In a land where music and festivity are obsessions, the music for the world's most revered festivity has the same objectives as elsewhere—reflecting on good times, family and friends, home and one's beliefs. Of course, even New Orleans Christmas music runs a wild spectrum from classical to zydeco.

In both respects, Creole Christmas, the first major attempt to compile a Christmas collection of different New Orleans styles, succeeds beautifully. The album was put together by locals ...