The Music of Christmas

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Kyle Besser

Christmas music as a term includes a variety of genres of music generally played during the Christmas holiday season. Often the songs have no content specifically about the holiday but instead focus on winter and other themes. Many have been adopted as Christmas music for reasons such as the reverential nature of the composition.

Others refer to folklore surrounding Christmas such as Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas, Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus, Santa Claus's reindeer, Santa's elves, the North Pole, Christmas trees, etc. Some refer to the traditions surrounding Christmas such as the Twelve Days of Christmas, Christmas tree, wassailing, yule log, stockings, lights, etc.

Many songs not originally intended for Christmas have been "adopted" as Christmas music because they were heard regularly around the holiday season, particularly songs with a wintry theme. Some songs tend to elicit memories and put people into the mood of the Christmas season.

The music of Christmas has always been a combination of sacred and secular music, a trend which is also visible in the music composed in the 20th century, especially in popular music. In the UK in the 1970s and 1980s, the annual competition for the Christmas number one single led to the production of music which still provides the mainstay of festive playlists. In the United States playing Christmas music generally begins after the Thanksgiving holidays. Radio stations is responsible for much of Christmas music broadcasting and popularization.

Christmas Carols

Songs which are traditional, even some without a specific religious context, are often called Christmas carols. A more or less standard set of traditional Christmas carols might include such titles as:

"Away In a Manger"
"Deck the Halls"
"The First Noel
"Go Tell It on the Mountain"
"God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen"
"Good King Wenceslas"
"Hark! The Herald Angels Sing"
"Here We Come A-Wassailing"
"The Holly and the Ivy"
"It Came Upon the Midnight Clear"
"Joy to the World"
"O Come All Ye Faithful"
"O Come, O Come, Emmanuel"
"O Holy Night "
"O Little Town of Bethlehem"
"Silent Night"
"The Twelve Days of Christmas"
"We Three Kings of Orient Are"
"We Wish You a Merry Christmas"
"What Child Is This"
"While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks"

Each of these Christmas carols has a rich history, some dating back many centuries.

Popular Christmas Songs

More recently popular Christmas songs, which are often introduced through film or other entertainment medium, are specifically about Christmas but are typically not overtly religious and therefore do not qualify as Christmas carols. The best example is "White Christmas," which was introduced in a musical in 1942.

According to the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, the following are the top 25 most-performed holiday songs written by ASCAP members for the first five years of the 21st century. The list does not include songs out of copyright (like "Jingle Bells") or written by members of Broadcast Music, Incorporated, known as BMI.

"The Christmas Song" (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)
"Santa Claus Is Coming to Town"
"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"
"Winter Wonderland"
"White Christmas"
"Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!"
"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer"
"Jingle Bell Rock"
"I'll Be Home for Christmas"
"Little Drummer Boy"
"Sleigh Ride"
"It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year"
"Silver Bells"
"Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree"
"Feliz Navidad"
"Blue Christmas"
"Frosty the Snowman"
"A Holly Jolly Christmas"
"I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus"
"Here Comes Santa Claus"
"It's Beginning To Look a Lot Like Christmas"
"(There's No Place Like) Home for the Holidays"
"Carol of the Bells"
"Santa Baby"
"Wonderful Christmastime"