Music has always swirled and drifted its way through the Tait household, and, even more so during the Christmas season. The First Noel and Chris Rea’s Driving Home for Christmas — did you know there’s a 10-hour version for those long winter drives? — are my two favourite festive tunes.

We may have to — everybody, now — do a rousing rendition of the tune that came out during the 1947 American Thanksgiving and had major prominence on the Billboard charts: Let It Snow, Let it Snow.

Because right now, Edmontonians are humming the Tom Jones 1960s smash, The Green Green Grass of Home.

Records say Edmonton hasn’t been this snowless since 1928. And Environment Canada is saying there isn’t going to be any chance for snow until Dec. 8.

Last year? We had 20 centimetres of snow in November.

If you’re someone who loves the outdoors, even someone who plays golf, you’re whistling the Lighthouse hit from the 1970s: Sunny Days.

But if you are the Christmas Bureau of Edmonton, you’re finding every version of Let It Snow, Let It Snow.

Not that I am counting, of course, but this is the 38th year I have put keyboard to screen writing about the Christmas Bureau: the Edmonton festive charity governed by a board of directors which directs staff to carry out its mission of ensuring Edmontonians facing financial challenges have a Christmas meal.

Then, the lifeline of every charity — volunteers and donors — make sure everything is fulfilled.

Especially bare cupboards at Christmas.

It’s safe to say every annual charitable campaign has a built-in thermostat.

If the weather, for example, is warming up, a sure sign the changes are swinging from winter to spring, it’s traditionally time for the Canadian Cancer Society’s Daffodil campaign. Easter Seals, too.

Such seasonal signals are pretty snappy marketing tools.

In the 1990s we were having an extremely warm December.

The Bureau was having a particular challenge raising funds, and were significantly short of their goal. Organizers said the weather altered their giving habits.

There is demerit to that, I think. We hear it in music: Bing Crosby’s It’s Starting To Look a Lot Like Christmas reminds us of the giving season that, even now, we are in.

I mean, three weeks from Monday is the big day.

So let’s ask ourselves an uneasy question: is the mild weather — and, truthfully, I’m not completely comfortable using this word — an excuse for people not to give to the Christmas Bureau?

Or is a better word, a reason?

It really is insignificant, really.

Whether it’s 42 below zero with a blinding snowstorm … whether it’s 31 degrees and sunny … whether it rains so bad all of the city’s traffic circles become self-serve car washes, Christmas Day comes in Edmonton every Dec. 25.

Some Edmontonians deserve to feel the same magic of the day and celebrate the wonderful gift of hope it brought … and continues to give.

The Christmas Bureau deserves our support.

Two songs come to mind: The Most Wonderful Time of The Year, and O Holy Night.

Never mind the weather. Let’s embrace the spirit of giving.