If you’ve been reading here for a while, you probably know that Mondays are generally reserved for my Mindful Monday series. Since today kicks off my 6 Days of Holiday Giveaways, I thought it would be fun to set the mood for the week with a special Monday intention: filling the house with holiday music!
Music is one of my favorite parts of the holidays, and I love all kinds: from the secular to the sacred; from The Hallelujah Chorus to Holly Jolly Christmas. It sets the mood and creates the backdrop for our whole holiday season, and I like to have it on from the time the kids get home in the afternoon ’til bedtime. I like Christmas music even better than Christmas cookies, and that’s saying a lot.
So in the spirit of setting the holidays to music, I thought it would be fun to share our favorite holiday songs!! In no particular order, here are the 25 songs sure to top my holiday playlist (and yes, one song does appear three different times!)
- Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas – Bing Crosby
- O Come O Come Emmanuel -Mormon Tabernacle Choir
- Winter Wonderland – Tony Bennett
- Santa Baby – Eartha Kitt
- Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas – Judy Garland
- O Holy Night – Nat King Cole
- Silver Bells – Bing Crosby
- What Child Is This?- Vince Guaraldi Trio
- The Holly and the Ivy – various choral arrangements
- Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas – Frank Sinatra
- Santa Claus Came In The Spring – Benny Goodman
- Silver and Gold – Burl Ives
- Everybody’s Waitin’ For The Man With The Bag – Kay Starr
- The Christmas Song – Nat King Cole
- Baby It’s Cold Outside – Ann Margret and Al Hirt
- The Merriest – June Christy
- It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas – Bing Crosby
- White Christmas – Bing Crosby
- Hark The Herald Angels Sing – Vince Guaraldi Trio/Peanuts
- The Little Drummer Boy – Perry Como
- Mele Kelikimaka – Bing Crosby
- Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow – Bing Crosby
- Sleigh Ride – Ella Fitzgerald
- Wonderful Christmastime – Paul McCartney
- Hallelujah Chorus – Mormon Tabernacle Choir
Now here’s the really fun part – I’m going to send one of you a $25 iTunes gift card to expand your own holiday repertoire. All you have to do is leave a comment (I’d love to hear what’s on your playlist!) and you’ll be entered to win. The details:
- Giveaway open to US and Canada residents only
- To enter, simply leave a comment with a valid email address (in the email field, not in the body of the comment.)
- For up to 3 extra entries:
- Tweet about the contest, then leave an additional comment letting me know you did
- Share the contest on Facebook, then leave an additional comment letting me know you did
- Subscribe to (in progress!) email newsletter, then leave an additional comment letting me know. If you’re already a subscriber, that counts too!
Contest will close at 1 PM EST on Saturday, December 3. Winner will be selected randomly using the “And The Winner Is” WordPress plugin and published on The Happiest Mom by Sunday, December 4.
All entries will automatically be included in this weekend’s drawing for a Motorola Droid Razr!
Can’t wait to hear about your favorite holiday tunes!
I love, love, love xmas music. Would love to be able to purchase some more.
My favorite Christmas music is Mannheim Steamroller! Just putting on any album of theirs makes it feel like Christmas. I also really like Sarah McLachlan’s album Wintersong. I play that one all year. 🙂
We love to put on the nutcracker music and dance around in a ridiculous imitation of ballet!
I LOVE Christmas music too. I have several channels on Pandora and was listening last night as I did some late night kitchen duty.
Thinking off the top of my head …
O Little Town of Bethlehem – Nat King Cole
O Holy Night – just about anybody
Jingle Bells – Barbara Streisand
12 days of Christmas – The Muppets version
The entire Peanuts Christmas album (I bought it in high school!)
I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas – the version from Home Alone
Oh, there are way too many more to list 🙂
I just subscribed to the newsletter 🙂
I love the James Taylor Christmas Album – got it playing right now.
Jeff and I have a tally going on how many times we hear Rockin Around the Christmas Tree (so far we’re on 5) since Thanksgiving. Too fun!
Part of our Christmas magic is when my husband and I realized we had the same favorite. “The little drummer boy”
I love George Winston’s December album and God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen by the Barenaked Ladies and Sarah Mclachlan!
I adore Christmas music! My current best playlist has some Bing Crosby, She & Him, Ella Fitzgerald, Barenaked Ladies, Carpenters, Julie Andrews, Martina McBride, and Vienna Boys Chorus. Among many others. And yes, I’ve made several Christmas playlists. 🙂
For me, it isn’t Christmas without the albums “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” by the Ray Conniff Singers and “Merry Christmas” by Bing Crosby! But I also love Alabama’s song “Angels Among Us,” and I can’t get enough of holiday music on the car radio–once we’re past Thanksgiving.
A chance for more holiday music? I am absolutely in!
I am a bit of a traditionalist – anything by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Mariah Carey singing Christmas music makes me queasy.
And I subscribe to your newsletter!
Thanks for the giveaway! I generally go for the Christmas music from the 1950s (although I also love the Carpenters’ Christmas album from the 1970s), plus the ultra old tyme stuff (Joel Cohen and the Boston Camerata or Anonymous Four).
The best modern Christmas album of recent years, in my opinion, is Sting’s On a Winter’s Night. Brilliant.
I love “Christmas Wrapping” by The Waitresses. It always puts me in the Holiday mood!
The albums on my rotation are: Christmas with Nana Mouskouri, Bare Naked for the Holidays, The Veggietales Christmas, and the Cheiftans’ Bells of Dublin. Add some Ella, Kiri Tekanawa, Canadian Brass and you are golden.
My son just discovered Alvin and the ChiPmunks so that’s on heavy rotation
Subscribed to newsletter
My two favorite albums which I play often are Barenaked for the Holidays by Barenaked ladies and Christmas Songs. I just like a variety but those two I listen to on my iPod often.
The Martina McBride Christmas CD is the best ever! It gets played over and over starting the day AFTER Thanksgiving! Happy Holidays!
I love that All I Want For Christmas is You song!
My all-time favorite Christmas music is Vince Guaraldi’s “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” all of Joe Williams’ & Nat King Cole’s holiday music, and Tony Bennett’s “Snowfall” album. And it can’t be played until AFTER Thanksgiving!!
I subscribe to your wonderful newsletter
P.S. I subscribed to your newsletter & liked this on FB, too! Have a merry Christmas!
My son is learning Christmas songs for his daycare program. It is fun to hear him sing snippets of the songs at random times.
I have Trans Siberian Orchestra and I really want the new Michael Buble Christmas album.
Baby it’s cold outside….definitely one of my favorites. Also a version of Jingle Bells by Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters. It’s the best.
I love pretty much any rendition of Santa Baby. Silly and fun.
Hands down favourite is The Pouges Fairytale of New York. It’s a wee bit dark, but I LOVE it. I work retail, so most xmas music makes me crazy by Dec 7th!
I subscribe to email!
I love josh grobans- ave maria. And all renditions of “all i want for christmas is you”
Oh how I love me some Christmas music! We never let a holiday season go by without listening to the Boney M. Christmas album at least a few times. Mary’s Boy Child is a must listen to (over and over and over again) at our house. To balance that out, there’s a good amount of Bing Crosby as well.
I have always loved Christmas Music! I don’t know how I could pick a favorite, but some that top others are What Child is This?, The Holly and the Ivy, 12 Days of Christmas, etc….
I just got out my stack of Christmas CD’s this morning for background music while doing activities with my children and daycare children 🙂
My all time favorite Christmas song is The Carrol of the Bells. Thanks for this mindful Monday–here I am on the computer with NO Christmas music playing to get me in the mood.
My very favorite Christmas song is Sleigh Ride. By any artist. After that it is The 12 Days of Christmas by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir- very fun!
One of my favourite modern CDs is Wintersong by Sarah McLachlan. Her version of Gordon Lightfoot’s Song for a winter’s night is so gorgeous, as is her rendition of Joni Mitchell’s River. Not your typical Christmas music but sometimes THAT is a good thing when you have heard a few too many versions of the classic “Grandma got run over by a reindeer.”
I’ve been adding to my Christmas music collection this week. Love buying music on iTunes!
Trans-Siberian orchestra, hands down!
Would love to see them live again or at least get another one of their albums.
I am also a subscriber!
Would love to win! I love everything Christmas-y!
I have to admit that my four kids and I have been listening to the Justin Bieber Christmas album (can I still call them that?) for a few weeks now and I am really enjoying it.
Old favorites: Carpenters Christmas
Ditto to all the songs listed above; I adore Christmas music! I don’t think anyone has mentioned Blue Christmas yet by Elvis Presley, the Red Baron/Snoopy Christmas song, and Dolly Parton’s Winter Wonderland. We always put those records on while we decorated the tree at my parent’s house… even long after CDs became popular! I also like the silly novelty Christmas songs like The Pretty Little Dolly (not sure if that is the title), Walking Round in Women’s Underwear and Percy the Puny Poinsettia. And Christmastime in San Francisco nicely reflects my Christmas experiences growing up in the Bay Area.
But my very favorite is a rendition of Jingle Bells combined with Over the River And Through the Woods from a CD I randomly picked up at Big Lots. I lost it years ago and just found it again on Amazon, can’t wait to get it!
My love of Christmas music may seem silly, since I am Jewish. But I was a choir girl growing up and the holiday concert was always my favorite. I love O Holy Night & Joy to the World the most. I could also listen to The Nutcracker score on a loop.
Great giveaway (fingers crossed)!
Thanks for reminding me that it is time to pull out my beloved The Clancy Brothers Christmas cd!
Among my favorites–“The Little Drummer Boy” w/Bing Crosby & David Bowie, “Percy the Puny Poinsettia” by Elmo & Patsy (the folks that gave us that other great holiday tune-“Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer”), the entire Bruce Cockburn Christmas album, “Wizards in Winter” by Trans-Siberian Orchestra, “The Coventry Carol” (I’ve got nice versions of that by Alison Moyet and The Rankin sisters, and traditional tunes like “My Three Kings” and “Greensleeves”
Music from the Nutcracker and Charlie Brown Christmas are my favorites.
We love listening to Christmas music around our house, too. I still have an affinity for the old Amy Grant Christmas album!
My all-time favorite Christmas song is “Do You Hear What I Hear” by Martina McBride.
Jingle Bells (Regular and because I have two 9 year olds the Batman Smells version too), Silent Night, Angels We have Heard on High, Grandma Got Run over by a Reindeer, oh and so many more I love them all!!
O Holy Night is my number favorite and this year I’m in love with the version from that young girl Jackie Evancho, the child opera singer that launched her career from America’s Got Talent. My 2.5 yo is in love with Jackie and her version of this song is so moving!
Then there is Joy to World, Noel and Silent Night…it’s funny, I’m not the most religious person, but these songs mean most to me during the holidays.
I love Christmas music! My favorite is “I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas”
My husband and I are huge Christmas music fans. My favorites always used to be White Christmas and Little Drummer Boy but then he introduced me to the Phil Spector Christmas album and now I think my current favorite is “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” by the Darlene Love.
I absolutely love the Very Special Christmas CDs 1,2 and 3. Awesome.
I typically love modern artisits singing their renditions of classic carols but this past week I’ve been rocking out to Christmas With The Chipmunks!
We love Sarah Groves, Steven Curtis Chapman, Nat King Cole, a Smoky Mountain Christmas, Bing Crosby, Cuban Christmas, etc…we have quite the diverse taste. 😉
Looks like we have the same favorite! I also love the carol of the bells, the Vince gueraldi Charlie brown Xmas album, and “baby it’s cold outside”.
I am slightly in love with Straight No Chaser to get me in the holiday spirits.
Bing Crosby is at the top of my list! 🙂 Also Elvis and the Partridge Family from when I was a kid. These days it’s Faith Hill, Josh Grobin and the like!
My favorite Christmas song is the one you mentioned three times- Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. I also love Happy Christmas by John Lennon, and last year I downloaded the free Target Christmas album which is really catchy.
Shared on facebook…
And subscribed to the emails.
I love anything big band. We have all our Christmas music on a spare (very old) iPod, so it comes out at the holidays and is on shuffle all month. And an all time favorite, dating back to my very young child hood is John Denver’s Christmas album with The Muppets. Love that.
And I’m pretty sure I’m subscribed to the newsletter.
I love listening to my 2 yo sing “Jingle Bells” – those are the only 2 words he knows, but it’s really cute!
No mention of jimmy buffett’s Christmas album, reminds me of spending Christmas in Naples Florida. David Bowie & bing, love to hear Karen carpenter’s sweet voice, star of wonder– BNL and Sarah maclachan … Oh I do love Christmas music.
Oh man, I love the jazzy christmas stuff!
My fav is Barenaked Ladies & Sarah McLachlan’s “God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman”. And I’m a subscriber!
My favorite Christmas Song is “My Christmast To You” by the Partridge Family. Yah, The Partridge Family!!!! It’s on my year-round rotation…it’s THAT good 🙂
was just thinking last night, while putting up the Christmas tree, that I needed some upbeat Christmas music in the background. Great giveaway!
I have a soft spot for the Carpenter’s Christmas album and Amy Grant’s Christmas music. I love Christmas music, it lightens my heart.
Thanks for the chance.
I have a soft spot for the Carpenter’s Christmas album and Amy Grant’s Christmas music. I love Christmas music, it lightens my heart.
I love all of the classics that you listed. I also love the Amy Grant Christmas albums, especially “Grown Up Christmas List”.
Anything by Bing Crosby really makes it feel like Christmas to me!
I subscribe to your newsletter too!
Obsessed with Christmas music!
I’m a subscriber!
I shared on Facebook!
One of my favorite Christmas songs is from John Lennon “Happy Christmas(Was is Over)”…
And any Christmas song sang by Elvis!
I have subscribed!
I have shared on FB! Sorry-don’t Tweet!
All the traditional ones, plus Sarah McLachlan, and Diana Krall. There are certain albums we only play on Christmas morning, and in a certain order (my husband’s family tradition, though it sure feels like mine now).
I subscribed!
I love so many Christmas tunes but “Mary, did you know”? has become a real favorite for me….
Mariah Carey’s whole cd but some songs make me sad. And I like the classics like White Christmas.
I love Christmas music. It’s hard to pick a favorite but I love Mariah Carey’s All I want for Christmas is You!
I love all of the songs you listed. My boss gave me a CD a few years back with a neat version of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, but I can’t remember his last name and the boss is out today. I listened to The Little Drummer Boy every year when I was little. My Mom had it on vinyl and loved it! Oh, and I especially love I’ll Be Home For Christmas. Judy Garland. Man what a talented lady!
Signed up for newsletter!
Aw, “Have yourself a merry little Christmas” is one of my faves, too. I’ve been really digging “Christmas Remixed” and “Verve Remixed Christmas” the last few years.
Aaron Shust “Emmanuel” is a MUST HAVE!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtZqJE4ekRk
Have you ever listened to Sarah McLachlan’s “Wintersong” album? The song “Wintersong” is awesome.
I’m an email subscriber as well 🙂
I too love Christmas music!
I love the classic songs- White Christmas, Merry Little Christmas, and those from that era, but I also love Feliz Navidad. I have found that I can never not dance and think of pinatas when I hear it playing.
Another one I enjoy, not quite as well known, is Dominique the Donkey.
We don’t play a lot of music normally, but at least a couple of times a week, my husband cranks Trans-Siberian Orchestra up to deafening levels and the kids go crazy, in a good way!
I LOVE the Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack! And the music from the Grinch. Interested to hear Lady Gaga’s Holiday album as well.
We have A Charlie Brown Christmas CD on heavy rotation in the car, but I also enjoy Josh Groban’s Christmas CD and the song “Mary, Did you Know?”.
I’m partial to the Canadian Brass Christmas CD (I played trumpet in school)
I’ve been loving the Glee holiday album from 2010. Is that embarassing?
Well, we’re Jewish, and my current favorite Hanukah song is a Woody Guthrie song sung by the Indigo Girls – Happy, Joyous Hanukah!
I’d use the gift card to get music for my baby, who is almost a toddler… 🙂
I’m planning to change up my holiday playlist this year by adding the She and Him Christmas album to the mix. New Girl is my favorite new television show so I’m interested in Zooey Deschanel!
Great playlist!
I would love some new Christmas music! My favorites are the Windham Hill Christmas collections – so peaceful!
Nutcracker is a must. And I love all the old goodies from Frank Sinatra, Mel Torme, Perry Como, Nat King Cole — all those great classics.
And some classical — American Boys Choir is a favorite.
I love when it’s time to pull up my Christmas playlist! Love that this year my son is really starting to pay attention to the music and lets me know when he especially likes certain songs.
James Taylor, Coldplay and a lot of Jingle Bells for the kids!
Year after year I play the same Christmas album: “Best of the Season” by Anne Murray. It is my absolute favorite. For my kids, I have “Crayola: Kids Christmas Favorites”.
I think this year maybe I’ll take some of the many great suggestions posted here and try some new music. I think my family might be getting little tired of Anne Murray!!
My favorite holiday CD is James Taylor’s Christmas album.
My holiday play list is similar to yours but has added Jimmy Buffet and Neville Brothers Christmas music too.
Great giveaway!
My favorite holiday song has to be Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer, just to catchy and fun!
New tunes are always fun!
It wouldn’t be Christmas without Bing Crosby! I also love the Christmas CDs from Jewel, Mariah Carey, Manheim Steamroller, Beach Boys, Elvis, Amy Grant, & John Denver & the Muppets. Crazy mix but I like it!
Straight No Chaser’s 12 Days of Christmas is my favorite holiday tune! (I don’t know if they are on iTunes, but I’ll find other things that are on iTunes if I win)
I signed up for your newsletter (with my “real” email address I check more often even because I heart your blog!)
I also put this giveaway & your blog up on my fb just now.
My playlist would have to include Oh Holy Night.
My absolute favorite Christmas song is ‘O Holy Night’ by pretty much anyone that sings it! LOL I hate it when there’s a new Christmas cd out, and that song isn’t on it! Thanks for the great chance to win!! 🙂
I just bought new Christmas music for the first time in ages – it was by the Barlow Girls. It’s made me eager to buy some more! 🙂
I tweeted! Let’s see if someone with fast fingers comes over to enter. 🙂 http://twitter.com/#!/StaceyNerdin/status/143023355967188993
We love music in this house! This time of year Christmas is my favorite!
We play the Trans Siberian Orchestra over and over and over!