The music.
Christmas time (Advent) has always meant music to me. Playing Christmas music at home. Christmas concerts in school (even now, our local public schools have out and out Christmas music in the concert). The 6 anthems and carols my church choir is preparing for Christmast Eve midnight service (I sing mostly bass, some tenor; I'm a true baritone, but whatever the choirmaster needs, I'll sing). The Do It Yourself Messiah in the Chicago Civic Opera Center that LaSalle Bank runs, with an 80 piece orchestra (including organ and harpsichord), 4 professional soloists, and 3000 singers in the seats; my wife and I go every year. Christmas means music to me.
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive, Israel. singing)