Strictly speaking, “Bears” — a 1984 prog/rock/metal single from Zebra — is not a holiday song, per se and such as. However, it is entirely evocative of that whole winter holiday feel, complete with xylophone chimes, strings, choirs, etc… plus it’s about freakin’ hibernating BEARS man! By a band called Zebra! Yeah I don’t know where I’m going with this. But “Bears” is a super cool song (with entirely banal lyrics, granted), and given the recent tragedies in Connecticut and the debate about guns and violence, it retains an added air of wistful hope that I find reassuring.

“And in the middle of loving, I hope you’ll find a place in your heart for them…”