Hold your reindeer, Santa!

As for the “date-rape” song “Baby, It’s Cold Outside,” we had it in our 70-plus-tunes Merrie Olde Christmas Carolers’ binders for a few seasons, but, yeah, as you’d mentioned, it “offended sensibilities,” so we trashed it. (MOCC is now in its 49th consecutive season and this year is all over San Mateo County and the rest of the greater Bay Area.)

And you’d asked about Spanish-language carols besides “Feliz Navidad.” We’ve had “ Fum, Fum, Fum” and “Brincan y Bailan” in our repertoire for years. 

But besides our much-requested arrangement of “Mr. Santa,” the newest fun addition to our rep is “The Man with the Bag,” written in 1950 by Irving Taylor, Dudley Brooks and Hal Stanley, recorded then by Kay Starr, and most recently revived by Adam Lambert and Darren Criss.

 So, “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas,” a “Happy Hanukkah,” and a Kool Kwanzaa!

Ken Malucelli

Half Moon Bay