That’s the advice of Buddy in the beloved holiday film, Elf.

Music is one of our favorite traditions of the Christmas season. For weeks we hear a constant flow of songs with holiday themes. In Luke’s Gospel, song breaks out four times in his Christmas story. Let’s explore these four “Christmas carols.” In this book, Tom Goodman will introduce you to the story behind each biblical song and the meaning of the lyrics. In between the chapters, John Parker provides an informative and entertaining look at the stories behind some of our favorite Christmas carols that we’re still singing to this day.

Your own Christmas celebration will be richer when you understand what made the characters in Luke’s Gospel burst out in song in response to the birth of Jesus!