'Chestnuts roasting on an open fire' at Hargreaves Lansdown, Anchor Road

As part of this year's Christmas Adventures light trail, we have ''Chestnuts roasting on an open fire', a line from 'The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You)' by Nat King Cole. The lyrics can be seen projected on to the side of Hargreaves Lansdown, Anchor Road

Scroll down for some fun facts about the song and for our special #MerryBristmas fact to get you in a festive mood!

Location

The Hargreaves Lansdown offices are on Anchor Road, just off Millennium Square. This part of the city is home to top attractions, bars and restaurants and things to do.    

Open daily until 3 January (closed Christmas day) the Vintage Winter Wonderland in Millennium Square offers fun and food. Find science museum We The Curious and Bristol Aquarium a stone’s throw from each other; arts centre and indie cinema the Watershed on the Harbourside, and Bristol Cathedral a few minutes’ walk away on College Green. When you’re feeling lucky, head to Rainbow Casino, which is also on Millennium Square. 

And there’s a proper feast of good food and drink to get stuck into, especially for those who love a steak, with restaurants in the area including Za Za Bazaar, Steak of the Art and Miller & Carter Steakhouse. 

Song fact

The Christmas Song" (commonly subtitled "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire" or, as it was originally subtitled, "Merry Christmas to You") is a classic Christmas song written in 1945 by Robert Wells and Mel Tormé. The most well-known and loved version was first recorded and performed by the Nat King Cole Trio in June 1946.

The song was written in July during a blistering hot summer. In an effort to "stay cool by thinking cool", the most-performed (according to BMI) Christmas song was born."I saw a spiral pad on his (Wells's) piano with four lines written in pencil", Tormé recalled. "They started, 'Chestnuts roasting..., Jack Frost nipping..., Yuletide carols..., Folks dressed up like Eskimos.' Bob didn't think he was writing a song lyric. He said he thought if he could immerse himself in winter he could cool off. Forty minutes later that song was written. 

The song has been covered many times over the years by the following;  Ariana Grande, Camila Cabello, The Carpenters, Celine Dion, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, The Jackson 5, John Legend, Justin Bieber, Mary J. Blige, Michael Buble, Ne-Yo and Toni Braxton among others.

We've used Spotify to put together a Christmas Adventures playlist for you, the perfect accompaniment to the trail. Each song contains lyrics found illuminated in the city centre, in the order that they were switched on. You might discover a version you haven't heard before or reminisce listening to some old favourites.

#MerryBristmas Fact

Nat King Cole performed in 1956 for President Dwight D. Eisenhower's televised birthday celebration. Eisenhower (who later became president) stayed in Weston-super-Mare near Bristol before the D-Day Landings (which were extensively planned from Clifton College by General Omar Bradley, find out more about that here) and Weston-super-Mare Town Council have a blue plaque to mark the stay of the only US President ever to set foot in the town!  

Find out more about Weston-super-Mare

Other Christmas Adventures illuminations nearby:

• Fa La La La La, La La La La on St Georges
• 'Silver bells' at Wills Memorial Building
• 'On Christmas Day, On Christmas Day' at Brunel's SS Great Britain

Please make sure that you adhere to government covid-safety guidance when visiting the Christmas Adventures illuminations. 

- Find out more about all the Christmas Adventures illuminations throughout Bristol city centre

- Find out what else is going on this Christmas in Bristol

- Listen to the Spotify playlist

The project is part of Bristol City Centre BID’s #LoveBristol campaign which promotes the recovery of the city, bringing together 100s of businesses to help create the festive trail. New to this year is the partnership with Redcliffe and Temple BID, adding many new and iconic locations to the attraction.

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