I just finished putting together a gallery of Christmas songs for Beliefnet, featuring 12 unique and favorite versions of carols like “Silent Night” and “O Come O Come Emmanuel” from artists like Casting Crowns and Jars of Clay.
I listened to dozens and dozens of Christmas songs over the last few weeks, to the point that I was Christmas-songed out. But as I listened, I realized that there are certain Christmas songs that just define the holiday.
Despite the fact that it drives my darling husband nuts, for example, it’s just not Christmas without Alvin and the Chipmunks – the original, not the remake. And no artist can compare to Bing Crosby crooning “White Christmas” or The Carpenters singing about chestnuts roasting on an open fire. Those are songs I remember from my childhood, and they conjure up memories of family and friends.
So what is your favorite Christmas song, and what makes it so special? Is there a certain song that brings back a special Christmas memory?
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posted December 1, 2008 at 1:33 pm
actually I’m looking for a song that I heard years ago. I don’t know the name but it said something like “there are children in the world who have never know the joy of a christmas full of cheer or a stocking full of toys” does anyone remember this song.
posted December 1, 2008 at 10:23 pm
My favorite Advent song is “O Come O Come Emmanuel,” all eight verses. I just love reliving the anticipation and longing for the coming Christ. And the minor feel of one of the most beautiful melodies ever composed brings tears to my eyes all Advent long.
My favorite Christmas song is “What Child Is This” for two reasons: 1) the same minor melodic feel, and 2) they say ‘ass’ in the second verse. Ha!
My favorite Advent/Christmas album is Andrew Peterson’s “Behold the Lamb of God.” I can objectively say that it is the best Christmas album ever written and recorded. I get to see him in two days in Michigan City, IN.
posted December 2, 2008 at 9:54 am
The “Messiah” is the best holiday (Christmas and Easter) music ever. I belong to a choral society that performs the complete work every year the Sunday after Thanksgiving, and it is a traditional start to the holiday season for many people and families in our area. I have at least 13 recordings of this music, and listen to it often throughout the year. Even though there is no mention of Santa, Elves, Rudolph or snow, the real reason for the season is primary in this music. Our performance this year was last Sunday, and it was the best ever.
Keep up the excellent work, I really enjoy Beliefnet every day.
Love and Blessings,
Bob
posted December 2, 2008 at 10:11 am
I HEARD A RENDITION OF “FROSTY THE SNOWMAN” BY DR. JOHN AND LEON REDBONE SEVERAL YEARS AGO. IT IS GREAT THE WAY THEY DO IT. I HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO FIND IT ON ANY CHRISTMAS CD’S. BUT MY FAVORITE CHRISTMAS SONG IS “HAPPY XMAS” BY JOHN LENNON. A BEAUTIFUL SONG BY A BEAUTIFUL PERSON WHO LEFT US WAY TO SOON.
posted December 2, 2008 at 12:26 pm
I LOVE Casting Crowns. new “Peace on Earth” CD. Their cover of Paul Baloche’s “Christmas Offering” is beautiful, and I enjoy the boys choir in “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day”.
posted December 2, 2008 at 1:27 pm
Lupe, hmmm, I don’t know that song. But it reminded me of the song, “Do They Know It’s Christmastime”, done by a group of music celebs back in the 80s under the name Band Aid. Are you familiar with that song?
Joanne
host of the GS blog
posted December 3, 2008 at 3:18 am
MY FAV CHRISTMAS SONG IS IT’S CHRISTMAS TIME AND WHAT CHILD IS THIS?
I LOVE CHRISTMAS
posted December 3, 2008 at 5:51 am
O’ Holy Night has always been my favorite.
posted December 3, 2008 at 5:55 am
I love all Christmas carols as well as the fun songs of Christmas. I especially like The Carol of the Bells, and Bethelem morning, Silent Night, and Little Town of Bethlem. I also lke the Messiah. I like some of the non song types of listening like Conrad’s Visitor. I think it portrays the special messages behind the Christmas celebration
posted December 3, 2008 at 8:11 am
My favorite Christmas song has to be “Mary did you know?” and I also love one by Diamond Rio called “It wasnt his child”…..both really keep the true meaning of Christmas close to my heart. Merry CHRISTmas everyone!!!
posted December 3, 2008 at 8:13 am
My favorite song is “In The Bleak Midwinter” by Harold Darke, based on a poem of Christina Rosetti. It has been recorded by Kings College Choir, Cambridge, England and has been broadcast each Christmas Eve during the festival of Nine Lessons and Carols. The music is uplifting, the words are gracious and humble, and the voices of the young gentlemen that perform it are angelic. A must hear, if you’ve never heard it.
posted December 3, 2008 at 8:13 am
OOPS…. sorry that was Sawyer Brown… not Diamond Rio that did “It wasnt his child”… sorry about that.
posted December 3, 2008 at 8:19 am
Favorites:
Little Drummer Boy
I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
SILENT NIGHT
Mary Did You Know
posted December 3, 2008 at 9:12 am
I have to say that one of my very favorite Christmas songs is about Mary. Breath of Heaven (Mary’s song) is the name and it is sung so very beautifully by Amy Grant.
If you haven’t heard the song it is a song of Gods blessing a humble loving mortal woman and her love, fear and faith and committment to God’s plan. I am 47 years old and I am so moved by the message of this song that I am reminded of my many shortcomings and my faith is stirred and reinforced.
The song never fails to make me cry… And be thankful for God’s love for us.
posted December 3, 2008 at 9:59 am
My favorite CHRISTmas carol has to be “Silent Night”, however, it must be accompanied as it was originally. If you have never heard it accompanied by a single guitar, you have missed a beautiful rendition.
posted December 3, 2008 at 10:05 am
My favorite song is actually one I wrote called “Who Wants To Cry At Christmas?” It is a “sad-yet-hopeful” song for all those people who feel lonely at holiday time. The best line in it? “There’s still a hope at Christmas, that God will find a way, to meet me in my sadness, and help it go away.” I love that line. It’s very empowering. The song is finally available on amazon.com under “Mark Weber Who Wants To Cry At Christmas” if you’re interested in hearing a clip.
posted December 3, 2008 at 10:12 am
My favorite christmas CD are songs by Elvis Presley
and Partridge in a Pear Tree
posted December 3, 2008 at 10:53 am
When I was a teenager I was in a choir at a church in Texas and this really big man got up and sang this song and his voice was like hearing the angels in heaven singing, I have never forgotten that voice and it became my all time favorite Christmas song that was almost 35 years ago.
posted December 3, 2008 at 12:19 pm
>
Gallery of Christmas songs..favorite versions..Casting Crowns and Jars of Clay.
How long will it be before the traditional Christmas songs get put in the same closet as the traditional Christian Hymns?
Or will the new artists just “improve” them with their jazzed-up hip versions?
Like they need to be “improved” upon?
Is it any wonder the modern church and world is in the shape it is in?
All through the Bible – the younger folks learned from the older folks. Things and methods were handed down from generation to generation. When they didnt – thinks got real bad – look all thru the old testamant.
Timothy learned from his mother and his grandmother. There was a respect – an honor put upon the traditions and the wisdom of the elderly folks.
My parents took me to church and taught me how to worship as they had learned from the parents who learned from their parents and so forth back thru time.
Suddenly we have a generaation who wants to do everything on their own with their own younger “wisdom”.
Why does the younger generation of today not want to learn anything about worship from their parents or grandparents?
posted December 3, 2008 at 12:21 pm
I enjoy listening to Gospel Christmas songs and others like Fats Domino,Elvis! I think it’s a time for caring and sharing then thinking of yourself! Remember it’s “Jesus birthday”
posted December 3, 2008 at 2:39 pm
There are many Beautiful Christmas Songs and Hymns,that I love, but I guess “Hark the Herald Angels ” and O Holy night are two of my Favorite. And songs that Praise JESUS, are wonderful to me.
posted December 3, 2008 at 2:44 pm
I love all of the Christmas songs,because they “PRAISE JESUS”. My only true love in this world.
posted December 3, 2008 at 2:46 pm
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen is my favorite
posted December 3, 2008 at 4:24 pm
Chris Potter’s version of Go Where I Send Thee is pretty high up there for me.
Wynton Marsalis’ version of Carol of the Bells is pretty fantastic.
For secular Christmas songs, give me any of the Louis Armstrong or Louis Prima tunes. Or Holly Cole’s take on Christmas Blues. Or John Scofield’s version of the Chipmunks Christmas Song.
posted December 3, 2008 at 8:43 pm
MY FAVORITE CHRISTMAS SONG IS PROBALLY OUT OF PRINT.IT WAS CALLED”HAPPY BIRTHDAY,GENTLE SAVIOUR”
posted December 4, 2008 at 4:23 am
Everyone I know seems to like “Silent Night” the best but mine is definitely “O Come O Come Emmanuel.” I just love the words and it makes me cry every time I sing it. Beautiful song! Anything sung by Karen Carpenter is just angelic. “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” gets me up and dancing.
posted December 4, 2008 at 7:42 am
I love O Holy Night
posted December 4, 2008 at 8:03 am
MY FAVORITE CHRISTMAS SONG IS “GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN”. It was the first Chistmas song I learn in Sunday School.
posted December 4, 2008 at 9:16 am
O’ Holy Night and Alvin and the Chipmunks….Happy Holidays and God Bless to all…
posted December 4, 2008 at 9:21 am
Anything by Trans Siberian Orchestra
and in the Christian Realm
Offering by Paul Baloche
posted December 4, 2008 at 9:34 am
I LOVE ALL CHRISTMAS MUSIC.BUT I WOULD HAVE TO SAY LITTLE DRUMMER BOY(I SANG THIS IN HIGH SCHOOL)DO YOU HEAR WHAT I HEAR,O HOLY NIGHT AN MERRY CHRISTMAS DARLING (BY THE CARPENTERS). I WISH EACH AN EVERYONE OF YOU A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS,GOD BLESS YOU ALL!!!!!
posted December 4, 2008 at 10:27 am
There was a album called “Christmas Magic” by Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians. My parents played it for us every Christmas Eve. The musical version of “The night before Christmas followed by the story of Christ’s birth according to Luke. By far my favorite and I finally found a limited addition CD after searching for years.
posted December 4, 2008 at 10:40 am
My favorite Christmas song is Silent Night. I always liked the peaceful sound of the song.
posted December 4, 2008 at 11:43 am
“Silent Night” has always been special for me. My Mom used to sing this to me when I was little, It was my lullaby.
I also enjoy “Greensleeves”. it has a celtic quality to it and I absolutely love celtic music.
posted December 4, 2008 at 12:37 pm
My favourite is The Little Drummer Boy, by the Harry Simeon Chorale, the song tells us that no matter how poor, we all have something to offer Jesus, and He will accept us.
posted December 4, 2008 at 1:53 pm
My favorite is “Little Drummer Boy” because like Jean Morgan said…it doesn’t matter how poor we are, Jesus loves us enough to give us eternal glory!
My second favorite though would be “Silent Night” it means alot to my mother because my grandfather (her father) allows loved that song and to bring my mom great memories of her father just tells me how very special a song this is. Besides I just love sing it!
posted December 5, 2008 at 3:49 am
I always liked the song ” Harh the herald angels Sing. I think it is so pretty and i just really like it, it brings back memories when my Mom & Dad took us to church and we were a more loving family for it and for that i am really thankful!
posted December 5, 2008 at 7:21 am
My Favorite Christmas song is Silver Bells. When we were children our parents would wake us up on Christmas morning by playing an old Bells and Chimes album FULL BLAST until all three of us were up. I think they were more excited than we were. They are both gone now, we lost them both over the past year and a half, but I will always remember those Christmas mornings and Silver Bells.
posted December 5, 2008 at 7:51 am
One of my favorites is “Oh, Holy Night” sung by John Berry. He has such a beautiful tenor voice. When he sing the rise at the end it brings tears to my eyes.
posted December 5, 2008 at 7:56 am
I am sorry i can,t believe Christian . Who is where is the C
i think you like war and also money . Do you think all people
are going to be mad . Look at killing in Iraq and Afghanistan
also Africa …very very sorry from this world only lie …
posted December 5, 2008 at 10:40 am
o holy night.i went to school with someone who sang this song in our choir and it was beautiful. i hope she went on to sing gospel,because if she didn’t she should have. i went to hixon high in chatt. tn.i hope she reads this.she has a beautiful voice.
posted December 5, 2008 at 5:38 pm
My favorite is “Joy to the World”. For me it sums up the joyous feeling of the Christ Child being born to save us all. I can just hear the angels singing it over the manger!
posted December 6, 2008 at 9:06 am
My favorite christmas song is JOY TO THE WORLD,FOR CHRIST IS BORN AND STILL LIVES.
posted December 6, 2008 at 9:49 am
My two favorite Christmas songs are:
1. It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
2. The Little Drummer Boy
posted December 6, 2008 at 10:34 am
Mary Did You Know is my favorite Christmas song. It holds all the wonder and amazement I feel when I think of God Himself, the Creator of the universe, who is so big He can fold the universe as a garment, would confine Himself to a tiny human infant body, totally dependent on the care of His own creation, to be born and live as one of us! I realize the angel told Mary she would be the mother to the Son of God, but I don’t believe she could have fully grasped what it would be like to hold God in her arms and to be able to “kiss the face of God”. And I don’t think she could have realized how it would be to raise the child and all the things He would do while He was here. Nor do I think she could have realized how God would allow himself to be abused by His own creation the way He did in order to die for our sins. So the song captures all the wonder I feel when I think of the birth, life, death, resurrection and soon coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ!
Please keep Christ in Christmas! Merry Christmas all!
posted December 6, 2008 at 12:56 pm
“Oh Holy Night” is my favorite Christmas carol, because it sums up the entire beautiful story of that holy night where a miracle occurred in Bethlehem.
posted December 6, 2008 at 6:39 pm
NOTHING BUT A CHILD by STEVE EARLE is my favorite Christmas song. It brings Christmas into the present.
posted December 7, 2008 at 12:35 am
Do you know what I know what I know is my the song for me I love it ever time I hear it I cry it makes me fell so blessed to be alive it touches my soul.
posted December 8, 2008 at 4:05 pm
If I had to pck just onne favorite CHRISTmas carol, it’dhave to be ‘Feliz Navidad’ BY Jose Feliciano.
Last year about a @ this time I was working in a predominantly American owned restauarant. The kitchen staff didn’t speak very good english & I didn’t speak very good spanish but that’s the one song that I could have fun with.
They enjoyed my antics as I lip,sang to htat song & it seem to boost everyone’s morale for the day.
I’ll neot forget for a LONG time that joyous time there.
posted December 8, 2008 at 7:44 pm
Definitely the Little Drummer Boy followed closely by Do you know what I know… I find myself singing them all year long not only at Christmas, remembrance of childhood, I suppose and carefree days of youth.
posted December 9, 2008 at 9:02 pm
“I’am Dreaming of a White Christmas” is one of my most favorite christmas song. It brings back to mind of all the many christmases spent with love ones who have passed away!
posted December 12, 2008 at 2:55 pm
” Chriistmas Shoes”
posted December 12, 2008 at 6:21 pm
Connie, that song always makes me cry!!
Joanne
host of the GS blog