(MORRISVILLE) -- Live music at Raleigh Durham International Airport has become a legendary pastime during the holiday season. RDU spokesperson Mindy Hamlin says the tradition, having begun more than 20 years ago, helps calm the nerves of a stressed out traveler.

"It does, it helps bring the holiday spirit into the terminals and it takes a little bit of the edge off of traveling," she said.

Hamlin said that Thursday and Friday were the busiest travel days of the Christmas season, with an estimated 56,000 travelers expected to arrive and depart through late Friday.