Fresh snow covered the ground when Paul and I awoke this morning.

Immediately, we debated with delight if the snow would stay long enough for a white Christmas.

And inevitably, hummed a few bars of the irresistible, eternally beloved song by Irving Berlin.

And we couldn’t help but wonder about the story behind “White Christmas,” the quintessential Christmas song.

Perhaps, we posited, it’s because the iconic American lyricist and composer – whose vast contributions include “God Bless America,” “Dancing Cheek to Cheek,” “There’s No Business Like Show Business,” and many more – waxed nostalgic for idyllic memories of carefree youth.

Well, we've learned that Irving Berlin’s youth was anything but idyllic and carefree.

Born in Russia, most likely Siberia, in 1888, 5-year-old “Izzy” and his family arrived at New York’s Ellis Island in 1893.

Leaving school to work full-time and help support the family after his father, a cantor, passed, young Irving began singing on rough city streets.

Eventually, the teen-ager became a “singing waiter” in New York’s Chinatown. After his shift ended and the Pelham Cafe closed, he’d teach himself to play piano.

In 1911, Irving achieved fame and financial security with his first hit, “Alexander’s Ragtime Band.”

Yet the 22-year-old “overnight success” on Tin Pan Alley had been working since the age of 8.

Now, let’s fast forward to 1940, when Irving wrote “White Christmas.” Precisely when and exactly where he composed the music and lyrics remains a mystery.

One legend says it was the Arizona Biltmore Hotel, where he did indeed write other songs. Other lore holds the location to have been the La Quinta Resort in Southern California.

There’s no concrete evidence either way, however, the original opening may lend credence to the latter:

On December 25^th, 1941, Bing Crosby debuted “White Christmas” on his immensely popular radio show. Several months later, Bing recorded and released the chart-topping single.

The rest, of course, is history: Film soundtracks, an Academy Award, and the Guinness World Record for the all-time best-selling Christmas single.

Reader, may your Christmas dreams come true, and your holidays be merry and bright.

Until next time,

Travel on, sparkle on, meaningfully✨

Marilee + Paul Kostadimas
Spotlight Sojourns | Slow Travel
​with the Hidden Gemologists®

​​​​

PS: If you’d like to take a deeper dive, we suggest White Christmas: The Story of an American Song by Jody Rosen.

PPS: Do you know friends or family who’d like a little inspo in their box? Please forward this email. They can subscribe by clicking the button below:

When you book or make purchases through some links, Spotlight Sojourns may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

All opinions are always our own. We recommend these companies because we actually use them, like them, and believe in them. And we think you’ll like them, too.

Thank you for using our affiliate links which support original writing and original photography for you.​