100 Greatest Traditional Christmas Songs
Criteria: Chosen for ongoing popularity, impact, importance, and strong association with the holiday. "Traditional" is defined as encompassing all pre-rock styles of popular music; Christmas songs include both religious and secular songs as well as songs about winter which are associated with the festive season.
Note: In some cases, more than one year is provided because of notable re-recordings of the song by the same artist.
Note: In some cases, more than one year is provided because of notable re-recordings of the song by the same artist.
Traditional Christmas Songs
1. White Christmas
(1942, 1947) - Bing Crosby
2. The Christmas Song
(1946, 1953, 1961) - Nat King Cole
3. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
(1949, 1957) - Gene Autry
4. Sleigh Ride
(1950, 1959) - Leroy Anderson
5. A Holly Jolly Christmas
(1964) - Burl Ives
6. The Little Drummer Boy
(1958, 1965) - Harry Simeone Chorale
7. Do You Hear What I Hear
(1963) - Bing Crosby
8. There's No Place Like Home For The Holidays
(1954) - Perry Como
9. Frosty The Snowman
(1950) - Gene Autry
10. Mistletoe and Holly
(1957) - Frank Sinatra
(1942, 1947) - Bing Crosby
2. The Christmas Song
(1946, 1953, 1961) - Nat King Cole
3. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
(1949, 1957) - Gene Autry
4. Sleigh Ride
(1950, 1959) - Leroy Anderson
5. A Holly Jolly Christmas
(1964) - Burl Ives
6. The Little Drummer Boy
(1958, 1965) - Harry Simeone Chorale
7. Do You Hear What I Hear
(1963) - Bing Crosby
8. There's No Place Like Home For The Holidays
(1954) - Perry Como
9. Frosty The Snowman
(1950) - Gene Autry
10. Mistletoe and Holly
(1957) - Frank Sinatra
11. It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year
(1963) - Andy Williams
12. Santa Baby
(1953) - Eartha Kitt
13. The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)
(1958) - Chipmunks
14. Here Comes Santa Claus (Down Santa Claus Lane)
(1948) - Gene Autry
15. Mary's Boy Child
(1956) - Harry Belafonte
16. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
(1944) - Judy Garland
17. Jolly Old St. Nicholas/The Little Drummer Boy
(1962) - Ray Conniff
18. Happy Holiday/The Holiday Season
(1963) - Andy Williams
19. Silent Night
(1928, 1935, 1942, 1947) - Bing Crosby
20. We Need A Little Christmas
(1966) - Percy Faith
21. It's Beginning To Look a Lot Like Christmas
(1986) - Johnny Mathis
22. Jingle Bells
(1946) - Perry Como and the Fontane Sisters
23. It's Beginning To Look a Lot Like Christmas
(1951) - Bing Crosby
24. Adeste Fidelis (O Come All Ye Faithful)
(1960) - Nat King Cole
25. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
(1947) - Frank Sinatra
26. The Star Carol
(1958) - Tennessee Ernie Ford
27. Blue Christmas
(1949) - Ernest Tubb
28. Sleigh Ride
(1958) - Johnny Mathis
29. Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow
(1945) - Vaughn Monroe
30. A Marshmallow World
(1966) - Dean Martin
31. Christmas Time Is Here
(1965) - Vince Guaraldi Trio
32. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
(1952) - Jimmy Boyd
33. Happy Holiday
(1956) - Jackie Gleason
34. Christmas Time's A-Comin'
(1951) - Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys
35. I'll Be Home For Christmas
(1957) - Frank Sinatra
36. Silent Night, Holy Night
(1941, 1962) - Mahalia Jackson
37. Hark, The Herald Angels Sing
(1960) - Nat King Cole
38. We Wish You A Merry Christmas
(1951) - Weavers
39. The Twelve Days of Christmas
(1962) - Ray Conniff
40. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
(1960) - Peggy Lee
41. Mele Kalikimaka
(1950) - Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters
42. All I Want For Christmas(Is My Two Front Teeth)
(1948) - Spike Jones and his City Slickers
43. Winter Wonderland
(1958) - Johnny Mathis
44. Baby It's Cold Outside
(1959) - Dean Martin
45. I Love The Winter Weather/I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm
(1968) - Tony Bennett
46. Caroling, Caroling
(1960) - Nat King Cole
47. (Everybody's Waiting For) The Man With The Bag
(1950) - Kay Starr
48. Zat You, Santa Claus?
(1953) - Louis Armstrong
49. White Christmas
(1954) - Rosemary Clooney
50. Must Be Santa
(1961) - Mitch Miller & The Gang
51. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
(1957) - Frank Sinatra
52. Dominick the Donkey (The Italian Christmas Donkey)
(1960) - Lou Monte
53. Sleigh Ride
(1960) - Ella Fitzgerald
54. We Wish You The Merriest
(1964) - Frank Sinatra & Bing Crosby
55. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
(1959) - Dean Martin
56. Jingle Bells
(1955) - Singing Dogs
57. Up On The Housetop
(1953) - Gene Autry
58. Winter Wonderland
(1968) - Tony Bennett
59. Nuttin' For Christmas
(1955) - Barry Gordon with Art Mooney and his Orchestra
60. Christmas Island
(1946) - Andrews Sisters
61. O Tannenbaum
(1965) - Vince Guaraldi Trio
62. Joy to the World
(1960) - Nat King Cole
63. Donde Esta Santa Claus (Where Is Santa Claus)
(1958) - Augie Rios
64. Toyland
(1964) - Doris Day
65. Sleep In Heavenly Peace (Silent Night)
(1967) - Barbra Streisand
66. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
(1967) - Ella Fitzgerald
67. It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
(1986) - Johnny Mathis
68. 'Twas The Night Before Christmas
(1942, 1950) - Fred Waring and his Pennsylvanians
69. It's Beginning To Look a Lot Like Christmas
(1951) - Perry Como and the Fontane Sisters
70. I Want A Hippopatamus For Christmas
(1953) - Gayla Peevey
71. Silver Bells
(1950) - Bing Crosby & Carol Richards
72. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
(1964) - Burl Ives
73. The Night Before Christmas Song
(1952) - Gene Autry & Rosemary Clooney
74. Jingle Bells
(1957) - Frank Sinatra
75. There's No Christmas Like A Home Christmas
(1950, 1968) - Perry Como
76. Santa Looked a Lot Like Daddy
(1965) - Buck Owens
77. Deck The Halls
(1960) - Nat King Cole
78. Sleigh Ride
(1949, 1959) - Arthur Fiedler & The Boston Pops
79. The Twelve Gifts of Christmas
(1963) - Allan Sherman
80. Frosty The Snowman
(1950, 1969) - Jimmy Durante
81. Baby It's Cold Outside
(1949) - Margaret Whiting & Johnny Mercer
82. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
(1959) - Ray Conniff
83. Christmas Carols by the Old Corral
(1945) - Tex Ritter
84. Christmas In New Orleans
(1955) - Louis Armstrong
85. Joy to the World
(1954, 1959) - Percy Faith
86. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
(1960) - Ella Fitzgerald
87. Christmas Waltz
(1954) - Frank Sinatra
88. Go Tell It On The Mountain
(1950) - Mahalia Jackson
89. Christmas In Killarney
(1951) - Bing Crosby
90. Will Santy Come To Shanty Town
(1953) - Eddy Arnold
91. Let It Snow Let It Snow Let It Snow
(1959) - Dean Martin
92. When My Heart Finds Christmas
(1993) - Harry Connick, Jr.
93. Silver Bells
(1966) - Earl Grant
94. O Holy Night
(1968) - Mahalia Jackson
95. Here We Come A-Caroling
(1965) - Ray Conniff
96. Christmas Is
(1966) - Percy Faith
97. Kay Thompson's Jingle Bells
(1963) - Andy Williams
98. Happy Holiday
(1942) - Bing Crosby
99. An Old Christmas Card
(1963) - Jim Reeves
100. Snowfall
(1968) - Tony Bennett
(1963) - Andy Williams
12. Santa Baby
(1953) - Eartha Kitt
13. The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)
(1958) - Chipmunks
14. Here Comes Santa Claus (Down Santa Claus Lane)
(1948) - Gene Autry
15. Mary's Boy Child
(1956) - Harry Belafonte
16. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
(1944) - Judy Garland
17. Jolly Old St. Nicholas/The Little Drummer Boy
(1962) - Ray Conniff
18. Happy Holiday/The Holiday Season
(1963) - Andy Williams
19. Silent Night
(1928, 1935, 1942, 1947) - Bing Crosby
20. We Need A Little Christmas
(1966) - Percy Faith
21. It's Beginning To Look a Lot Like Christmas
(1986) - Johnny Mathis
22. Jingle Bells
(1946) - Perry Como and the Fontane Sisters
23. It's Beginning To Look a Lot Like Christmas
(1951) - Bing Crosby
24. Adeste Fidelis (O Come All Ye Faithful)
(1960) - Nat King Cole
25. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
(1947) - Frank Sinatra
26. The Star Carol
(1958) - Tennessee Ernie Ford
27. Blue Christmas
(1949) - Ernest Tubb
28. Sleigh Ride
(1958) - Johnny Mathis
29. Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow
(1945) - Vaughn Monroe
30. A Marshmallow World
(1966) - Dean Martin
31. Christmas Time Is Here
(1965) - Vince Guaraldi Trio
32. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
(1952) - Jimmy Boyd
33. Happy Holiday
(1956) - Jackie Gleason
34. Christmas Time's A-Comin'
(1951) - Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys
35. I'll Be Home For Christmas
(1957) - Frank Sinatra
36. Silent Night, Holy Night
(1941, 1962) - Mahalia Jackson
37. Hark, The Herald Angels Sing
(1960) - Nat King Cole
38. We Wish You A Merry Christmas
(1951) - Weavers
39. The Twelve Days of Christmas
(1962) - Ray Conniff
40. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
(1960) - Peggy Lee
41. Mele Kalikimaka
(1950) - Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters
42. All I Want For Christmas(Is My Two Front Teeth)
(1948) - Spike Jones and his City Slickers
43. Winter Wonderland
(1958) - Johnny Mathis
44. Baby It's Cold Outside
(1959) - Dean Martin
45. I Love The Winter Weather/I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm
(1968) - Tony Bennett
46. Caroling, Caroling
(1960) - Nat King Cole
47. (Everybody's Waiting For) The Man With The Bag
(1950) - Kay Starr
48. Zat You, Santa Claus?
(1953) - Louis Armstrong
49. White Christmas
(1954) - Rosemary Clooney
50. Must Be Santa
(1961) - Mitch Miller & The Gang
51. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
(1957) - Frank Sinatra
52. Dominick the Donkey (The Italian Christmas Donkey)
(1960) - Lou Monte
53. Sleigh Ride
(1960) - Ella Fitzgerald
54. We Wish You The Merriest
(1964) - Frank Sinatra & Bing Crosby
55. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
(1959) - Dean Martin
56. Jingle Bells
(1955) - Singing Dogs
57. Up On The Housetop
(1953) - Gene Autry
58. Winter Wonderland
(1968) - Tony Bennett
59. Nuttin' For Christmas
(1955) - Barry Gordon with Art Mooney and his Orchestra
60. Christmas Island
(1946) - Andrews Sisters
61. O Tannenbaum
(1965) - Vince Guaraldi Trio
62. Joy to the World
(1960) - Nat King Cole
63. Donde Esta Santa Claus (Where Is Santa Claus)
(1958) - Augie Rios
64. Toyland
(1964) - Doris Day
65. Sleep In Heavenly Peace (Silent Night)
(1967) - Barbra Streisand
66. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
(1967) - Ella Fitzgerald
67. It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
(1986) - Johnny Mathis
68. 'Twas The Night Before Christmas
(1942, 1950) - Fred Waring and his Pennsylvanians
69. It's Beginning To Look a Lot Like Christmas
(1951) - Perry Como and the Fontane Sisters
70. I Want A Hippopatamus For Christmas
(1953) - Gayla Peevey
71. Silver Bells
(1950) - Bing Crosby & Carol Richards
72. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
(1964) - Burl Ives
73. The Night Before Christmas Song
(1952) - Gene Autry & Rosemary Clooney
74. Jingle Bells
(1957) - Frank Sinatra
75. There's No Christmas Like A Home Christmas
(1950, 1968) - Perry Como
76. Santa Looked a Lot Like Daddy
(1965) - Buck Owens
77. Deck The Halls
(1960) - Nat King Cole
78. Sleigh Ride
(1949, 1959) - Arthur Fiedler & The Boston Pops
79. The Twelve Gifts of Christmas
(1963) - Allan Sherman
80. Frosty The Snowman
(1950, 1969) - Jimmy Durante
81. Baby It's Cold Outside
(1949) - Margaret Whiting & Johnny Mercer
82. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
(1959) - Ray Conniff
83. Christmas Carols by the Old Corral
(1945) - Tex Ritter
84. Christmas In New Orleans
(1955) - Louis Armstrong
85. Joy to the World
(1954, 1959) - Percy Faith
86. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
(1960) - Ella Fitzgerald
87. Christmas Waltz
(1954) - Frank Sinatra
88. Go Tell It On The Mountain
(1950) - Mahalia Jackson
89. Christmas In Killarney
(1951) - Bing Crosby
90. Will Santy Come To Shanty Town
(1953) - Eddy Arnold
91. Let It Snow Let It Snow Let It Snow
(1959) - Dean Martin
92. When My Heart Finds Christmas
(1993) - Harry Connick, Jr.
93. Silver Bells
(1966) - Earl Grant
94. O Holy Night
(1968) - Mahalia Jackson
95. Here We Come A-Caroling
(1965) - Ray Conniff
96. Christmas Is
(1966) - Percy Faith
97. Kay Thompson's Jingle Bells
(1963) - Andy Williams
98. Happy Holiday
(1942) - Bing Crosby
99. An Old Christmas Card
(1963) - Jim Reeves
100. Snowfall
(1968) - Tony Bennett
Edited By: Brett Alan
Last Updated: 2022-12-08
Last Updated: 2022-12-08