You can’t say “Christmas ” without immediately thinking of your favourite holiday melody. Most people can’t help humming along during the season. Each Christmas song evokes a particular feeling, such as joy or happiness, or a special character like Santa, a snowman, or a certain reindeer.
Besides the tree, the lights, and a mug of hot chocolate, the Christmas spirit truly comes alive when you hear Michael Bublé's voice or Mariah Carey singing her now undeniably celebrated “It’s tiiiiime!” For the more conservative, this feeling arrives to the rhythm of Jingle Bells, and whatever your preference, during December it's almost impossible to escape humming these classic holiday songs:
🎄The All-Time Classics
"All I Want for Christmas Is You" by Mariah Carey
Written in 1994 by Mariah Carey and composer Walter Afanasieff, and masterfully performed by Carey herself, "All I Want for Christmas Is You" has given this song, which speaks of gifts, Santa Claus, mistletoe, and everything that makes us excited about the season, an enormous boost in recent years.
"All I Want for Christmas Is You" is even more famous now than when it was first released. Mariah was even sued in 2023 by two songwriters from Louisiana, USA, for more than $20 million, who alleged that the singer had copied a country song; however, a judge dismissed the lawsuit.
According to AP 1, "All I Want for Christmas is You" surpassed many Christmas carols, garnering over 387 million streams in 2019, with Mariah and her team estimated to have earned over $100 million during that year's holiday season. What will it be like in the upcoming years?
"Last Christmas" by Wham!
Now over 30 years old, one of the most famous Christmas songs that genuinely captures the season's nostalgia and offers reflections on closing out the year is undoubtedly “Last Christmas,” written and performed by George Michael.
Upon its release in 1984, when Michael was part of the Wham! duo, he scored a worldwide hit which became a pop culture reference with its video: an authentic short film about love, friends, and the snowy mountains as protagonists. Much like Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You,” “Last Christmas” has received a well-deserved boost from music streaming, returning to the top number 1 on global charts in recent years.
"White Christmas"
A Christmas classic worldwide and one of the best songs for practising singing, Irving Berlin wrote white Christmas in the 1940s, and Bing Crosby performed the most famous version. If you’re just getting started to feel the spirit of the season, White Christmas is the perfect place to start; with so many different versions, there’s bound to be a style you like.
Many different artists have covered this song.
- Frank Sinatra
- The Drifters
- Elvis Presley
- Louis Armstrong
- Eddy Mitchell
- The Supremes
- Tony Bennett
- Céline Dion
- Ella Fitzgerald
- Michael Bublé
- Katy Perry
- Taylor Swift
- Lady Gaga
- Beach Boys
🤶🏽Traditional Christmas Carols
"Silent Night"
Now recognized as one of the most beautiful and famous Christmas carols and declared intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO, Silent Night is an Austrian song written in the 19th century by composers Joseph Mohr (lyrics) and Franz Xaver Gruber (melody).
Silent night, holy night!
All is calm, all is bright.
Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child.
Holy infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace
While initially a hymn, it's an easy Christmas song to sing and a must-learn song for aspiring singers because of its slow tempo. Here are the opening lyrics:
"Silent Night", was sung by British, Belgian, French, and German soldiers during a temporary ceasefire on Christmas day during the First World War.
"O Holy Night"
Like some of the songs on this list, “O Holy Night” has European, specifically French, origins. The poem on which it is based was written by Placide Cappeau, and it is now a solemn hymn, especially in church celebrations, where this Christmas carol, whose original title is “Cantique de Noël,” holds a special place.
We Wish You a Merry Christmas
This is the traditional Christmas song that you'll probably hear the most during the holiday season. The music originated in the West Country and was popularised by Arthur Warrell, a conductor and organist who arranged it for the University of Bristol Madrigal Singers. Oxford University Press later published it. Initially, the song was used "I" rather than "We".
The earliest records of this song date back to the mid-19th century, when it was sung by children who'd go door to door asking for presents, and the original verses referenced beer rather than figgy pudding.
We wish you a merry Christmas
And a happy new year;
A pocket full of money,
And a cellar full of beer.
O Christmas Tree
This song is an excellent example of a fun Christmas song. With a fun melody and fairly simple lyrics, O Christmas Tree is a regular hear during the Christmas period.
This song originated in Germany in the 17th century as “O Tannenbaum” and was adopted into English before becoming popular in the 20th century.
O Christmas Tree O
Christmas tree, o Christmas tree
How lovely are thy branches
Your boughs so green in summertime
Stay bravely green in wintertime
O tannenbaum, o Christmas tree
How lovely are thy branches
This is another great Christmas song that the whole family can practise singing together. After all, Christmas trees symbolize Christmas.
Winter Wonderland
Winter Wonderland was written in 1934 by Felix Bernard and Richard B. Smith. Many artists have performed this song, which you’ll hear during the holiday season, and it’s great for singing around the warmth of a fire while it’s cold outside.
The lyrics tell the story of a couple building a snowman together, and here we'll present you a beautiful version with the Canadian Christmas ambassador, Michael Bublé and legend, Rod Stewart:
Angels We Have Heard on High
“Angels We Have Heard on High” is a Christmas carol with English lyrics by James Chadwick. It, like many other Christmas carols and hymns, tells the story of the birth of Jesus. It’s one of the songs that you’ll probably hear over the holidays. Whether you’re a practising Christian or not, or for any other reason you're taking singing lessons Mississauga - you can still enjoy the music and melody of this song.
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
This Christmas carol was written in the early 18th century in a collection Hymns and Sacred Poems. Charles Wesley wrote it and was later adopted by George Whitefield, the founding minister of Methodism. The music was adapted from the piece "Vaterland, in deinen Gauen" by Felix Mendelssohn.
The current version that's commonly sung around the world is based on the version from the Oxford University Press publication Carols for Choirs from 1961:
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the new-born King!
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled."
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With th' angelic host proclaim,
"Christ is born in Bethlehem."
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the new-born King!
🎁 Christmas Songs for Kids
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is a Christmas Song - and a classic in singing lessons for kids - created by Robert Lewis May. Almost as popular as Santa Claus, Rudolph became part of American culture in the 1940s, and his fame exploded in the 60's when a stop-motion television special (which remains a hit today) became a favourite of millions.
The show's impact extended to advertisements, toys, and merchandise, making Rudolph a staple of Christmas parades, Christmas melodies and decorations around the world; all thanks to the story by Robert L. May, who created the reindeer, making him the central character of some department store colouring book during Christmas time in 1939.
"Frosty the Snowman"
Another song that became popular during the "Rudolph" era was "Frosty the Snowman," whose animated special, which made him a star, aired in 1969. Long before Mariah became the queen of the winter holiday, Frosty already held a special place in Christmas pop culture, thanks to a hit song released in the 1950s. The sing-along with the fun tune of Frosty the Snowman follows.
🎅🏻 Funny Christmas Songs
"Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" by Elmo & Patsy
Of course, during family celebrations, this charming country song is a must-play, reflecting the author's childhood memories through a rather curious anecdote. Released in the late 1970s, it's another favourite of Christmas popular culture, featuring all our favourites of the season: Santa, eggnog, reindeer and family.
"I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas" by Gayla Peevey
Another Christmas hit from the 1950s, this classic was released in 1953 and reached the top of the charts with the charming voice of Gayla Peevey, who was only 10 years old when she recorded it. Here's a performance by Gayla, complete with a delightful choreography, from The Ed Sullivan Show, the iconic TV program that featured everyone from The Beatles to Elvis Presley.
⛄️ Easy Christmas Songs to Sing
"Jingle Bells"
The song “Jingle Bells” is one of the most popular Christmas songs and has versions worldwide, though it was initially published as “One Horse Open Sleigh” and written with Thanksgiving in mind.
So many artists have done a version of this song:
- James Pierpont
- Elvis Presley
- Carl Perkins
- Jerry Lee Lewis
- Johnny Cash
"Deck the Halls"
With roots dating back to the 16th century, this English Christmas carol is a favourite of church choirs and school Christmas celebrations. The English lyrics are attributed to the composer Thomas Oliphant; the melody of "Deck the Halls" is easily recognizable if you're learning to play an easy song on the piano (and is also easy to sing too!)
🎁 Modern Christmas Hits
"Underneath the Tree" by Kelly Clarkson
If there's one singer in North America who hasn't wasted the holiday season trying to gain new fans, it's Kelly Clarkson. She not only performs excellent versions of classic Christmas carols, but she's also joined Mariah Carey's trend and is aiming for her own big Christmas hit. Her first foray into the genre was "Underneath the Tree", an upbeat tempo song released in 2013 within Kelly's debut Christmas album.
"Santa Tell Me" by Ariana Grande
Alongside Kelly Clarkson, Ariana Grande has stood out in recent years for giving us Christmas song gems. Between her acting career, multi-million dollar tours, and her own music, Ariana found time a few years ago to release "Santa Tell Me". Written by herself and released in 2014, the song even reached the top 30 in Canada and is now a staple on the Christmas song chart.
🎄 Lesser-Known Gems
"Christmas Wrapping" by The Waitresses
Although many Christmas songs are centuries old, you'll love discovering more contemporary tracks. For example, you can go back just a few decades and find some great Christmas songs from the 1980s. We strongly recommend "Christmas Wrapping" by The Waitresses, released in 1981, which, with its synthesizers, cheerful spirit and dancing tone, adds a unique and fun touch of nostalgia to your holiday celebration.
"Fairytale of New York" by The Pogues ft. Kirsty MacColl
With unconventional lyrics and storytelling, including some of the most recognizable characters of N.Y. City, such as Sinatra, Broadway, and even the NYPD, this song comes from the 80s, specifically the punk of that decade.
The modern twist this melody and lyrics gave to the traditional Christmas song had a powerful impact on the charts in the anglophone world some decades ago, and it is still a hit, especially on alternative, folk, or rock stations. You’ll even find stars like Ed Sheeran covering this Christmas song, originally from The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl:
In addition to these traditional Christmas songs, we could have easily mentioned Little Drummer Boy, or any of the modern Christmas classics like Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree and All I Want for Christmas Is You for you to start learning how to sing this holiday season!
Make your own list of "Christmas songs easy to sing", and get in touch with one of the many talented private tutors on Superprof for one-on-one tutorials, to start your private online singing lessons or a singing group.
References
- Mariah Carey didn’t steal ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’ from other writers, a judge says (March 20, 2025) Available at: https://apnews.com/article/mariah-carey-christmas-lawsuit-11bd38db45f8e248711ab85c0803b026 (Accessed: November 2025).
- The Surprisingly Sad True Story Behind ‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’ (December 20, 2025). Available at: https://time.com/5479322/rudolph-the-red-nosed-reindeer-history-origins/ Accessed: November 2025).
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