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The Conversation USA

Christmas isn't always holly jolly – even some of its best-loved songs are bittersweet

  • Written by David W. Stowe, Professor of Religious Studies, Michigan State University
image'Joy to the World' may be one of the most famous hymns, but the Yuletide season isn't always cheery.Ben Birchall/PA Images via Getty Images

In American culture, Christmas is supposed to be synonymous with joy. The familiar carols proclaim this message, with “Joy to the World” resounding in thousands of churches, while its secular...

Read more: Christmas isn't always holly jolly – even some of its best-loved songs are bittersweet

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