Top Ten Christmas Songs

Christmas is a special time of year for the whole family. For many of us, childhood Christmas memories are not complete without remembering some of the songs you've no doubt heard year after year. Here is a list of the Top Ten Christmas Songs that almost everyone is familiar with.

1. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
Who in their lifetime doesn't remember singing this song as a child? Not only is it one of the most well known Christmas songs out there, but it also teaches a positive message to children that it's okay if you don't fit in. Plus, many will remember the modification of the song, repeating "reindeer" during pauses, and so on.

2. Frosty the Snowman
It was really a tossup between these top two songs. It's pretty much just as impossible to find someone who doesn't know this song. The deciding factor was that there's no significant variation of this song, unlike Rudolph. The interaction of those who celebrate Christmas gives the nod to Rudolph. That said, Frosty at least as iconic, and teaches a message just as positive as Rudolph. A Christmas classic indeed.

3. Santa Clause is Coming to Town
He knows when you are sleeping, he knows when you're awake. Although mildly creepy, almost all people who celebrate Christmas are familiar with this song. He knows if you've been bad or good, so be good for goodness sake. Whether it's on the radio or in the classroom, it is hard to avoid this song.

4. Jingle Bells
Another song that virtually everyone is familiar with. This song would merit a higher ranking, but less people have this full song memorized. Pretty much anyone can sing the chorus, but fewer people know the verse. Still, you'd have to be living in a rock to not have heard this song. Many are surprised to learn that this song was actually written to celebrate Thanksgiving.

5. The Twelve Days of Christmas
Just about everyone can sing some of this song. Most can go as far as five gold rings (four calling birds, three french hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree), but it's uncommon for someone to know the whole song. That said, you'd have to search to find someone completely unfamiliar with this song.

6. We Wish you a Merry Christmas
Not only is this song common on the radio, it's also one of the most well known carols. Although many are only familiar with the chorus, it is just impossible to escape this song.

7. A Holly Jolly Christmas
I don't know if there'll be snow, but have a cup of cheer. A very merry song, most people are familiar with this song, and many feel that it is the cheeriest Christmas song they can think of. It's hard to find someone who hasn't heard this song, and it fits the Christmas spirit as well as any Christmas song does.

8. Let it Snow
While it may be argued that Let it Snow is more well known than A Holly Jolly Christmas, many people who have heard Let it Snow can only sing the chorus. Still, if you celebrate Christmas, there's almost no chance you're not familiar with this song.

9. Winter Wonderland
As with the other songs above, you really can't go a year without hearing this song multiple times, unless you try. Virtually everyone is familiar with this song, though mainly the chorus. Plus, it has the power to, if only for a few minutes, see winter as less of a hassle and moreso as beautiful and magical, especially as a child.

10. Feliz Navidad
This song arguably merits a much higher ranking, as it is probably more well known offhand than some of the songs above, but unless you are fluent in Spanish, you probably can't sing the whole song. Undoubtedly the most common and popular Christmas song written in a foreign language, you'd be hard pressed to find someone who's never heard it.

Honorable Mentions:
Here are some of the songs that just missed the cut.

Here Comes Santa Clause
It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
You're a Mean one Mr. Grinch
We Wish you a Merry Christmas
Jingle Bell Rock
Little Drummer Boy (my favorite Christmas song)
White Christmas
Silent Night
Silver Bells
Joy to the World
Deck the Halls
(There's no Place Like) Home for the Holidays

All I Want for Christmas was not included on this list, although extremely well known, because it is more of a comedic Christmas song for kids than a genuine Christmas song.

Small gaps in information were filled with the Christmas music Wiki.