- There are moments that we will remember our entire lives, these moments spent with friends and family are a cherished part of the human experience.

And for some reason, it seems like these moments are a lot easier to find this time of year.

Ladies and gentlemen, boys, and girls, grab your eggnog, start roasting those chestnuts and let's celebrate together.

It's "A Polka Christmas" with the Chardon Polka Band, a musical variety program full of holiday cheer.

Sit back and enjoy some polka-riffic sounds of the season.

Hi, I'm Jake Kouwe from the Chardon Polka Band, and I will be your host for this holiday hootenanny.

(bright polka music) I'd like to say thank you so much for joining us for this special presentation, and we've prepared a plethora of holiday tunes just for you.

We're gonna kick things off with a festive song called "Christmastime is Here."

(bright polka music) ♪ Oh, once again, the time of year ♪ ♪ To spread the love and spread the cheer ♪ ♪ And maybe drink some Christmas beer ♪ ♪ 'Cause Christmastime is here ♪ Take a look outside ♪ Hey, is that snow ♪ Grab your coat and hat ♪ And away we'll go ♪ And we'll take a step under some mistletoe ♪ ♪ 'Cause Christmastime is here ♪ Once again, the time of year ♪ To spread the love and spread the cheer ♪ ♪ And maybe drink some Christmas beer ♪ ♪ 'Cause Christmastime is here ♪ The family's coming over ♪ All our friends are in town ♪ We'll go caroling ♪ Then make a joyful sound ♪ We'll, grab some eggnog ♪ And we'll pass it round ♪ 'Cause Christmastime is here ♪ Once again, the time of year ♪ To spread the love and spread the cheer ♪ ♪ And maybe drink some Christmas beer ♪ ♪ 'Cause Christmas time is here ♪ (light, whimsical polka music) (bright polka music) ♪ So grab your tinsel and then trim that tree ♪ ♪ Hang up those lights so that all might see ♪ ♪ And come dance the Christmas polka with me ♪ ♪ 'Cause Christmastime is here ♪ Oh, once again, the time of year ♪ ♪ To spread the love and spread the cheer ♪ ♪ And maybe drink some Christmas beer ♪ ♪ 'Cause Christmastime is here ♪ Oh, once again, the time of year ♪ ♪ To spread the love and spread the cheer ♪ ♪ And maybe drink some Christmas beer ♪ ♪ 'Cause Christmastime is here - And perhaps no one embodies the joy and wonderment of the holiday season more than children, and these are my kids Benjamin and Luke.

They're twin boys, and this is my beautiful wife, Emily.

- Hi, everyone.

- Guys, what are you looking forward to this holiday?

- Cookies.

- Cookies?

- Cookies and what?

(Benjamin babbles) That's his word for blueberries.

- Cookies and blueberries.

- A Kouwe Christmas tradition, that's right.

All right, this next one is called "Joy to the World."

(twinkling music) (bright polka music) ("Joy to the World") ♪ Joy to the world ♪ The Lord is come ♪ Let earth receive her king ♪ Let every heart prepare him room ♪ ♪ And heaven and nature sing ♪ And heaven and nature sing ♪ And heaven and nature sing ♪ And heaven and nature sing ♪ And heaven and heaven and nature sing ♪ ♪ Oh, joy to the world, the Savior reigns ♪ ♪ Let men his songs employ ♪ While fields and floods ♪ Rocks, hills and plains ♪ Repeat the sounding joy ♪ Repeat the sounding joy ♪ Repeat the sounding joy ♪ Repeat the sounding joy ♪ Repeat, repeat the sounding joy ♪ (bright, up-tempo polka music) ♪ He rules the world with truth and grace ♪ ♪ And makes the nations prove ♪ The glories of his righteousness ♪ ♪ And wonders of his love ♪ And wonders of his love ♪ And wonders of his love ♪ And wonders of his love ♪ And wonders, wonders of his love ♪ ♪ And wonders, wonders of his love ♪ ♪ And wonders, wonders of his love ♪ - It has long been a tradition to bring salutations and songs to your neighbors during the holiday season.

To wassail means to raise a toast, and exchange a drink or a song, and we hope to capture that festive spirit right now with a caroling tune from the 18th century called "Wassail, Wassail," and of course, we're gonna play it as a polka.

(twinkling music) (light polka music) (drumsticks tapping rhythmically) ♪ Wassail, wassail all over the town ♪ ♪ Our toast it is white and our ale it is brown ♪ ♪ Our bowl it is made of the white maple tree ♪ ♪ With the wassailing bowl, we'll drink to thee ♪ ♪ So here is to Cherry and to her right cheek ♪ ♪ Pray God send our master a good piece of beef ♪ ♪ A good piece of beef that may we all see ♪ ♪ With the wassailing bowl, we'll drink to thee ♪ ♪ Wassail, wassail all over the town ♪ ♪ Our toast it is white, our ale it is brown ♪ ♪ Our bowl it is made from the white maple tree ♪ ♪ With the wassailing bowl, we'll drink to thee ♪ (bright polka music) ♪ And here is to Dobbin and to his right eye ♪ ♪ Pray God send our master a good Christmas pie ♪ ♪ A good Christmas pie that we may all see ♪ ♪ With the wassailing bowl we'll drink to thee ♪ ♪ Wassail, wassail all over the town ♪ ♪ Our toast it is white, our ale it is brown ♪ ♪ Our bowl it is made from the white maple tree ♪ ♪ With the wassailing bowl, we'll drink to thee ♪ (bright, jazzy polka music) ♪ And here's to the maid in the lily white smock ♪ ♪ Who tripped to the door and she pulled back the lock ♪ ♪ Who tripped to the door and pulled back the pin ♪ ♪ To let all these jolly wassailers in ♪ ♪ Wassail, wassail all over the town ♪ ♪ Our toast it is white, our ale it is brown ♪ ♪ Our bowl it is made from the white maple tree ♪ ♪ With the wassailing bowl, we'll drink to thee ♪ ♪ With the wassailing bowl, we'll drink to thee ♪ ♪ With the wassailing bowl, we'll drink to thee ♪ - Now whether or not you're traveling by reindeer or one horse open sleigh or some other form of transportation, the idea of a holiday journey is one that we see explored again and again in these seasonal songs.

And our next tune is about an epic Christmas journey indeed, the travels of Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar, the three kings.

(bright polka music) ("We Three Kings") ♪ We three kings of Orient are ♪ Bearing gifts, we travel so far ♪ ♪ Field and fountain, moor and mountain ♪ ♪ Following yonder star ♪ Oh, oh ♪ Star of wonder, star of night ♪ ♪ Star with royal beauty bright ♪ ♪ Westward leading, still proceeding ♪ ♪ Guide us to thy perfect light ♪ ♪ Glorious now, behold him arise ♪ ♪ King and God and sacrifice ♪ Hallelujah, hallelujah ♪ Peals through the earth and sky ♪ ♪ Oh, oh ♪ Star of wonder, star of night ♪ ♪ Star with royal beauty bright ♪ ♪ Westward leading, still proceeding ♪ ♪ Guide us to thy perfect light ♪ (bright polka music) - Our tuba player, Brian Brazier, is a very talented man and he is going to play a solo for you today on a very interesting and unique instrument that only he can play.

He made it himself.

(light, whimsical tuba-keyboard music) Friends and neighbors, that was some beautifully festive music that you heard on a very special instrument.

(light, whimsical tuba-keyboard music) When singer-songwriter Bob Runyon was asked to perform in church on Christmas morning, he wanted to make sure he selected a song that no one else was going to be singing that day.

So as the children bounced back and forth on Christmas morning, around the Christmas tree opening their gifts, he was inspired to compose this tune.

It's called "Itty Bitty Baby Jesus," and the Chardon Polka Band will be performing it for you.

(twinkling music) (bright polka music) ♪ Hallelujah, the angels sing ♪ Itty bitty baby born in Bethlehem ♪ ♪ Hallelujah, he was born the King ♪ ♪ Itty, bitty baby born in Bethlehem ♪ ♪ A cold winter's night and they were on the road ♪ ♪ Going to pay the taxes just like they were told ♪ ♪ Good citizens, they had no place to stay ♪ ♪ He was born in a stable, he's asleep on the hay ♪ ♪ Hallelujah, the angels sing ♪ Itty bitty baby born in Bethlehem ♪ ♪ Hallelujah, he was born the King ♪ ♪ Itty bitty baby born in Bethlehem ♪ ♪ Now shepherds from the hills ♪ Were awakened from their sleep ♪ ♪ By a choir of angels from the heavens deep ♪ ♪ They went to see the baby on the first Christmas night ♪ ♪ They were filled with wonder at that glorious sight ♪ ♪ Hallelujah, the angels sing ♪ Itty bitty baby born in Bethlehem ♪ ♪ Hallelujah, he was born the King ♪ ♪ Itty bitty baby born in Bethlehem ♪ (bright flute music) ♪ Three Kings from the East saw a star in the sky ♪ ♪ They were wise and so they wondered why ♪ ♪ They followed the star to where the baby lie ♪ ♪ And they gave him their gifts ♪ ♪ They passed Herod by ♪ Hallelujah, the angels sing ♪ Itty bitty baby born in Bethlehem ♪ ♪ Hallelujah, he was born the King ♪ ♪ Itty bitty baby born in Bethlehem ♪ ♪ Now power made small is just as good as it gets ♪ ♪ Herod and the Devil, oh, he makes them sweat ♪ ♪ The big and the powerful are made to look small ♪ ♪ 'Cause he's the King of Kings ♪ ♪ He's the Lord of all ♪ Hallelujah, the angels sing ♪ Itty bitty baby born in Bethlehem ♪ ♪ Hallelujah, he was born the King ♪ ♪ Itty bitty baby born in Bethlehem ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ Itty bitty baby born in Bethlehem ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ Itty bitty baby, he was born the Lamb ♪ - Since you've been introduced to my family, my wife, Emily, and our two sons, I thought it might be appropriate to meet the members of my musical family, the Chardon Polka Band.

All right, friends and neighbors, here's the band.

On the string-a-ding-dings, Mr. Mike Franklin.

- That's me.

- On the rum-a-tum-tum drums, Mr. Bob Young, from Youngstown, Ohio.

- Hello.

- A lot of people say different weird things about you, don't they, Bob?

- You do.

- Thank you, Bob.

Here is, on the tuba, Mr. Brian Brazier, from Lincoln, Nebraska.

And there he is, on the saxophone, the magic man himself, Mr. Mitch Lawrence.

- What's a terrarel?

- And now the Chardon Polka Band will share a polka arrangement of "Angels We Have Heard on High."

(twinkling music) (bright polka music) ("Angels We Have Heard on High") (bright polka music) ♪ Angels we have heard on high ♪ Sweetly singing o'er the plains ♪ ♪ And the mountains in reply ♪ Echoing their joyous strains ♪ Glo, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oria ♪ ♪ In Excelsis Deo ♪ Glo, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oria ♪ ♪ In Excelsis Deo ♪ Come to Bethlehem and see ♪ Him whose birth the angels sing ♪ ♪ Come adore on bended knee ♪ Christ the Lord, the newborn King ♪ ♪ Glo, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oria ♪ ♪ In Excelsis Deo ♪ Glo, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oria ♪ ♪ In Excelsis Deo (bright saxophone-forward polka music) (joyful, light polka music) - Chances are, you've heard of a guy named Santa Claus.

You might call him Father Christmas or St. Nicholas.

But one thing is for sure: that guy gets a lot of attention this time of year.

But we want to tell you about another holiday hero who works diligently through the season, delivering postcards, packages and fruitcakes.

I'm talking about the postal worker.

And the rest of the Chardon Polka Band is here to tell you more about these brave men and women.

- Fun fact.

Did you know the postal service delivers and processes 472.1 million pieces of mail per day?

- It's a lot more during the holidays.

(Brian chuckles) (bright polka music) ♪ He's got a package, he's got a package ♪ ♪ He's got a package, it's just for you ♪ ♪ He's got a bag upon his shoulder ♪ ♪ And he's wearing his funny hat, too ♪ ♪ But it's not Santa, no, it's a mailman ♪ ♪ And he's coming your way ♪ And when Andrew the mailman ♪ Brings you his package ♪ You'll have a great holiday (light, whimsical polka music) ♪ He's Andrew the mailman ♪ He dances polkas around the block ♪ ♪ He's Andrew the mailman ♪ He's gonna do that jingle bell rock ♪ ♪ He's got no reindeer, he's got no workshop ♪ ♪ And he's never had a sleigh ♪ But when Andrew the mailman brings you his package ♪ ♪ You'll have a great holiday ♪ When Andrew the mailman brings you his package ♪ ♪ You'll have a great holiday (bright clarinet-focused polka music) ♪ A fruitcake from dear old granny ♪ ♪ Socks from your auntie in Tennessee ♪ ♪ He'll bring them right to your doorstep ♪ ♪ A polka Christmas delivery ♪ The ladies, they all adore him ♪ ♪ But he's got a job to do ♪ Sorry, ladies, not today ♪ Maybe this Christmas, if you have been good ♪ ♪ He'll make a delivery to you (bright polka music) ♪ He's Andrew the mailman ♪ He's gonna make your holidays bright ♪ ♪ He's Andrew the mailman ♪ Dancing with all the gals tonight ♪ ♪ He's got no reindeer ♪ He's got no workshop ♪ And he's never had a sleigh ♪ And when Andrew the mailman brings you his package ♪ ♪ You'll have a great holiday ♪ When Andrew the mailman brings you his package ♪ ♪ You'll have a great holiday (twinkling music) - Folks, we have had a lot of fun on this musical holiday adventure.

We hope that your season is full of cheer and a few polkas, too.

From all of us to all of us to all of you, happy holidays.

("Auld Lang Syne") (jazzy music) - Happy holidays.

- Hey, Merry Christmas, everybody.

- Shalom and happy Hanukkah!

- Until next time, be safe getting home.

(jazzy music) - One, two, three.

(sticks clacking) (bright jazzy polka music) ("Auld Lang Syne") ♪ Should auld acquaintance be forgot ♪ ♪ And never brought to mind ♪ Should auld acquaintance be forgot ♪ ♪ And days of auld lang syne ♪ For auld lang syne, my dear ♪ For auld lang syne ♪ We'll take a cup o' kindness yet ♪ ♪ For auld lang syne (bright, jazzy polka music) - Whoa!

(bright, jazzy polka music) (gentle music) ♪ Silent night ♪ Holy night ♪ All is calm ♪ All is bright ♪ Round yon Virgin ♪ Mother and child ♪ Holy infant ♪ So tender and mild ♪ Sleep in heavenly peace ♪ Sleep in heavenly peace ♪ Silent night ♪ Holy night ♪ Shepherds quake at the sight ♪ Glories stream from heaven afar ♪ ♪ Heavenly hosts sing hallelujah ♪ ♪ Christ the Savior is born ♪ Christ the Savior is born