The Kinds of Christmas Songs That Feel Like Home
Music sets the whole mood for my holidays. I don’t need flashy pop remakes or overplayed radio hits—I’m absolutely not a Mariah Carey or Taylor Swift Christmas girl. “All I Want for Christmas Is You” hits my nerves like a packed Walmart parking lot on Christmas Eve. No offense if it’s your jam, but it sure ain’t mine.
My heart belongs to the real Christmas music—the songs that take me straight back to Concord Baptist Church. I can still see those wooden pews, smell the old hymnals, and feel that nervous excitement of stepping onto the stage for the annual Christmas program. Years later, I watched my own babies standing in that same spot, singing their little hearts out. Those memories helped to build my Christmas soundtrack.
My Favorite Traditional Songs
These are the ones that instantly settle my spirit and remind me why this season matters in the first place. They feel warm, reverent, and full of childhood magic.
- Silent Night
- Away in a Manger
- God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
- Carol of the Bells
- O Christmas Tree
- The Twelve Days of Christmas
- We Wish You a Merry Christmas
- Hallelujah
When these start playing, everything else slows down. After all, Jesus is the reason for the season, and these songs are a reminder for me.
The Fun & Lighthearted Must-Plays
Even though I’m a sucker for the church classics, I love mixing in the playful ones too—the songs that remind me of childhood Christmas cartoons, wrapping paper everywhere, and my kids dancing around the living room.
- Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
- Frosty the Snowman
- Jingle Bells
- Santa Claus Is Coming to Town
- Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree
They’re simple, cheerful, and they always make me smile.
The Classics I’ll Never Skip
And then there are the legends—the voices that make Christmas feel rich, cozy, and timeless. These songs hit different, and they get played on repeat all December long.
- Elvis – Blue Christmas
- Bing Crosby – White Christmas
- The Temptations – Silent Night
- Alan Jackson – Let It Be Christmas
- George Strait – Christmas Cookies
- Michael Bublé – Holly Jolly Christmas
- José Feliciano – Feliz Navidad
These are the songs that fill my house, my car, and my whole mood during the holidays. Really, I’ll listen to just about anything as long as it’s not Mariah or Taylor, bless their hearts.
Why This Playlist Means So Much
My Christmas playlist isn’t just background noise. It’s memories. It’s tradition. It’s sitting in that old church as a little girl and watching my own kids years later on that same stage. It’s the warmth that comes from songs sung for generations. And it’s the joy that still sneaks up on me each December when the right song hits at the right time.
These are the songs that make the season bright.
Lisa Crow contributed to this article. She is a true crime junkie and lifestyle blogger based in Waco, Texas. Lisa is the Head of Content at Gigi’s Ramblings and Southern Bred True Crime Junkie. She spends her free time traveling when she can and making memories with her large family which consists of six children and fifteen grandchildren.