10 Traditional Christmas Songs That Will Take You Back

I have wonderful childhood memories of Christmas and even today, many years after the fact, there are two things that instantly transport back through the years; Pecan pies baking in the oven and Bing Crosby singing White Christmas.

Music has always been a big part of my life and it was never more so than at Christmas time. Here are 10 Christmas songs that always make me feel like a child again filled with the excitement that was Christmas. Perhaps they will take you back again too.

White Christmas by Bing Crosby

Possibly, if not probably, the best known Christmas song of all time. And I have many wonderful memories of it. White Christmas, and for that matter Bing Crosby, was my grandmothers' favorite and she always played it at Christmas time. She played it on a record player, remember those? We lived in Central Texas and it only really snowed three times in my entire life and never once at Christmas. Maybe that is why we all loved this song so much. We could envision the glistening tree tops and hear the sleigh bells in the snow.

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas

Another Bing treasure. Remember when even the smallest towns decorated for Christmas? I sure do. Remember when there really was a "downtown" with parking meters and barber shops and Dime stores? You know, back before the Mall? This song always brings back fond memories of shopping downtown at Christmas.

Silver Bells

This song has been recorded by every artist from Elvis to Twisted Sister, yes really, Twisted Sister. I don't remember who sang the version from my childhood but you will have no problem finding a version that you will like and relate to. This is another classic that will bring back memories of downtown shopping and Christmas Parades.

Here Comes Santa Claus by Gene Autry

I don't remember when I stopped believing in Santa Claus nor was it a traumatic experience since I don't even remember it but I do remember singing this song with my brother and sister and playing the record over and over until our mother made us stop. It's a great song full of wide-eyed Christmas innocence.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Another very classic Christmas classic by Gene Autry. Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donder, Blizten and Rudolph! What kid my age (I like to refer to myself as a "late stage baby boomer") doesn't remember this song? I loved it then and I still love it!

Silent Night

This song has also been recorded by every artist from Pop to Jazz. One of my favorite versions is by Amy Grant. The instrumental version by Mannheim Steamroller is also stunningly beautiful. My mom used to play this song on a little portable Organ we had when I was a kid. No matter what your religious beliefs are this song is beautiful.

Joy to the World

Again, a song recorded by dozens, if not hundreds, of artists. One of my favorite versions is done by Faith Hill. I remember singing this song at school programs back when they were called "Christmas" programs. We also sang it in church many times during the Christmas season.

Frosty the Snowman

Gene Autry did this one too and what kid wouldn't thrill at the thought of a talking snowman with a magic hat? Especially a kid like me who lived in an area where there was little hope for enough snow to make an ice cube much less a snowman. Definitely a Christmas classic if there ever was one.

The last two songs in my list are fairly new and did not exist when I was a kid. Even so, they both elicit vivid memories for me. Maybe that is because these two songs depict the changes that take place as we grow up and how Christmas changes for us too. I love these two songs in a bitter sweet way. The first of these two songs is Christmas Through Your Eyes by Gloria Estefan.

The last song is Where Are You Christmas by Faith Hill...My world is changing, rearranging...could it be Christmas changes too.

I wish you all a Merry Christmas and may we all be blessed with the eyes and heart of a child.