The 1995 re-release album cover of White Christmas

A Christmas song is a song which is normally sung during the Christmas period, and usually has some Christmas or winter related theme. If the song is traditional, or specifically has a religious content, then it is often called a Christmas carol, though some might also be called Christmas hymns .

Some songs, such as White Christmas, are songs which have become popular over the Christmas period, and often songs are introduced in films, specifically for Christmas. Such songs are not strictly Christmas carols. Some songs have little relationship to Christmas, but are hyped up over the period. Each year, record companies compete for the Christmas number one single spot, usually, but not always, with a Christmas-related song.

In the UK Cliff Richard is famed for his many attempts, with some success, to get the Christmas number one single.

List of Christmas songs

General Christmas songs

The following songs are well known for being performed by more than one different artists:

• Frosty the Snowman (1950)
• Jingle Bells
• Little Drummer Boy (1958)
• Mary's Boy Child – Harry Belafonte in 1957 and Boney M in 1978
• Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1949)
• Twelve Days of Christmas
• We Wish You a Merry Christmas
• White Christmas (first performed by Bing Crosby in the 1942 musical Holiday Inn)

Best known by one particular artist

The following songs are best known for being performed by one particular artist:

• All I Want For Christmas Is You – Mariah Carey (1994)
• Another Rock And Roll Christmas – Gary Glitter (1984)
• The Christmas Song (also known as "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire") – written by Mel Torme
• Christmas Wrapping – The Waitresses (1981)
• Do They Know It's Christmas? – released three times by Band Aid, firstly in 1984
• Driving Home For Christmas – Chris Rea
• A Fairytale Of New York – The Pogues with Kirsty MacColl (1987)
• Happy Xmas (War is Over) – John Lennon & Yoko Ono (1972)
• Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
• I Believe in Father Christmas – Emerson, Lake & Palmer
• I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
• I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day – Wizzard (1973)
• I'll be Home for Christmas (1943)
• Last Christmas – Wham! (1984)
• Let it Snow! (1945)
• Little Saint Nick – The Beach Boys
• Lonely This Christmas – Mud (1974)
• Merry Christmas Darling – Carpenters (1978)
• Merry Christmas Everyone – Shakin' Stevens (1985)
• Merry Xmas Everybody – Slade (1973)
• Mistletoe & Wine – Cliff Richard (1988)
• Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree – Mel & Kim (1987)
• Santa Claus Is Coming To Town – Jackson 5 (1970)
• Saviour's Day – Cliff Richard (1990)
• Silver Bells (1950)
• Sleigh Ride (1950)
• Step Into Christmas – Elton John (1973)
• Winter Wonderland
• Wonderful Christmastime – Paul McCartney (1979)

Not intended as a Christmas song

Some songs are frequently associated with Christmas because of the time they were released rather than explicit references to the holiday. They are sometimes given a Christmas feel by adding sleigh bells or by recording a Christmas video.

• Stop The Cavalry – Jona Lewie (1980) (added "Wish I was at home for Christmas" when he realised the release date)
• Stay Another Day – East 17 (1994) (added sleigh bells)

Christmas albums

Some artists record albums dedicated to Christmas or winter. These collections often contain covers of well-known Christmas songs or carols.

• 8 Days of Christmas – Destiny's Child
• Ashanti's Christmas – Ashanti
• Barenaked for the Holidays – Barenaked Ladies
• The Beach Boys' Christmas Album – The Beach Boys
• Chicago 25: The Christmas Album Chicago
• Christmas Eve and Other Stories, The Christmas Attic, and Lost Christmas Eve – Trans-Siberian Orchestra (contained traditional and original Christmas songs)
• Christmas Peace (along with other variations) – Elvis Presley
• Cliff at Christmas – Cliff Richard
• Deck the Halls, Bruise Your Hand – Relient K
• Ho, Ho, Ho – RuPaul
• Iceland – All About Eve
• The Jethro Tull Christmas Album – Jethro Tull
• Jingle All The Way – Crash Test Dummies
• Joy - A Holiday Collection – Jewel
• My Kind of Christmas – Christina Aguilera
• One Wish: The Holiday Album – Whitney Houston
• Rejoyce: The Christmas Album – Jessica Simpson

Some bands produce Christmas albums exclusively for their fan clubs, including The Beatles who first released such an album in 1963 [1]. Also popular are the Various Artists collections such as The Best Christmas Album in the World...Ever!.

German language Christmas songs

German language Christmas carols tend to be less blitheful and more ceremonious than English ones:

• Es ist ein Ros entsprungen
• Heiligste Nacht
• Ihr Kinderlein kommet
• Menschen, die ihr wart verloren
• O du fröhliche
• Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht
• Vom Himmel hoch da komm ich her
• Zu Bethlehem geboren
• Alle Jahre wieder
• Kling Glöckchen
• Lasst uns froh und munter sein
• Leise rieselt der Schnee
• Morgen, Kinder, wird's was geben
• O Tannenbaum
• Süßer die Glocken nie klingen
• Wir sagen euch an
• Es wird scho glei dumper
• Es hat sich heut' eröffnet

External links

• Christmas Songs Lyrics