The song first appeared in a scene in which a family is distraught by the father's plans to move to New York City for a job promotion, leaving behind their beloved home in St. Louis, Missouri, just before the long-anticipated 1904 World's Fair begins. In a scene set on Christmas Eve, Judy Garland's character, Esther, sings the song to cheer up her despondent five-year-old sister, Tootie, played by Margaret O'Brien.[7],,,
Garland's version of the song, which was also released as a single by Decca Records, became popular among United States troops serving in World War II; her performance at the Hollywood Canteen brought many soldiers to tears.
This essay at The Catholic Thing explains why Christmas inspires us to nostalgia: it is a longing for home. And these songs are often sung before Christmas because the Christmas celebration is about the family and our loved ones being with us:
...(these) songs and movies are “Christmas movies” or “Christmas songs.” Sure, we call them that, but they’re really all about Advent – about the sense of longing which steadily grows as we approach Christmas...
Notice, too, that each of the songs and films I listed came out within a decade of the Second World War – the greatest collective experience of homesickness and (for the lucky ones) safe return in American history. Many of these make explicit reference to the war. And while thousands of songs and films about Christmas (and Advent) have been made since, and while some have even become immensely popular, the post-War, pop-culture, nostalgia factory which produced the old hits remains the standard against which the more recent additions are measured.,,
at a time when many pundits insist the family is no longer important, Christmas reminds us that our family is echoed in the family of Jesus: We Filipinos are not big in theology but see God as part of our extended family: So we celebrate Christmas as the day of the birth of Kuya (older brother) Jesus, and we see Mama Mary as our own mother, and God the Father as our father.
and as The Catholic Thing essay reminds us:
We Christians know that Advent is a season to prepare for the arrival of the Christ child... The God from whom we were separated in the Fall will come among us, and the deepest longing and restlessness will give way before the Prince of Peace. He makes a home among his people so that we may find a home in him.,
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