# Do you prefer Childrens, Traditional, or Religious Christmas Songs? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 20, 2010, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-prefer-childrens-traditional-or-religious-christmas-songs/564866 "2010-12-20T19:57:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-prefer-childrens-traditional-or-religious-christmas-songs/564866/1 "2010-12-20T19:57:25Z")
I’m a big fan of all Christmas music. It’s a wonderful source of childhood memories. There are dozens of songs to pick from. I’m listing only a few examples. The kid in me loves _Frosty the Snowman_, _Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer_, _Jingle Bells_, _Sleigh Ride_, _Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town_ _Let it Snow! Let it Snow!_ etc. I also like the traditional songs, _The Twelve Days of Christmas_, _Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas_, _I’ll be Home for Christmas_, _Winter Wonderland-Silver Bells_, _Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire)_, _Christmas Waltz_, _Home for the Holidays_ etc. There are the religious ones. _Ave Maria_, _O Holy Night_, _Christ is Born_, _Silent Night_, _Hark! The Herald Angels Singing_, _It Came Upon a Midnight Clear_, _The Wexford Carole_, _Don Oíche úd I mBeithil - To That Night In Bethlehem_ etc. What is your favorite type of Christmas Song (Childrens, Traditional, Religious)? Please Name your favorite song, in the three styles. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-prefer-childrens-traditional-or-religious-christmas-songs/564866/2 "2010-12-20T20:01:17Z")
My answers… I love the religious ones the best. My three top favorites _O Holy Night_, _Don Oíche úd I mBeithil - To That Night In Bethlehem_ (Celtic Woman sings this) _Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas_ (traditional) _Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer_ (kids) yes I picked two religious ones. I couldn’t choose between them. It’s my thread. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-prefer-childrens-traditional-or-religious-christmas-songs/564866/3 "2010-12-20T20:04:24Z")
I prefer modern Christmas songs. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-prefer-childrens-traditional-or-religious-christmas-songs/564866/4 "2010-12-20T20:10:20Z")
I like them all, and traditional onces can be really fun, but the religious ones move me the most – especially Christmas hymns like “Lo How A Rose E’er Blooming” or “Once In Royal David’s City” – songs you don’t hear on the radio. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-prefer-childrens-traditional-or-religious-christmas-songs/564866/5 "2010-12-20T20:24:40Z")
None. I change the radio station. OK, maybe Dean Martin singing “A Marshmallow World.” That appears to be the only Christmasy song my brain can take now. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-prefer-childrens-traditional-or-religious-christmas-songs/564866/6 "2010-12-20T20:24:45Z")
I like all kinds of Christmas music . . . and being an atheist doesn’t keep me from appreciating the religious ones (except when people are referred to as “sheep”). And please, nothing about shoes. And the poll left out: all of the above. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-prefer-childrens-traditional-or-religious-christmas-songs/564866/7 "2010-12-20T20:33:35Z")
There is a “None, I Don’t Like” option in the Poll. For anyone that doesn’t enjoy Holiday music. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-prefer-childrens-traditional-or-religious-christmas-songs/564866/8 "2010-12-20T21:16:53Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > I like all kinds of Christmas music . . . and being an atheist doesn’t keep me from appreciating the religious ones (except when people are referred to as “sheep”). > > And please, nothing about shoes. Or Santa’s cherry nose and long, white beard. One git always sang that one at an annual holiday party I attended. > [@](#): > > And the poll left out: all of the above. Right! ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-prefer-childrens-traditional-or-religious-christmas-songs/564866/9 "2010-12-21T00:47:16Z")
Nearly all of what I do like are traditional and religious, but non-mainstream. I’m capable of liking some nontraditional and some nonreligious though. a) Allan’s JING rule: Anything that “jings” is awful. From the OP: “Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer, Jingle Bells, Sleigh Ride” … ::barfsmilie:: b) Overplayed non-jingy songs aren’t good either: Please, no more Joy to the World, Silent Night, or First Noel! And if it’s Hark the Herald Angels Sing or We Three Kings or O Holy Night it better be a damn good rendition. Silver Bells, likewise, and can we please give The Holly and the Ivy a rest for a while? Here’s my idea of a good rotation: Ave Maria (Schubert); Gesu Bambino; the Coventry Carol; For Unto Us a Son is Given; Lo How a Rose e’er Blooming; I’ll Be Home for Christmas; I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day; I Wonder as I Wander; Good Christian Men, Rejoice; There’s a Song in the Air; Estampie Natalis; The Cherry Tree Carol; Carol of the Bells; A Star in the East; Patapan; The Wassail Song; Masters in This Hall; O Come, O Come Emmanuel; Angels We Have Heard on High; In the Bleak Midwinter; Kyrie Eleison; Jubilate Deo; Adeste Fidelis; The Gifts they Gave; Infant Holy, Infant Lowly. Except don’t rotate them. After the last one, dip the dipper in the songbucket for another set loosely similar and play those. Don’t keep playing the same damn songs all the time. Really nice choral arrangements and/or great solo voices count for a lot. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-prefer-childrens-traditional-or-religious-christmas-songs/564866/10 "2010-12-21T02:14:32Z")
Based on your list, non-glurgey (i.e. old) religious ones, but not for the lyrical content. They just sound better. Gaudete is the best. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-prefer-childrens-traditional-or-religious-christmas-songs/564866/11 "2010-12-21T02:25:40Z")
Living in a summery place makes a lot of the snow themed songs hard to reconcile, and I am not one for the whole Jesus thing, but I do like modern twists on traditional carols, like _Carol of the Bells_ and _Little Drummer Boy_. They just sound pretty and evocative. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-prefer-childrens-traditional-or-religious-christmas-songs/564866/12 "2010-12-21T02:29:44Z")
Most of my favorites are the children’s ones, I think. Mostly because my favorite Christmas songs are the ones Phil Spector produced versions of for his album (Sleigh Ride, Frosty, I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus). Though I’m not sure where my favorite of all time, Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) should be classified… ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-prefer-childrens-traditional-or-religious-christmas-songs/564866/13 "2010-12-21T07:23:00Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > I prefer modern Christmas songs. I prefer a mix of religious _and_ modern. Pretty much evently split, actually. Carol of The Bells Last Christmas Coventry Carol Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) Come All Ye Faithful Footprints We Three Kings River God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen All I Want For Christmas Is You Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree Mary Did You Know Santa, I’m Right Here… ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 9:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-prefer-childrens-traditional-or-religious-christmas-songs/564866/14 "2010-12-21T09:57:30Z")
I like all categories. I am getting old and curmudgeon-y, but there is still enough of that little kid in me who for whom Christmas was magical. We were poor growing up and it was the one time of year we got toys. And the music reawakens that excited little boy. I no longer am religious, but religion has produced some of the most beautiful music I know. I no longer am poor, but Santa can still make me smile. Yeah, to be honest this time of year is rather hectic and as I get older I like it less. But part of me still loves it. I give a little something to almost everyone I know. ---
**Author:** ![dogbutler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dogbutler/32/428_2.png) [@dogbutler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dogbutler)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-prefer-childrens-traditional-or-religious-christmas-songs/564866/15 "2010-12-21T11:33:40Z")
I like religious songs, but my favorite Christmas song is “Fairytale of New York” by the Pogues. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-prefer-childrens-traditional-or-religious-christmas-songs/564866/16 "2010-12-21T13:18:35Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > …Or Santa’s cherry nose and long, white beard. One git always sang that one at an annual holiday party I attended… I like Bob Dylan’s version of [Must Be Santa](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8qE6WQmNus). Wikipedia says it was written by Mitch Miller–who passed on last summer. And that Bob uses Brave Combo’s polka-style arrangement! Hear[some samples](http://www.brave.com/bcstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=21&products_id=35) from the\* first\* Christmas album by that great group from Denton, Texas. So I can enjoy silly, childish Christmas tunes. Plus the Old Favorites. And religious ones going back the Middle Ages. Only in good versions, that is! (And, of course, “[Fairytale of New York](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwHyuraau4Q)” rules.) ---
**Author:** ![divemaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/divemaster/32/78_2.png) [@divemaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/divemaster)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-prefer-childrens-traditional-or-religious-christmas-songs/564866/17 "2010-12-21T13:50:10Z")
I much prefer the religious ones. \*\*O Holy Night \*\*is a good one. So is **Do You Hear What I Hear?** Anything with organ and cathedral choir is good. For traditional, maybe **Silver Bells**? That’s a pretty one. ---
**Author:** ![Headrush042](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a5b964/32.png) [@Headrush042](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Headrush042)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-prefer-childrens-traditional-or-religious-christmas-songs/564866/18 "2010-12-21T16:39:16Z")
I like to have a mixture of styles, myself, though I do tend to steer clear of the overplayed favorites of the season unless it’s a unique/creative arrangement. On the sacred side, Handel’s _Messiah_ is an annual tradition around here (not least of which because I am part of a chorale that performs it). My absolute favorite sacred piece (and IMO one of the most gorgeous settings of music ever, for anything) is an acapella choral arrangement by Morten Lauridsen: [O Magnum Mysterium](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nn5ken3RJBo) Leaning towards the more secular side of things, I generally prefer the jazzy loungey arrangements you hear in cheesy romance movies that take place during the holidays. Jazz just makes me feel good in general. I’m also quite fond of the sillier modern pieces, such as those written by Jonathan Coulton: [Podsafe Christmas Song](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50UhOdBHsQg) (A spoof of Alvin and the Chipmunks) [Chiron Beta Prime](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3DyxaCYlfg) ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-prefer-childrens-traditional-or-religious-christmas-songs/564866/19 "2010-12-21T20:14:03Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > (And, of course, “[Fairytale of New York](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwHyuraau4Q)” rules.) IMHO, most Christmas songs are designed to be put away with the lights or dragged to the curb with the tree sometime in January. FoNY isn’t a Christmas song so much because it is awesome 365 days a year, and maybe gets extra relevance around this time. Look for young Matt Dillon about 9s in. ---
**Author:** ![Katriona](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/katriona/32/113_2.png) [@Katriona](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Katriona)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-prefer-childrens-traditional-or-religious-christmas-songs/564866/20 "2010-12-21T22:04:57Z")
> [@Headrush042](#): > > IMy absolute favorite sacred piece (and IMO one of the most gorgeous settings of music ever, for anything) is an acapella choral arrangement by Morten Lauridsen: [O Magnum Mysterium](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nn5ken3RJBo) > > [Chiron Beta Prime](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3DyxaCYlfg) We sang that in glee club when I was in college. I LOVED it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-prefer-childrens-traditional-or-religious-christmas-songs/564866.md?page=2)