Sufjan Stevens & Vesper Stamper: “Up On The Housetop”

This week may have already brought us the first listen to Sufjan Stevens, the Dessner brothers, and Arcade Fire’s Richard Reed Parry’s holiday album, Gloria! Songs for Christmas Vol. VI, but Sufjan isn’t done unveiling Christmas collaborations just yet: Sounds Familyre Records announced the release of the 3rd volume in their A Familyre Christmas series recently, which includes tunes by Dan Zimmerman, Ben + Vesper, Lenny Smith, and a wonderful recording of the song “Up On The Housetop” by Sufjan and Vesper Stamper.

While the entire 14-track compilation is available as a free download on Bandcamp, Sounds Familyre asks that you consider purchasing Volume 1 or 2 of their past holiday efforts to help offset the cost of offering the new record for free. So stream those comps at the links above and give “Up On The Housetop” a spin below:

Up On The Housetop: Google’s New Doodle

Up on the Housetop was chosen as google’s new doodle. Google chose 17 holiday portraits from across the globe. Each individual scene creates a set together to paint an overall approximation of the logo. What a great way to start off the Christmas season! Up on the Housetop was my favorite’s of the holiday portraits!

Google kicked off the holiday season with this new doodle, what are ways that you will celebrate Christmas this year with your family?

Keep reading after the jump to find out what 16 other holiday portraits were featured in google’s new logo!


1. St. Basil’s Cathedral
2. Acropolis
3. Buche de Noel
4. Pierogi
5. Great Wall of China
6. Mount Fuji
7. Indian dance styles
8. Sahara Desert
9. Chili pepper
10. Oud
11. Sydney Harbour
12. Venice gondolas
13. Nepal
14. Chilean vineyards
15. African kanga
16. Henna lamp
17. Up on the housetop



“Up on the Housetop” Lyrics

1. Up on the housetop the reindeer pause,
Out jumps good old Santa Claus.
Down through the chimney with lots of toys,
All for children’s Christmas joys.
Ho, ho, ho! Who wouldn’t go!
Ho, ho, ho! Who wouldn’t go!
Up on the housetop, click, click, click,
Down through the chimney with good Saint Nick.

2. First comes the stocking of little Nell;
Oh, dear Santa, fill it well;
Give her a dolly that laughs and cries,
One that can open and shut its eyes.

3. Look in the stocking of little Bill;
Oh, just see that glorious fill!
Here is a hammer and lots of tacks,
Whistle and ball and a set of jacks.