It’s Christmas Time: Interview With Jamie Kucinski of XIII Minutes

“It’s Christmas Time, It’s Christmas Time” and today we are hanging our stockings with rocker Jamie Kucinski of XIII Minutes. XIII Minutes did their own version of “Mary Did You Know” Which you can check out below.

Christmas is a time for joy and happiness to spend with friends and family. How do you plan to spend your Christmas this year?

My family will typically attend church together to keep in mind why we celebrate this wonderful holiday. Christmas Eve is always a great time of anticipation and we will usually allow ONE gift to be opened and THEN, on Christmas Day, our whole family congregates at our home where we typically have some kind of “theme” for food and we have all the kiddos in our family open presents. It becomes a tornado of wrapping paper and smiles. It never gets old.

What are your favorite festivities surrounding Christmas?

For me, I always look forward to our annual lights tour. We download our favorite Christmas songs, grab some coffee and off we go. I think my wife would have me drive all night if I let her.

Let’s settle the debate: when should someone put up their Christmas tree?

As early as they want to. : lol!

What is the best gift you’ve received for Christmas?

That’s a really tough question. I honestly find much joy in watching others receive their gifts. I think I would probably hearken back to when I was a kid. We were pretty poor and it was pretty common that we’d rely on the generosity of others for Christmas presents. I remember one year in particular, when I was 12 years old, was a tougher year than normal. I honestly had braced myself to not receive much for Christmas only to wake up to find EVERY bit of music I had asked for. Thank God for the generosity of others. 😉

What song(s) get you in the Christmas spirit?

Man..there are many! I would say “Oh Holy Night” by a group called New Song would be one of the first songs I look for. The Pentatonix version of “Mary Did you Know?” just gives me chills. August Burns Red’s version of “Carol of the Bells” is simply amazing and maybe..Austrian Death Machine’s version of “Jingle Bells” will have you ready to mosh around the Christmas tree in no time.

Rank your top favorite Christmas themed movies

1. The Grinch Who Stole Christmas – Jim Carey version
2. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

3. The Santa Clause Parts 1, 2, AND 3

And not sure if it’s considered a “Christmas Movie” but Planes, Trains, and Automobiles.

CHECK OUT THIS LINK TO LISTEN TO XIII PERFORMING “MARY DID YOU KNOW” HERE

Does your family have any Christmas traditions that are unique?

I don’t know how unique it is but we have a tradition of going together to pick out an annual Christmas ornament.

With Christmas comes cold weather and snow. Do you like enjoy the cold weather? Snow?

I actually really like cold weather. It slows the world down a bit. Winter reminds us to take a break every once in a while. In Oklahoma, we don’t get a whole lot of snow but I would certainly get out an play in the snow.

Did you build a snowman when you were a kid?

Who didn’t? And snow angels…you can’t forget that!

Jamie Kucinski, thank you for taking the time to talk snow angles and going around checking out the Christmas lights.