eggnog is a delicious, but incredibly rich drink. One small glass is about as much as anyone can digest.

It is amazing to see how many "healthy" alternatives to Eggnog appear in the grocery store at this time of year. As a purist, I won't touch anything but the real stuff.

Actually, I notice how there are now so many peppermint flavored products available at this time of the year. I never associated this flavor especially with Christmas.

I didn't realize that "Deck the Halls" was not often sung in Britain. I had assumed it was a very old English carol.

Speaking of Christmas carols, is anyone outside of Canada, familiar with "The Huron Carol"? There is a lot of mythology about this beautifully meditative music. It was composed by the Jesuit martyr St. John de Brebeuf (martyred in 1649) as a means of telling the Christmas story to members of the First Nations. It is purportedly loosely based on their own music. It is also said to be the first North American Christmas carol.

The hymn was supposedly lost to history until rediscovered in 1794 among the papers of a priest who had recently died.

Sadly this beautiful music has now taken on hues of controversy, especially among the politically correct, for whom it is an expression of cultural imperialism and Christian indoctrination. Maybe that is true, but it is still a lovely piece of music, in spite of current associations.

Timallan, I've never heard, or heard of, The Huron Carol. Thanks for mentioning it; I enjoyed listening to it.

Eggnog has become less popular recently due to fears of salmonella and raw eggs. I am including a link to a recipe for the curious. We drank it in my family when I was a child, a non-alcoholic version because my parents did not drink alcohol. It was considered both celebratory and nourishing. I have not had it in my adult life. I don't know if I would like it or not.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/eggnog-recipe2/index.html

As for Deck the Halls, I do like that carol very much. It probably is as close to universally loved in the US as any carol around. Jingle Bells is a little too, well, jingly, at least for my tastes. I actually prefer Jingle Bell Rock, popular in my childhood and still widely played on the radio this time of year. Good King Wenceslaus is quite popular, too, though how a song about the Feast of Stephen came to be associated with Christmas is a mystery to me. Ah, I just looked it up. It is either two or three days after Christmas, depending on which calendar you check. Deck the Halls is not my absolute favorite carol, but it is probably my favorite cheerful carol. I tend to prefer the sad ones so a few rounds of Deck the Halls can be a good antidote to gloom.

Rosefolly

Here is a link that might be useful: The Huron Carol

I had not heard that carol, beautiful! I am wondering if I can talk our choir into performing it next year...I'm sure I will end up singing the verse in Wendat...hmmmmm.

In my usual contrary style, I'm thinking of making some real eggnog. I have no salmonella worries as the chickens across the street provide my eggs, and they are disease-free.

I went caroling with a large group last week, and we sang 'Jingle Bells' and 'Deck the Halls' as we walked through the hallways of the hospital, and when we stopped in the common areas we ran through our program of regular choral music in parts. The aforementioned songs are very easy to sing on the move!

Tim, thank you for mentioning The Huron Carol, I'd never heard of it and it's just lovely.

Rosefolly thanks for the link-I never think to do that!
I also listened to the Canadian Tenors rendition-completely different, but beautiful!

Pat

I have always loved the Huron Carol - learned it in elementary school, over 50 years ago. I agree, Pat, the Canadian Tenors version is lovely, and my new favourite.

Thank you for the link,I really enjoyed that!
I should imagine that plain Eggnog would be a good stomach liner! Years ago I used to have to attend functions where a glass of Champagne or sherry would be offered on arrival and it would have been impolite to refuse. I always had a small milkshake before I went.
Nowadays I am glad to see that non-al drinks are also offered.

Personally I hate egg nog unless its in a latte. The thought of adding rum to it makes my stomach turn over. I love Christmas music and get out all the CDs at the end of November. When I think of Deck the Halls I have this distinct recollection of me in the third row in my Gr. 4 classroom singing heartily and with great enjoyment...and my teacher looking disturbed and wandering down the aisle, pausing and then touching my shoulder, "My dear, I appreciate your enthusiasm but you are very much offkey." I had no idea what that meant until I went home and asked my mom.
So yes, FALALALALALA needs to be shrieked to be enjoyed, IMHO.

Thanks for the egg nog info; it doesn't look like any ones favourite 'beverage of choice'. (and beverage is one of those words we almost never use over here; don't know why)
Paula, glad you found out about the 'Feast of Stephen'. 26th Dec more commonly called Boxing Day in the UK and a public holiday, except for the mad rush to the 'Sales'. I think it is still known as St Stephen's Day in Ireland and over there they used to have a tradition of killing wrens (the tiny bird) on that day . . . again no idea why.
Tim thanks for the link to the Huron carol, simple and quite different. Certainly beats White Christmas or Rudloph the Red Nosed Reindeer.
To me 'Deck the Halls' doesn't sound Welsh, so many of their old tunes are in the minor key and have a plaintive lyrical quality. But I am no musical expert!
Over here there are some lovely arrangements of really 'old' carols. Do you know the 'Coventry Carol'?

Here is a link that might be useful: The Coventry Carol

Vee, the 'Coventry Carol' is one of those sad carols I tend to love. Too many of those in a row and Christmas is no longer a happy holiday. But I like the gentle melancholy of it, and others in that vein. Sometimes I'll put on a CD of the Anonymous 4, Baltimore Concert, or Chanticleer. Such beauty of sound. However, after an hour or so I'm truly ready for a rousing rendition of 'Deck the Halls'!

Rosefolly

Veer, thank you for the link to the Coventry Carol. It is one of my absolute favorites, and is such welcome relief from the saccharine, twee carols we usually hear.

I love carols which capture the majesty and mystery of the Christmas story. I also adore any carol which also works in the theme of winter, which is a big part of the season for those of us who live in colder climes. I think my love of winter explains why I find carols like In the Bleak Mid-winter and The Huron Carol so beautiful.

Thank you Rosefolly for the link to that particular recording of The Huron Carol, which is a recent reinterpretation. It is heartening to hear the carol coming back into fashion.

Siobhan, it must such a hard time for people in hospital. It is nice that you were able to bring them such cheer. Also, congratulations on living so close to fresh eggs. I hope you have the luxury of buying just as many as you need, instead of having to buy too many like the rest of us.

Well, home-made eggnog is still drunk in the USA deep South at both Xmas and New Year's. It can be made with sherry, not rum, which is the way my late father did it. I have always found it delicious, but quite fattening!

One of my favorite Xmas carols is "Sing We Now of Christmas", which has the same tune as an Easter hymn, which is "Now the Green Blade Riseth".

Yes Tim, I can buy any amount and I can take them from the nests if I like. Gives new meaning to 'fresh!' I think I will have to make some eggnog, sherry sounds quite nice.

I adore the Coventry Carol and Sing We Now of Christmas, in addition to all the older French carols that are so beautiful but strangely out of fashion.

And singing is for EVERYONE, not just those who were born knowing how to carry a tune.

Another lover of Christmas Carols chiming in. I adore them and we have a radio station that plays carols 24/7 from Thanksgiving up to and including Christmas Day. I love it. There is nothing like waking up to the wonderful magic of Christmas music. And, I confess, that I will sing "I'll be home for Christmas", "Deck the Halls" or "Oh Come, All Ye Faithful" all year round.

As for egg nog... no thanks. If I am going to consume any dairy item that rich, I choose cheesecake.

PAM

On the theme of melancholy Christmas carols, I also dearly love 'I Wonder as I Wander'. It is relatively modern, a 1933 song with Appalachian roots written by folklorist John Jacob Niles. My favorite hymns are "Amazing Grace' and 'Come, O Come, Emmanuel', both very sad and haunting. I love sad and haunting. And mysterious and beautiful, too. Probably why I grow heirloom roses and read books.

Rosefolly

Here is a link that might be useful: I Wonder As I Wander

I love this Canadian singer. Here is one of her Christmas songs that has become one of my favs. Hope you enjoy it.

Sarah Mclachlan

Here is a link that might be useful: Sarah Mclachlin : River

This one is for Rosefolly Sad and haunting. I lost my mom about a year and a half ago, this song makes me cry.

And then I thought about all those families who lost their little ones in that Conn. senseless tragedy and started bawling. Well, that's enough of Christmas melancholy.

Here is a link that might be useful: Sarah Mclachlan: Wintersong

Hmm, maybe a bit too sad for me. Fortunately my penchant for melancholy has its limits. That is a lovely song, though. Thanks for posting it, Janalyn.

I'm very sorry about your mother. Rouan and I lost our father around that same time. It takes a long time to get over something like that. But losing a child in an event like the one in Connecticut? I suspect that one never gets over that, not completely. Life goes on but it is never again the same.

Time now to raise our spirits with a rousing rendition of 'Rocking Around the Christmas Tree', cheerful and meaningless and fun, no haunting sadness to be found.

Here is a link that might be useful: Rockin Around the Christmas Tree