# What constitutes a Christmas song? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 14, 2009, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-constitutes-a-christmas-song/521235 "2009-12-14T17:22:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2009, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-constitutes-a-christmas-song/521235/1 "2009-12-14T17:22:28Z")
It annoys me whenever I hear “Last Christmas” by _Wham!_ played on the radio during the yuletide season. No offense to anyone, but I would like to respectfully submit that it is NOT a Christmas song. Why? Because except for the opening line (“Last Christmas, I gave you my heart…”) there is no mention of Christmas whatsoever. Nor is there any mention of the usual Christmas-related trappings such as caroling, gift-giving (the aforementioned heart notwithstanding), reindeer, or the birth of Jesus. There isn’t even the slightest mention of winter or snow, for that matter. The same song could have just as easily been written about Valentine’s Day, except that the lyrics wouldn’t have fit the meter. I’d like to propose that in order to qualify as a Christmas tune, a song should meet at least one of the following criteria: [ul] [li]It should make some sort of reference to the birth of Jesus (e.g. “Silent Night,” “God Bless Ye Merry Gentlemen,” “Joy to the World”)[/li][li]It should mention some of the usual Christmas trappings such as Santa, Christmas trees, or sleigh bells (e.g. “Jingle Bells,” “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” “Santa Baby,” “O Tannenbaum”)[/li][li]It should mention Christmas in more than just a passing manner (e.g. “Christmastime is Here,” “The Twelve Days of Christmas”). This is especially true if it alludes to the Christmas spirit (e.g. “Do They Know It’s Christmastime?”).[/li][li]For instrumental tunes, they should be closely associated with a well-known Christmas show (e.g. “You’re a Mean One, Mister Grinch,” Vince Guaraldi’s “Linus and Lucy”)[/li][/ul] Objections? Addenda? ---
**Author:** ![maladroit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f475e1/32.png) [@maladroit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maladroit)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2009, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-constitutes-a-christmas-song/521235/2 "2009-12-14T17:46:02Z")
I don’t have an answer fo ryou, but this is as good a place to shove this related question. How come only christmas songs are carols? Where are the thanksgiving carols, the easter carols? ---
**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 14, 2009, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-constitutes-a-christmas-song/521235/3 "2009-12-14T17:48:42Z")
> [@maladroit](#): > > Where are the thanksgiving carols “Jingle Bells” was supposedly written for a Thanksgiving service. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2009, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-constitutes-a-christmas-song/521235/4 "2009-12-14T17:59:28Z")
> **[Carol (music)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carol_(music))** > > A carol is a festive song, generally religious but not necessarily connected with Christian church worship, and sometimes accompanied by a dance. A caroller (or caroler) is someone who sings carols, and is said to be carolling (or caroling). > Today the carol is represented almost exclusively by the Advent carol, the Christmas carol, and to a lesser extent by the Easter carol; however, despite their present association with religion, this has not always been the case. > The word carol is derived ... The Thanksgiving season also includes the favorites “Over the River” and “We Gather Together.” ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2009, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-constitutes-a-christmas-song/521235/5 "2009-12-14T18:04:59Z")
I agree with this premise; there’s certain songs which have gotten added into the Christmas-music rotation, but which really don’t belong there. In addition to “Last Christmas”, I’d also kick these off the island: - “Another Auld Lang Syne”, Dan Fogelberg (about a bittersweet reunion with an ex-lover, which just happens to be on New Year’s Eve) - “Baby It’s Cold Outside”, various artists (about trying to convince a girl to stay overnight because the weather sucks…more about vague sexual innuendo than anything holiday-related) ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2009, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-constitutes-a-christmas-song/521235/6 "2009-12-14T18:10:28Z")
If it doesn’t come from or sound like the 50s, it’s not real Christmas music. Note that I **hate** Christmas music. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2009, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-constitutes-a-christmas-song/521235/7 "2009-12-14T18:11:47Z")
[Winter Wonderland.](http://www.carols.org.uk/winter_wonderland.htm) [Let It Snow.](http://www.carols.org.uk/let_it_snow.htm) Neither makes the slightest mention of Christmas. ---
**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 14, 2009, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-constitutes-a-christmas-song/521235/8 "2009-12-14T18:40:46Z")
A Christmas song is what I’m pointing at when I say, “That is a Christmas Song.” Same for Christmas movies. Some Christmas songs make no mention of Christmas (we had a thread on it last year), but are considered such because they’re traditionally played around Christmas. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2009, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-constitutes-a-christmas-song/521235/9 "2009-12-14T18:41:18Z")
I see where the OP is coming from, but too many long-beloved carols wouldn’t make the cut (add Sleigh Ride to the list…which even pointedly refers to a “birthday party”, which could just as easily have been a “christmas party”. lyricist must’ve been some kinda commie atheist. 😉 ) But I’m all in favor of banishing sappy love songs masquerading as Christmas carols. “Last Christmas I Gave You My Heart” would be the first to go. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2009, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-constitutes-a-christmas-song/521235/10 "2009-12-14T18:54:16Z")
> [@maladroit](#): > > I don’t have an answer fo ryou, but this is as good a place to shove this related question. > > How come only christmas songs are carols? Where are the thanksgiving carols, the easter carols? Linus Van Pelt sings [pumpkin carols](http://www.paganlibrary.com/music_poetry/peanuts_pumpkin_carols.php) while awaiting the Great Pumpkin on Halloween. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2009, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-constitutes-a-christmas-song/521235/11 "2009-12-14T18:57:17Z")
> [@JThunder](#): > > or sleigh bells (e.g. “Jingle Bells,” I object. There is absolutely nothing specifically Christmassy about sleigh bells or the song “Jingle Bells.” “Jingle Bells,” “Winter Wonderland,” and “Let It Snow” are not Christmas songs; they’re winter songs. There’s no reason they couldn’t be appropriately played/sung during January or February except that everyone’s sick of them by the end of December. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2009, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-constitutes-a-christmas-song/521235/12 "2009-12-14T19:06:04Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > I object. There is absolutely nothing specifically Christmassy about sleigh bells or the song “Jingle Bells.” > > “Jingle Bells,” “Winter Wonderland,” and “Let It Snow” are not Christmas songs; they’re winter songs. There’s no reason they couldn’t be appropriately played/sung during January or February except that everyone’s sick of them by the end of December. This is true. I categorize popular Christmas songs into three categories: -Religious Christmas songs. Songs whose lyrics involve Jesus or the birth of Jesus. Examples: _The First Noel, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, Do You Hear What I Hear?, Joy to the World_. -Secular Christmas songs. Songs with lyrics involving Santa Claus, celebrating Christmas, or other non-religious aspects of the Christmas season. Examples: _Santa Claus is Comin’ To Town, Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, The Christmas Song_. -Winter songs. Songs about snow or wintertime that have no reference to Christmas in the lyrics, but are generally linked to the Christmas season. Examples: _Frosty the Snowman, Winter Wonderland, Sleigh Ride, Jingle Bells_. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2009, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-constitutes-a-christmas-song/521235/13 "2009-12-14T19:07:42Z")
> [@maladroit](#): > > I don’t have an answer fo ryou, but this is as good a place to shove this related question. > > How come only christmas songs are carols? Where are the thanksgiving carols, the easter carols? The 702-page _The New Oxford Book of Carols_ (Keyte/Parrott), now in my lap, has 17 New Year’s carols (don’t forget _Deck the Halls_ is a New Year’s song, not a Christmas song), four for Twelfth night, 11 for Epiphany, one for the Octave of the Epiphany, one for Candelmas Eve and two for Candlemas. Its predecessor, _The Oxford Book of Carols_ (Dearmer, Vaughn Williams, Shaw), contains carols for Innocents Day, Palm Sunday, Eastertide, Ascensiontide, Whitsuntide, Trinity Sunday, Saints’ Day, Spring, May, Summer, Autumn (including Thanksgiving – not American Thanksgiving, but a song in thanksgiving), and Winter. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2009, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-constitutes-a-christmas-song/521235/14 "2009-12-14T19:07:43Z")
My objection to _Last Christmas_ is simply that it sucks, whether or not anyone considers it a Christmas song. I don’t want to hear it in December _or_ July. But I have no problem with what might be considered “winter songs” being lumped in with Christmas carols. _Jingle Bells_, _Sleigh Ride_, _Winter Wonderland_, _Frosty the Snowman_, et al., feel Christmas-y enough to me to make the cut. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2009, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-constitutes-a-christmas-song/521235/15 "2009-12-14T19:10:24Z")
> [@Sigmagirl](#): > > The 702-page _The New Oxford Book of Carols_ (Keyte/Parrott), now in my lap, has 17 New Year’s carols (don’t forget _Deck the Halls_ is a New Year’s song, not a Christmas song), four for Twelfth night, 11 for Epiphany, one for the Octave of the Epiphany, one for Candelmas Eve and two for Candlemas. Its predecessor, _The Oxford Book of Carols_ (Dearmer, Vaughn Williams, Shaw), contains carols for Innocents Day, Palm Sunday, Eastertide, Ascensiontide, Whitsuntide, Trinity Sunday, Saints’ Day, Spring, May, Summer, Autmn, and Winter. Good King Wenceslas is anomalous…a religious song that makes no mention of Christmas, just the Feast of Stephen (Dec 26). I’ve been listening to my local lite-rock-less-talk 24 hour christmas songs lately…and I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s one reason so many people say they hate Christmas carols. There are so many good Christmas carols, but the radio tilts heavily towards utter crap. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2009, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-constitutes-a-christmas-song/521235/16 "2009-12-14T19:15:23Z")
> [@JThunder](#): > > I’d like to propose that in order to qualify as a Christmas tune, a song should meet at least one of the following criteria: > > [ul] > [li]It should make some sort of reference to the birth of Jesus (e.g. “Silent Night,” “God Bless Ye Merry Gentlemen,” “Joy to the World”)[/li]**[li]It should mention some of the usual Christmas trappings such as Santa, Christmas trees, or sleigh bells (e.g. “Jingle Bells,” “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” “Santa Baby,” “O Tannenbaum”)**[/li][li]It should mention Christmas in more than just a passing manner (e.g. “Christmastime is Here,” “The Twelve Days of Christmas”). This is especially true if it alludes to the Christmas spirit (e.g. “Do They Know It’s Christmastime?”).[/li][li]For instrumental tunes, they should be closely associated with a well-known Christmas show (e.g. “You’re a Mean One, Mister Grinch,” Vince Guaraldi’s “Linus and Lucy”)[/li][/ul] Oh good, that means that one of my favorites, “Santa Claus Wants Some Lovin’”, qualifies as an official Christmas song. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2009, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-constitutes-a-christmas-song/521235/17 "2009-12-14T19:17:03Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > [Winter Wonderland.](http://www.carols.org.uk/winter_wonderland.htm) > [Let It Snow.](http://www.carols.org.uk/let_it_snow.htm) > > Neither makes the slightest mention of Christmas. Actually, I meant to include a fifth category – songs that mention the beauty or magic of snow and winter. Apart from the songs that you mentioned, they would also include “Baby It’s Cold Outside” (which **kenobi 65** cited earlier) and “Frosty the Snowman.” Why? For the sake of tradition, and also because they’re at least associated with this general time of the year. If people can decorate their houses with fake snowflakes to celebrate Christmas, then I’m willing to grant these as Christmas songs, even though they’re not strictly about the holiday. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2009, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-constitutes-a-christmas-song/521235/18 "2009-12-14T19:18:27Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > I object. There is absolutely nothing specifically Christmassy about sleigh bells or the song “Jingle Bells.” That’s a valid objection; however, as I said, I’m inclined to make allowances for winter songs. I see that other posters have also made the same point. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2009, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-constitutes-a-christmas-song/521235/19 "2009-12-14T19:19:49Z")
> [@Sigmagirl](#): > > …don’t forget _Deck the Halls_ is a New Year’s song, not a Christmas song… Well, it does include the line “Tis the season to be jolly,” which sounds more Christmassy to me. Of course, YMMV. BTW, I do agree that “Last Christmas” simply sucks, whether or not it’s a yuletide song. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2009, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-constitutes-a-christmas-song/521235/20 "2009-12-14T19:39:08Z")
Even these rules are too lenient, as Joni Mitchell’s “River,” a heartbreak song from 38 years ago that somewhere along the line became a Christmas staple due solely to the scene-setting first verse, would qualify under Rule 2. _It’s coming on Christmas They’re cutting down trees They’re putting up reindeer And singing songs of joy and peace_ [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-constitutes-a-christmas-song/521235.md?page=2)