Find holiday tunes irritating? 'Unsilent Night' marchers carry on new tradition

Lucy Yang Image
Monday, December 19, 2016
'Unsilent Night' Boombox March from Greenwich Village to East Village
Lucy Yang has the details.

GREENWICH VILLAGE, Manhattan -- While many people look forward to and enjoy holiday tunes, others find them irritating.

On Sunday, there was a bit of backlash for people carrying on a newer tradition, called 'Unsilent Night.'

This year marks the 25th annual 'Unsilent Night', where participators march from Washington Square Park to Tompkins Square Park with a boom box. With the marchers is the composer, Phil Kline, who wrote a Christmas song, because of the terrible songs that are played on the radio.

Kline composed the piece, and asked Christmas lovers to come to Washington Square Park with a boom box - 25 years ago, those were the rage. Everyone then turns on the music at the same time, and walks from Washington Square Park through the streets of Manhattan to bring beautiful music to the city.

'Unsilent Night' has been staged all over the world - from Japan to Johannesburg. What began with boom boxes transitioned to Bluetooth speakers. It is not about the technology - it is all about the music.