Rejoice! That’s what it tells us in Scriptures. And even if you’re not religious, there is something about the dark month of December that makes us want to celebrate. The ancient Romans had the feast of Saturnalia, reveling in honor of Saturn, the most forbidding of their gods. Tree-worshipping Druids had their own rituals (and the less we know about them the better) to fight off the dying of the light.

Therefore partake. What better way to relax in the midst of the next few weeks’ holiday hustle and bustle than to take two hours and sit—and be entertained?

Do you yearn for the Renaissance and Gregorian chant? Vocalis and Harmonia are both giving concerts. Do you like a few rhinestones with your tinsel and glitter? Try Bill Kirchen’s Honky Tonk Christmas at the Sportsmen’s Tavern or a Blue Suede Christmas at UB. Whatever your style is, you can find it.

Let the merrymaking begin.

Christmas time is here! Which reminds us of

“A Charlie Brown Christmas.” Starting today and running through Dec. 13 at the Market Arcade Film and Arts Center, Road Less Traveled Productions presents a jazz trio and children’s chorus performing the Vince Guaraldi music live in a theatrical framework directed by Scott Behrend. Adults, $15; children under 12, $10. Call 629-3069.

Funny, we see so few nuns for real these days—but at least we have them on stage. Nuns go nuts at the Lancaster Opera House, today through Dec. 6. It’s the Nunsense Christmas show, called

“Nuncrackers,” which they say will “make you laugh and maybe tug at your heartstrings.” $20. Call 683-1776. Also coming up at the Lancaster Opera House: stage productions of

“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” Wednesday through Dec. 5 ($13-$16) and

“Miracle on 34th Street,” Dec. 11-20 ($13- $18.).

Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat! Please put a nickel in Tom Stahl’s hat! The Hatted One and the Dangerfields are holding their Holiday Show at 8 p. m. Saturday in the Tralf. $12 in advance, $15 day of show. Call 852-2860.

Do you hear what I hear? Rumors, flying around about the new production of

“The Nutcracker”— a team effort between the Neglia Ballet and the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. Behold it this weekend in the gilded, glittering Shea’s Performing Arts Center at 7 p. m. Saturday, 2 p. m. Sunday. $29-$65. Call 847-1410.

Winter Festival of Lights Concert Series brings country stars to the Niagara Falls Memorial Arena, 5415 Centre St., Niagara Falls, Ont. Loretta Lynn sings at 8 p. m. Saturday and 2 p. m. Sunday. The Gatlin Brothers perform 7:30 p. m. Sunday and 2 p. m. Monday. Admission is $35- $59. Call (905) 374-1616, Ext. 40.

Behold, we bring you tidings of great Christmas rock bands. Mannheim Steamroller isthe heavy artillery, and it is steam-rolling our way at 7:30 p. m. Wednesday at Shea’s Performing Arts Center. Admission is $35- $60. Call 847-1410.

We have seen the star in the East—the East Gallery of the Burchfield Penney Arts Center, that is. The Harmonia Chamber Singers arepresenting a yuletide concert there at 7 p. m. Thursday. It’s free! But you might want to shell out for the group’s new Christmas CD, with songs, chants and carols.

Next Friday, George Winston comes to Rockwell Hall, making the yuletide bright with his toast to New Orleans piano players including James Booker, Dr. John, Allen Toussaint and the immortal Professor Longhair. $30-$35. Call 878-3032.

Watch as UB’s Amherst Campus turns into a land of sugared romance. On Dec. 5 and 6, the American Academy of Ballet dances

“The Nutcracker” at UB’s Center for the Arts. The prince is Daniel Ulbricht, principal dancer with the New York City Ballet, and the great dancer and Buffalo native Joe Cipolla appears as the mysterious magician, Herr Drosselmeyer. Times: 1 and 7 p. m. Dec. 5; 1 p. m. Dec. 6. $18.50-$26.50. Call 645-ARTS.

All we want for Christmas is for El Nino to let the Rotary Rink at Fountain Plaza freeze, so we can start skating! Dec. 5 is the day set aside to celebrate the tree lighting and the opening of the free ice-skating season. Bring skates or rent them ($2 kids, $3 adults). Skating starts at 5 p. m., tree lighting at 6 p. m., fireworks later with Santa Claus. At Fountain Plaza.

Oh bring us a figgy pudding! Better still, bring us a Christmas pie. The Freudig Singers present their annual Christmas Pie concerts at 7:30 p. m. Dec. 5 in St. John’s Grace Episcopal Church and 7 p. m. Dec. 6 at Orchard Park Presbyterian Church. Carols are followed by gourmet pie-fest. $12 includes pie. Call 667-7088.

It smacks of Christmas, the Kissmas Bash. Bethere when this Buffalo tradition kicks off at HSBC Arena at 5 p. m. Dec. 6. On tap: Sean Kingston, Cobra Starship, Kris Allen, Keri Hilson, Jason Derulo, Hey Monday and, most certainly, a bit of wassail for you. $10-$75.

O little town of Lackawanna, how still we see thee lie! The silence will be broken when the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus come to Our Lady of Victory Basilica to sing “Messiah” at 7 p. m. Dec. 6. $20. Call 885-5000.

Sweet singing in the choir! The voices of Vocalis, a virtuosic a cappella group, soar for

“A Vocalis Christmas” at 8 p. m. in the Karpeles Manuscript Museum, 453 Porter Ave. Admission is $15, students $10, kids 12 and under free. The concert repeats, same price, at 4 p. m. Dec. 13 at Saints Peter and Paul Church, 5480 Main St., Williamsville.

Hark, the Amherst Symphony Orchestra welcomes mezzo soprano Alison Tupay fora concert including music from “Amahl and the Night Visitors” and the best aria from “Messiah,” “O Thou Who Tellest Good Tidings to Zion.” 7 p. m. Dec. 6 at Amherst Middle School. Free!

We saw three tenors come sailing in, from Ireland, from Ireland! They are Finbar Wright, Anthony Kearns and Karl Scully. And they’ll be singing with a 30-piece orchestra at 8 p. m. Dec. 11 at UB’s Center for the Arts. For info, call 645-ARTS.

Beyond “Frosty the Snowman,” beyond “Silver Bells,” beyond “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer,” there is ... what? Find out at

“A Classical Christ-mas.” Matthew Kraemer conducts the BPO in music by Bach, Tchaikovsky and others at 10:30 a. m. Dec. 11—a Coffee Concert— and at 8 p. m. Dec. 12. Call 885- 5000.

An affair to remember! Chill to Will Holton’s Soulful Christ-mas Affair, 8p. m. Dec. 11 at the Tralf. $30 in advance, $32.50 day of the show. Call 852-2860.

On Dec. 11, the Orchard Park Symphony Orchestra warms the frosty air by joining the Hamburg High School Concert Chorale ina concert including Bach’s beautiful “Wachet auf,” music from “Nutcracker” and the alluringly titled “Little Bolero Boy.” At 7:30 p. m. in Orchard Park Middle School.

You’ve seen the Whos down in Whoville. Now check out the North Tonawandans down in North Tonawanda-ville. The historic Riviera Theatre screens “How the Grinch Stole Christ-mas” at 6 p. m. Dec. 11. Free! For info, call 692-2413.

Don’t have a blue Christmas. Have a Blue Suede Christmas. This overblown Elvis tribute takes over the Mainstage Theatre of the UB Center for the Arts at 8 p. m. Dec. 12. $19.50 for students, $29.50 for everyone else. Call 645-ARTS.

Surely the ghost of Christmas past smiles down on the Harmonia Chamber Singers, who are singing a cappella music by Renaissance masters and the composers influenced by them. 7 p. m. Dec. 12 at St. Louis Church, 35 Edward St.; and 3 p. m. Dec. 13 at St. Joseph University Church, 3269 Main St. Free, but a donation of $10 is suggested.

He’s Catholic, so the question is, can we get him to stick around to sing at midnight Mass? Whoever goes to hear Aaron Neville atthe Bear’s Den at the Seneca Niagara Casino, ask him nicely. Neville’s show starts at 7 p. m. Dec. 13. Call 278-4944.

How about a Honky Tonk Christmas? Catch Bill Kirchen’s Honky Tonk Holiday Show at 4 p. m. Dec. 13, part of the Private Party Series at the Sportsmen’s Tavern. $20. 874-7734.

Who doesn’t love the “Evening Prayer” from “Hansel and Gretel?” Hear that, as well as the “Skaters’ Waltz” and music by Leroy Anderson, when conductor John Landis leads the Cheektowaga Symphony Orchestra in a concert and carol sing-along. 3 p. m. Dec. 13 in St. Barnabas Catholic Church, 2049 George Urban Blvd., Depew.

BPO Music Director JoAnn Falletta lends her angelic presence to the BPO for the popular Holiday Pops concert. Surprises are in store! 8 p. m. Dec. 18, 2:30 p. m. Dec. 20. Call 885-5000.

What the world needs now is a bit of Burt Bacharach and Hal David. Jim Brickman includes “What the World Needs Now Is Love” on his “Beautiful World” CD along with numbers like “Simple Gifts” and “Fallen Snow.” Brickman’s Beautiful World Tour comes to Shea’s at 7:30 p. m. Dec. 30. $29.50-$49.50. Call 847-1410.

You’ve heard their commercials for what, a month? Now see it for yourself. The Trans-Siberian Orchestra Winter Tour 2009 rolls into HSBC Arena at 3 and 8 p. m. Dec. 30. $25-$59.50. (888) 223-6000.

So you missed the Rockettes. There’s enough December der-ring- do to go around. Such as the Cirque Dreams Holidaze, anacrobatic extravaganza taking place Dec. 15-20 at Shea’s. $22-$55. Call 847-1410.

The holly green, the ivy green, the prettiest picture you’ve ever seen is at the Historic Palace Theatre, 2 East Ave., Lockport. There you will find a Classic Irish Christmas with Andy Cooney, comedian George Casey, soprano Emma Kate Tobia and the Darrah Carr Dance Troupe. At 7:30 p. m. Dec. 16. $20. 438-1130.