Pop (goes the category)
This beloved Christmas tune comes from a movie of the same name, and practically invented the genre of holiday pop music. "May your days be merry and bright..."
White Christmas
Russian composer Pyotr Tchaikovsky's famous Nutcracker Ballet has become synonymous with the Christmas season. This movement is one of the most famous, depicting choregraphed movement of sweet treats brought to life.
The Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairies
This medieval counting song reflects the practice of celebrating the twelve (give or take) days between Christmas and Epiphany.
The Twelve Days of Christmas
This carol dates back to the 14th century in Rhineland, and was famously harmonized by 15th century composer Michael Praetorius. The English version didn't appear until 1900, as was titled "Behold, a Branch is Growing."
Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming/Es ist ein Ros entsprungen
This traditional Welsh carol notably depicts the decorating of the vast halls of a bygone Feudal time.
Deck the Halls
This song about frightful weather was written during a heat wave in Los Angeles in 1945.
Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!
The Radio City Rockettes made famous this next tune, which depicts the march of wooden toy soldiers.
Parade of the Wooden Soldiers
This well-known Wassailing song was sung by peasants traveling from door to door, demanding food, drink, and most notably, figgy pudding, from the lords of the house.
We Wish You a Merry Christmas
This carol is known as "O Tannenbaum," in Germany, where the custom of bringing evergreen and holly into to home during the winter season began as a pagan custom to celebrate midwinter and the New Year.
O Christmas Tree
The tune of this carol has very ancient roots, either French or English. The name is also a mix of the two languages, with the French word for "Nativity" or 'birth" in the title, "Noel."
The First Noel
This country Christmas Classic was most famously covered by Elvis Presley.
Blue Christmas
The Russians continue to be synonymous with Christmas music for symphonic orchestra. Sergei Prokofiev's Lt. Kieje Suite features this movement, which takes its name from a Russian sled and also a type of folk dance.
Troika
The three sailing vessels in this traditional English carol have been compared to many different things, from Joseph, Mary, & Jesus, to the three Wise Men and their gifts, the holy trinity, or the virtues of hope, faith, and charity.
I Saw Three Ships
This carol is arguably one of the most famous and recognizable of all Christmas songs. It was originally performed at a Christmas Eve service in Oberndorf by Salzburg, Germany in 1818. The church's organ had been damaged by flooding. The original carol, with words written by the church's priest Fr. Joseph Mohr and music composed by the church organist Franz Gruber, was accompanied by nothing more than a guitar at its premiere.
Silent Night
This carol makes an appearance in Charles Dickens' novel, A Christmas Carol, when the character Ebenezer Scrooge scares away a group of merry carolers singing it.
God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen
Country music star Gene Autry made famous this beloved children's favorite sons, in which a snowman is brought to life by a magic top hat.
Frosty the Snowman
Many communities celebrate an annual performance of George Frederic Handel's most enduring composition. The entire work lasts almost three hours, so many orchestras and choirs choose to perform only the first section that depicts to lead up to the birth of Christ, and ending with the famous Hallelujah Chorus.
The Messiah
This ancient hymn takes its melody from a plainchant, song by monks during the season of Advent in the month before Christmas.
O Come, O Come Emmanuel
This Austrian Christmas carol comes from a traditional folk song heard near Salzburg. It is also sung at the end of every December concert at Cedar Falls High School, where CF alumni of any age are invited to sing onstage with the choir.
Still, Still, Still
This Bohemian carol celebrates the feast of St. Stephan, traditionally celebrated on the day after Christmas. The titular character was historically not a king, but rather a Duke of Bohemia.
Good King Wenceslas
Johnny Marks is best known as the composer of Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer, but he was also the force behind this next song famously sung by Burl Ives in 1964. "Oh, Ho..... the mistletoe"
Holly Jolly Christmas
Victor Herbert is lesser-known in modern times, but his popularity in the first half of the 20th century was unmatched. This tune depicts marching toys and is often heard in instrumental arrangements around the holidays.
The March of Toys
This Christmas tune is unusual in that it was originally written for solo voice, as opposed to a choir of voices. It was first heard in French as "Cantique de Noel," and has become one of the most famous and recognizable of all Christmas songs for its dramatic harmony and melody.
O Holy Night
"Ihr Kinderlein, Kommet" is a German Christmas carol that invites little children to come and see the baby Jesus laying in the manger.
O Come, Little Children
Romantic era composer Felix Mendelssohn wrote the tune for this famous hymn as a part of a cantata celebrating Johann Gutenberg. It wasn't until 15 years later, when it was published with the words from an English Christmas hymn that it become synonymous with the message of angels and the story of the birth of Christ. In modern times, it is often associated with the Charlie Brown Christmas special as the final song sung by the cast.
Hark, the Herald Angels Sing!