December 22nd: On This Day Posted on December 22, 2016 by KBOE Administrator On this day in 1973, Merle Haggard’s “If We Make It Through December” began a four-week stay at #1. The song was released on Haggard’s holiday album Merle Haggard’s Christmas Present. The song has become one of the trademarks of Haggard’s career.