Christmas Music Classics
Black Christmas Music
Finish the Lyrics
Christmas Around the World
Black Christmas Culture
100
This Austrian carol was first performed in 1818 in a small village church.
Silent Night
100
This Motown group released Christmas Album in 1970.
The Jackson 5
100
“Hang all the mistletoe, I’m gonna get to know you better…”
"This Christmas” —
“This Christmas”
100
Christmas is celebrated as a public holiday in more than this number of countries worldwide.
160
100
This 1970 holiday song imagines a future of peace, justice, and equality beyond Christmas Day.
What is Someday at Christmas?
200
This Bing Crosby recording is the best-selling single of all time.
White Christmas
200
This Donny Hathaway holiday song was released in 1970 and became a perennial favorite.
This Christmas
200
“I don’t want a lot for Christmas, there is just one thing I need…”
"All I Want for Christmas Is You” —
“…I don’t care about the presents underneath the Christmas tree”
200
This popular phrase refers to the festive season in Nigeria marked by concerts, weddings, travel, and large cultural gatherings in December.
What is Detty December?
200
This 1996 holiday film starring Whitney Houston and Denzel Washington reimagines a classic Christmas story.
What is The Preacher’s Wife?
300
This Christmas song begins with the line “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire.”
The Christmas Song
300
This R&B group released a platinum-selling Christmas album in 1993.
Boyz II Men
300
“Someday at Christmas there’ll be no wars
When we have learned what Christmas is for…”
Someday at Christmas —
“When we have found what life’s really worth
There’ll be peace on earth”
300
This Nigerian rice dish is commonly served during Christmas and other major celebrations.
Jollof rice
300
This Motown founder helped shape the sound of many Black Christmas recordings in the 1960s and 1970s.
Berry Gordy
400
This holiday song was originally written for Thanksgiving, not Christmas.
Jingle Bells
400
This Mariah Carey Christmas song was released in 1994 and regularly tops global charts.
All I Want for Christmas Is You
400
“Why don’t you give love on Christmas Day?
Oh the man on the street and the couple upstairs…”
Give Love on Christmas Day —
“All need to know there’s someone who cares
Give love on Christmas Day
No greater gift is there than love”
400
In many Caribbean countries, Christmas music traditions include this genre rooted in African rhythms.
Calypso
400
This 1961 holiday album by a legendary Black jazz singer helped popularize jazz interpretations of Christmas standards.
The Christmas Song by Nat King Cole
500
This upbeat 1950s holiday song famously features a countdown from ten to one.
Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree
500
This gospel legend recorded a widely acclaimed version of Silent Night.
Mahalia Jackson
500
“Tell me, baby, do you recognise me?
Well, it’s been a year, it doesn’t surprise me…”
“(Happy Christmas) I wrapped it up and sent it
Last Christmas —
"With a note saying, ‘I love you’, I meant it
Now I know what a fool I’ve been
But if you kissed me now I know you'd fool me again
500
In Japan, Christmas is widely associated with this fast-food restaurant due to a long-running marketing campaign.
KFC
500
First televised in 1956, this annual holiday event became one of the longest-running Christmas television traditions led by a Black artist.
The Harlem Christmas Parade