How Christmas Used To Be by Big Jib
Get more Christmas music from Newfoundland and Labrador! And check out the whole 2025 Advent Calendar.
Big Jib is a four-piece band out of Clarenville blending traditional Irish/NL sounds with classic country and classic rock. Influenced by Steve Earle, John Fogerty, and Shanneyganock, they mix well-loved favourites with original songs that carry all those influences.
The band began as a father–son duo, Curt and Joseph Blackmore of George’s Brook–Milton, who built a strong local following during lockdown through their Facebook live shows. Big Jib later expanded with the addition of Jeremy Pardy and Jonathan Peach, and in April 2025 they released their album I Should Have Been a Sailor.
This month, they’ve shared a new original Christmas single, “How Christmas Used to Be.” It’s nostalgic—but warm and upbeat—a look back at old holiday traditions and the small details that made the season special. It’s a solid track that fits perfectly into the Newfoundland holiday mix.
And the chorus is a bit of an ear worm… I’ve found myself humming "The 12 days of Christmas we honour them all, and mummers were something we’d see…” on a bit of a loop!
Check it out — you can find the song (and the album) wherever you stream your music.
