List of Christmas Carols | 50 Cozy Classics

For anyone who celebrates Christmas, carols are the heart of the season. Whether you love traditional hymns or modern Christmas hits, there’s something cozy and familiar about these festive pieces of music. Here are some of the most popular Christmas carols to round out your holiday playlist and fill your day with cheer.

If you’re looking to get creative and write your own festive tune, QuillBot’s free AI lyric writer can help you craft the perfect carol in minutes.

Religious Christmas carols

These timeless pieces celebrate the spiritual side of the season, telling the story of Jesus’ birth.

• “Angels We Have Heard On High”
• “Away in a Manger”
• “Do You Hear What I Hear?”
• “The First Noel”
• “Go Tell it on the Mountain”
• “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”
• “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”
• “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day”
• “I Saw Three Ships”
• “It Came Upon the Midnight Clear”
• “Joy to the World
• “The Little Drummer Boy”
• “Mary, Did You Know?”
• “O Come All Ye Faithful
• “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
• “O Holy Night
• “O Little Town of Bethlehem
• “Silent Night
• “We Three Kings
• “What Child Is This?
• “While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks

Christmas songs for kids

From reindeer games to thumpity-thumping snowmen, these cheerful tunes bring out the fun and excitement of Christmas for little ones.

• All I Want for Christmas (Is My Two Front Teeth)
• The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late)
• Frosty the Snowman
• Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer
• Here Comes Santa Claus
• I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas
• Jolly Old Saint Nicholas
• Mr. Grinch
• Must Be Santa
• Nuttin’ for Christmas
• Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
• Santa Claus Is Coming to Town
• Up on the Housetop

Secular Christmas carols

These festive favorites focus less on the nativity but keep the Christmas spirit alive with themes of love, togetherness, and Christmas magic.

• “Carol of the Bells”
• “The Christmas Song”
• “Deck the Halls”
• “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”
• “(Have a) Holly Jolly Christmas”
• “I’ll Be Home for Christmas”
• “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas”
• “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”
• “Jingle Bells”
• “Let it Snow”
• “O Christmas Tree”
• “Silver Bells”
• “Sleigh Ride”
• “The 12 Days of Christmas”
• “We Wish You a Merry Christmas”
• “White Christmas”
• “Winter Wonderland”

Pop Christmas music

These holiday hits bring a modern sparkle to the season. From Mariah’s powerhouse vocals to today’s chart-topping artists, pop Christmas songs keep the holiday spirit alive.

• “All I Want for Christmas Is You”—Mariah Carey
• “Baby It’s Cold Outside”—Frank Loesser (and many others)
• “Blue Christmas”—Elvis Presley
• “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)”—Darlene Love
• “Christmas Without You”—Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers
• “Do They Know It’s Christmas”—Band Aid
• “Feliz Navidad”—José Feliciano
• “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus”—The Jackson 5
• “Jingle Bell Rock”—Bobby Helms
• “Last Christmas”—Wham!
• “Mistletoe”—Justin Beiber
• “Rocking Around the Christmas Tree”—Brenda Lee
• “Run, Rudolph, Run”—Chuck Berry
• “Santa Baby”—Eartha Kitt

Hanukkah Songs

While these aren’t Christmas carols, they’re an essential part of the holiday season for those celebrating the Festival of Lights. These Hanukkah songs capture the warmth, resilience, and light that define this celebration.

• “I Have a Little Dreidel (The Dreidel Song)”
• “Oh Chanukah (Oy Chanukah)”
• “Ma’oz Tzur (Rock of Ages)”
• “Hanerot Halalu”
• “Mi Y’malel (Who Can Retell)”
• “Light One Candle”
• “Ocho Kandelikas”
• “The Hanukkah Song”
• “Candlelight”
• “Miracle”

Frequently asked questions about Christmas carols

Is it Happy Christmas Eve or Merry Christmas Eve?

People don’t typically say Happy Christmas Eve or Merry Christmas Eve.

In the UK, people say “Happy Christmas” or “Merry Christmas” on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and sometimes during the earlier part of December.

In the US, Australia, and Canada, people usually say “Merry Christmas” on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, or other days in December.

Only say “Happy Christmas” or “Merry Christmas” when you know that your audience observes Christmas. Happy Holidays is an inclusive greeting that refers to all of the religious and cultural days in December.

QuillBot’s free Paraphraser can help you find synonyms for “Happy Christmas,” “Merry Christmas,” and other holiday greetings.

What’s the difference between Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays?

“Merry Christmas” refers to Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, but Happy Holidays refers to all of the religious and cultural days in November and December.

Only say “Merry Christmas” when you’re certain that your audience observes Christmas.

When you don’t know which religious days your audience observes or when your audience observes multiple winter holidays, say “Happy Holidays.”

QuillBot’s free Paraphraser can help you with word choices when you’re writing Merry Christmas wishes or Happy Holidays messages.

What’s the Twas the Night Before Christmas poem?

The “Twas the Night Before Christmas” poem is actually titled “A Visit from St. Nicholas.” It was written by Clement Clarke Moore and first published in 1823.

“A Visit from St. Nicholas” is one of the most famous Christmas poems for kids, although many adults also enjoy it. The poem has also been recited in many Christmas films.

Want to learn more about this poem? Ask QuillBot’s AI Chat.

What is considered a Christmas carol?

A Christmas carol is a song about Christmas or the Christmas season. Carolers traditionally sing Christmas carols as they go from house to house.

Some people consider Christmas carols to be Christmas songs that are religious in nature and distinguish them from secular Christmas songs.

If you’re looking for more information about word definitions, QuillBot’s free AI chat is a great way to get your questions answered.