25 Best Christmas Carols That Bring Joy to Your Playlist
You'll be humming these tunes all season long! 🎄🎶
When you think of Christmas, the first thing that probably comes to mind is watching Christmas movies, making festive cookies, and wrapping presents—all of which are some of our favorite Christmas traditions! But we'd be kidding ourselves if we didn't acknowledge the importance of a good ol' Christmas carol! Anyone who celebrates the holiday knows that you can't escape the wonders of one of the many traditional tunes. And since the season is creeping up on us, we thought we'd list out some of the best Christmas carols around!
Think you know your Christmas carols? This list is the ultimate test. Some of these Christmas songs are considered staples in the Christmas caroling category. You can expect to see "Silent Night" and "O Holy Night" on this list—those were a given. But other carols may be introduced to you for the first time. Have you ever heard of the "Shepherd’s Pipe Carol?"
Take a stroll through these joyous tunes and see how many you recognize. After all, it’s never too early for Christmas music (or even a batch of Christmas cookies). And who knows, maybe this will spark some inspiration to head out with your annual neighborhood Christmas carolers!
What Child Is This
Rumor has it that the second this carol plays, Christmas begins—no matter what month it is! (Okay, we're joking, but it's a popular one for a reason!)
Angels We Have Heard on High
A timeless classic that anyone will recognize. This reimagining by acclaimed singing group, Pentatonix, adds lots of flare and moving beats.
Ding Dong Merrily on High
No, those aren't church bells you hear, but instead the voices of The King's Singers belting out this joyous tune! If the word "merry" could be described in a carol, it would be this.
I Saw a Maiden
If there's one tune that will make you want to join a choir yourself, it's this one! Sung so smoothly and in sync, "I Saw a Maiden" rings in the Christmas season in its own way.
The Cherry Tree Carol
More cheerful and happy than not, this one will have you feeling like you should take a frolic in the snow on a rather bright day. Its lyrics center around the feeling Mary had when she found out she was pregnant with Jesus!
Silent Night
Fun fact: This classic carol was originally written in German. Composed in the early 1800's by Franz Xaver Gruber (with lyrics by Joseph Mohr), the song was first called ‘Stille Nacht.’ It wasn't until 1859 when it was translated to English. It was sung by both German and English troops during the Christ truce of World War I.
O Come All Ye Faithful
The creator of "O Come All Ye Faithful" is not confirmed. (You know we love a mystery.)
Coventry Carol
Where are all the 16th-century England history buffs? The lyrics are a little dark, referring to the ‘Massacre of the Innocents’ by King Herod.
O Holy Night
"O Holy Night" was originally written as a poem in France, 1847. It was soon accompanied by music, which is what gave us the staple tune we know today.
Away in a Manger
Sung in children's Christmas choir performances everywhere, this one hardly needs an introduction.
Once in Royal David's City
This might just be the most graceful tune to come out of the 19th century.
Joy to the World
It's hard to resist the urge to absolutely belt out the lyrics of this one.
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
One of the oldest Christmas carols on this list! This song dates all the way back to the 16th century.
Sussex Carol
‘Sussex Carol’ earned its name when Ralph Vaughan Williams set the lyrics to this tune he heard being sung near Sussex.
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
War and peace are the themes of this tune here.
Shepherd’s Pipe Carol
What's cool about this carol is that John Rutter composed it when he was just a schoolboy.
Gabriel's Message
This carol is considered a rarity, as it was the first of its time to produce sounds and melodies of its caliber.
The Holly and the Ivy
Play this one when winter starts feeling just a little too cold.
Carol of the Bells
One of the more popular songs on this list—this carol has many renditions, so there is certainly one that will suit your liking.
Candlelight Carol
How many John Rutter originals are we at now? It's clear that he is the king of Christmas carols.
Josiah is the Digital Content Producer for the commerce team at Popular Mechanics, Best Products, Runner’s World, and Bicycling Magazine. He also writes for “BIO Buys”—a column on Biography.com—giving readers the lowdown on what products their favorite celebs are using. In another life, Josiah was an editor at ThePioneerWoman.com, where he sharpened his expertise on all things lifestyle, food-news, and entertainment. Outside work related matters, he’s a fan of Studio Ghibli films, unimportant reality TV drama, and melancholy Lorde songs.
35 Best Fall Songs for the Coziest Playlist
15 Songs Every Oklahoman Should Know by Heart
The Best Country Songs Ever, Picked by the Opry
Lodge Expanded Dolly Parton's Cast Iron Collection
