Stars share their Christmas thoughts and plans

(Second of three parts)

LOS ANGELES—We continue our column on stars talking about Christmas and the 200th anniversary of the Yuletide season’s beloved carol, “Silent Night.”

Taron Egerton

Taron Egerton

“Silent Night” actually makes me think of being at school. It was something that we sang a lot at school. It’s very beautiful, isn’t it? What’s nice about “Silent Night” is that Christmas is quite chaotic, and it’s very high energy. There’s overstimulation and overindulgence.

The thing about “Silent Night” is, it probably inspires introspection and a moment of calm. That’s probably why it’s still something very beautiful.

Emily Mortimer

Emily Mortimer

My family, despite being all atheists, do something very hypocritical in that we go to Church on Christmas Eve for midnight Mass.

My dad said that he was an atheist for Christ. He loved everything that Jesus stood for and said that Jesus was a radical, which he was.

It is amazing if you think of the things that Christ said, like “Turn the other cheek” and “He who is without sin cast the first stone” and all that stuff. So we were brought up to be into the teachings of Jesus Christ, but not so much into the whole trappings of the Church. But we were encouraged to go to Church for all the ceremonies.

And one of them was midnight Mass. You light a candle and sing “Silent Night.” I just have amazing memories of being in a little country Church near where my mom and dad lived, being with my family and singing “Silent Night” while holding our candles.

Ben Whishaw. -Photos by Ruben V. Nepales

Ben Whishaw

I have a vivid memory. Other than dressing up as Mary Poppins (laughs), I would also dress up as one of the three kings in the Nativity that you do as children. I remember being in the Church opposite my school, which was probably similar to the Church that you go to—the drafty, smelly but beautiful old crumbling thing—playing one of the kings and singing “Silent Night.” And yeah, that is as vivid as Poppins for me.

Jude Law

Jude Law

I didn’t know “Silent Night” was that old. We used to sing that every year at mass for Christmas Eve because when we were in primary school, we would do hymns. And yeah, I used to sing “Silent Night” every single year.

I’m surprised it’s that old because it’s still quiet jazzy and lovely. Happy birthday to “Silent Night”!

One of my favorite parts is singing hymns at Christmas. I am a bit of a Scrooge at Christmas, not meaning I don’t spend money. I mean, I get a little bit bah humbug about the whole thing.

In fact, I would recommend this to anyone—do Christmas every other year. I will tell you why—because I think it comes around too quickly.

And so this year, I am going away. You can come with me if you want, but I am out. And the next year, I will do a massive Christmas. Everyone is going to be at my house.

I love singing songs, and we always go to the same Church every year. We have been going with the kids since they were tiny. I am in the back singing really loudly and badly (laughs).

Diego Luna

Diego Luna

I have to say that you just reminded me about my childhood because I haven’t heard “Silent Night” since then (laughs). I’m not a very Christmas person. I tend to always be working in theater while it happens.

“Silent Night” definitely reminds me of that only time when I got to see my family in Mexico. It’s the time when we all used to get together in Mexico because it’s such a big country, and we were all spread around.

Definitely, that song connects with my Christmas in Mexico and not the Christmas I used to have with my English family.

I’ll have to go back to the song now that I’m a father. I have to make sure that Christmas is enjoyable at home. I’m a bit of a Grinch (laughs). But I’m fighting it because I’ve two kids and, for them, it’s important.

Kesha

Kesha

The first time I heard “Silent Night” was in a Christmas Mass when I was a little kid. I would go with my grandfather to Christmas Mass and there would always be a choir singing.

I do remember growing up and “Silent Night” being a staple—it was one of our traditions.

(Conclusion on Sunday)

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