the writing and photography of Neil Kramer

Announcing the Sixth Annual Blogger Christmahanukwanzaakah Online Holiday Concert!

It is Thanksgiving time, and you know what that means.   Santa arrives at the end of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.   Boxes of ornaments appear from dusty basements. Even the 99% and the 1% put aside their differences, form a circle around the tree, and drink egg nog.

Yes, it is that time of the year again — the announcement of the Sixth Annual Blogger Christmahanukwanzaakah Online Holiday Concert!

The online concert this year will take place on December 18, 2011, right here.   Isn’t this the year when we finally hear YOU SING?!   Sign up in the comments today.

Concert FAQ:

1.  Create an audio file or a video file of you performing a holiday song.  If you need technical help, ask me.

2.  You must be performing in the audio or video.   Don’t cheat and have your cute kids doing all the work.

3.  You can sing, play an instrument, recite poetry, dance the Nutcracker, or create music on your iPhone.

4.  Once completed, you have the choice of posting it on your blog or YouTube and sending me the link, or emailing me the complete multimedia file.   Try to get me everything by Friday, December 16, 2010, two days before the concert!  That gives you plenty of time to be creative.

5.  If you don’t want to sing a song, send me a holiday photo for concert decoration.  It could be of your tree, menorah, or plain ol’ winter solstice if you are a heathen.

6.  The comment section is the sign-up sheet.    By signing up, we can see who is performing what, so we can avoid having ten versions of “Frosty the Snowman.”

7.  Most importantly — don’t be intimidated if you can’t sing.    We like to laugh at you.

8.  Here are the past blockbuster concerts —

2006  2007  2008  2009  2010

Join us in the longest-running holiday concert online — The Blogger Christmahanukwanzaakah Online Holiday Concert, now in it’s sixth season!

72 Comments

  1. Brian

    I’m totally gonna do this, Neil. And what I’m gonna do is gonna rock. Whatever it is. I guarantee no one else will do it like I will do it. So here I am, signing up. But I have to hurry . . . the green bean casserole is burning!!!

  2. The Honourable Husband

    Sing? Hell no. Picture? Yes, and you’ll find it enchanting.

  3. Always Home and Uncool

    All right. I will attempt Jingle Bells for you.

  4. Pearl

    After all these years, I might just get my act together to do something for the concert…I finally have SKYPE and a built-in camera and a means to do something. Will let you know if I put something together.
    Everyone give a hand for producer Neil Kramer. Woo-hoo [loud applause]!!!!!

    • Pearl

      Okay, I sent my performance off to Neil today. “Another New Year’s Eve” by Barry Manilow.

  5. Redneck Mommy

    You know I’m in.

    Because Christmas is never complete with out a little cat in heat singing to ring the season in.

    (Have no idea what I’ll be singing, but you know it’ll be AWESOME. And by awesome I mean terribly, horribly, no good bad.)

  6. palinode

    Maybe I could put together a video of the contributions?

  7. Backpacking Dad

    Let’s do this!

    I’m either going to do “White Christmas” or “Blue Christmas” or some other Christmas song.

  8. Jack

    I might make an appearance this year. Got to think about it a bit, but who knows…

  9. Varda (SquashedMom)

    I will dredge up some sort of Hanukkah song to contribute – probably “Hanukkah oh Hanukkah” unless I can come up with something better. And I’m warning you: I can’t sing to save my life (in spite of being in choir in Jr. & High School and singing the second soprano part of Hallelujah Chorus for so many years running that I still remember it to this day). So it ain’t gonna be pretty. Plenty of fodder for mocking sure to come.

  10. Angella

    I MIGHT sing this year. Maybe.

    I WILL contribute a photo, as I always do.

    Yay! This is one of my favorite things. I can’t wait.

  11. Not Fainthearted

    Like I said, I’m making my big come back appearance this year. Already today I’ve been pouring over my holiday CD collection to see what I might want to crank out of recognition on the ol’ accordion.

    To keep it simple for you, my dear Neilochka, it will be something rather obscure and “ethnic” so you probably don’t have to worry about 12 versions of it.

    And maybe a picture.

    Don’t count on any singing. Just saying…

    Thanks again for making community.
    –NFH

  12. tiff

    Honk yes! This time with TROMBONES! 🙂 Thank yo for doing this again. Along with Weetabix’s card exchange this makes my holiday.

  13. Carrie

    Oh, God.

    Unless I con someone into getting me that iPhone I want, it’ll be a picture. Of some sort.

    I’ve never done this.

    Crap. I guess once I hit ‘post comment’ it’s a done deal.

    Hells yeah.

    • Carrie

      OK. I got the iPhone.

      I’m doing “Rockin Around the Christmas Tree.”

      And my heavy southern twang will be accompanying me. Like I even have a choice with that.

      I’ll do it and get it to you this week.

  14. Danny

    I’m glad you’re sticking with this, Neil! The Miller Family Singers will attempt “Oh Hanukkah.” (Hope you don’t mind the repeat but it’s the only Hanukkah song my two-year-old knows by heart!)

  15. Juli

    I’m in. I think I will try to do a New Zealand folk song–maybe “Everything is Kapai”.

  16. ingrid

    i’m making up my own song. 🙂

    😛 you’ll have to decide if it’s “appropriate” once you hear it.

    • Neil

      Rock on Ingrid!

  17. Brandi C

    Holy crap, I am sooo in! I’ve waited all year to jump on this wagon and can’t wait. I will be dragging my irritatingly cute family in with me. HA! Hmmm, now what to sing…perhaps “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus”. Yes!

    • Neil

      It’s yours!

  18. Otir

    Signing for another one… hopefully this is fine to provide you with a video that was from past years? because I won’t have time to do otherwise. If yes, it will be either Hanerot Hallalu, or Maoz Tzur, whatever will work for you.

  19. Adrienne

    This will be an #OpEleanor for me. Count me in! Probably some old fashioned Carol from my Catholic days of yore.

  20. flutter

    yep, i’m in

  21. traceyclark

    wouldn’t miss it for anything! it was a highlight for us to participate last year! xo

  22. sizzle

    I’m in. No idea what song though.

  23. Twenty Four At Heart

    I’ll be there, of course. Probably a photograph though … I need to think on it! : )

  24. Bitchin' Wives Club

    I’m in. Thanks for hosting, Neil!! It is a highlight of the holidays in the blogosphere. 🙂

  25. edenland

    Neil, I’m in like Flynn.

  26. Katherine @ Postpartum Progress

    I think I may have to go for it this year. Fight the power!

    • Katherine @ Postpartum Progress

      So I just sang Silent Night. One take, because I refuse to redo it and look wooden and practiced. Hope it’s okay, even if there are some flat parts. 😉 Will send.

      • Neil

        I’m sure it is great.

  27. Avitable

    I’m in. No clue what I’m singing or doing yet.

  28. Gurukarm (@karma_musings)

    Wowowowo! My first invite (via FB) – I am totally touched. I may even have to do this…

  29. tamarika

    Hi Neil! I think I contributed years ago … I will put on my creative thinking cap and try for a song this year. Hurray for you!

  30. Laura

    Oh fun! I think I will give this a try. So I can’t shamelessly use my kids? Oh well, they would probably roll their eyes and declare, “God! No, Mom!” But the grandbabies…I’ll do some Christmas-y song. That narrows it down a bit, right? Let me think on this.

  31. Laurie

    Sarah and I will be embarrassing ourselves together as only we are capable of doing.

    I’ll also send a picture or two so you can pick.

  32. Helen Jane

    Hee! So excited.

  33. All Adither

    I might be able to hum. Or whistle. Or play spoons.

  34. Ciaran/Momfluential

    I’m all in. I will sing. Badly. My children might dance and do backup if I pay them. I think we’ll do a bit of the “Candlelight” song that was knocked off last yr by the Maccabeats.

    • Amy from Resourceful Mommy

      Ciaran, my non-Jewish kids sing the Maccabeats version all the time. We’re flipping latkes in the air – can’t wait to hear your version!

  35. Trina @ Walking With Scissors

    The whole “no hiding behind your cute kids” thing gave me pause. But I may participate nonetheless. My 7 year old plays a mean “Jingle Bells” on the piano and my 9 year old is a guitar rock star. I’m not sure what song we’ll do yet.

    One thing I can promise is a nice Christmas photo!

  36. Niri

    Totally in.. maybe making my own song again

  37. gorillabuns

    picture for sho but man, singing? i can only do this in drunk in the privacy in my own home. I’ll let you know soon because i’m a total procrastinator.

  38. Boston Mamas

    I’m going to try to get my act together for this. 🙂

  39. Melanie Feltham

    Oh what fun! I’m gathering some music industry friends and we will bring either a Newfoundland Christmas song or a rendition of the Pogues. In any case, it is going to be a hoot 🙂

  40. TwoBusy

    Am I allowed to croon via blue lobster finger puppet?

    • Neil

      Absolutely!

  41. Angela

    I’m in. AND, I may have to be tipsy to do what I’m planning to do. If so, so be it. ‘Tis the season.

  42. Amy from Resourceful Mommy

    If you’ll have me, I’m totally in. Been wanting to do this forever! Okay, so really only since last year. But a year is a damn long time online.

  43. Elly Lou

    Dude. I cant go and blow my chance for three years in a row, right? So I’ll do sumtin. Maybe Rocking’ Round the Christmas Tree. Will confirm shortly. Thanks as always for organizing this!

    • Elly Lou

      Ok. Officially claiming Rockin’. Game on.

  44. Loralee

    Dibs on “Ding Dong Merrily On High”.

    😉

  45. denise

    You’re such a great holiday concert producer! I can’t wait to watch the entries, your readers are always so talented!

  46. Tarable

    I’m in and will be performing a new carol I found especially for Chrismukkah…sung to the tune of Deck the Halls.

    Haven’t sung in public without the help of alcohol in ages. Which means that I probably shouldn’t start now.

  47. sizzle

    What day is the last day to send you the submission?

    I am trying to decide on the song still. Contenders include: “Happy Holidays” or “Let it Snow” or “I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm”. It will probably be none of these.

  48. ohjennymae

    i’m in & have a few things going around. either a winter-y (non-holiday) song or a made-up song.

    whee!!!!!

  49. Momo Fali

    Count me in!

  50. Zak

    I’m in. No singing though, probably just a photo. 🙂

  51. Alex@LateEnough

    Ooh, I really want to do this. But I’m not sure I can get my idea together in time.
    Happy Christmahanukwanzaakah either way!

  52. agirlandaboy

    We’re in again (how could we not be?) but haven’t cage-death-matched over what we’ll perform. Stay tuned!

  53. Dana

    I think I’m in, with my kids. If it works, we’re doing “Christmas is Coming (the goose is getting fat).”

  54. Noel

    Last year I sang. This year, I was hoping to submit a video of performers from my musical, The Christmas Bride, singing my song, A British Christmas, at a benefit. But that breaks all the rules.
    The Christmas Bride, a Dickensian romance, plays December 15-21 at Lucid Stage in Portland Maine.

  55. kristen

    I will be singing Little Drummer Boy with the kids accompanying me on djembe.

  56. Erin L

    This sounds awesome! I’ll sing God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.

  57. Cameron

    I cannot believe I didn’t know about this place before the CGC newslettery thing.

    I’m in, either something lyrical and Churchy like O Holy Night, or something from my 4 y/o’s preschool song book. Either one.

  58. Allison Zapata

    Have a holly jolly xmas….I think that’s the name.

  59. Jessica

    I’m singing my version of Winter Wonderland. FYI: I am a terrible singer.

  60. Jason Green

    “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Ives

  61. carrien (she laughs at the days)

    If I can get it done tonight it will be me and the Boy performing one of our favorite not-actually-a-Christmas-song-but-I-like-to-sing-it-this-time-of-year-anyway songs.

  62. Kathryn (@kat1124)

    So I think it’s not too late, I’ll get you the video by tonight…Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. 🙂

  63. Sondra

    Yeah, count me in. “I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus” or maybe “Grandma got Run Over by a reindeer?”

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