Christmas Music: I Yust Go Nuts at Christmas

Music is a huge part of the holiday season. Growing up Catholic, Christmas was kind of a big deal... and all the sacred and secular hymns that went along with it still bring back a flood of memories. For the next few days, I'm going to share some of those.

I was introduced to Yogi Yorgesson very early on as a Christmas Day staple. My father would drag out one of the his boxes of 45s as we were getting ready to open presents and pop on I Yust Go Nuts at Christmas.

It's a silly song, but hits points so many of us can relate to when it comes to, well, relatives and family during the holiday season.

We put so much stress on ourselves that nothing quite ever lives up to the expectations we're sold in the classic Normal Rockwell images. This song not only shatters those images (in humorous ways), but introduces those little bits of reality--the fighting relatives, the crazy kids, being nice to someone for just that one day in the name of the holiday spirit--that, while not perfect, are common and familiar.

The nostalgia value of this song is very high if you grew up on this (or grew up in New York City in the 50s and 6os), but the comedic value is timeless. Even if you've never heard it before (and don't know who Gabriel Heatter is), you can get a smile from this tune and the ridiculous Swedish accent it's done in.

What are your favorite holiday songs that you grew up with?