Christmas songs and hymns are more than seasonal music—they are powerful expressions of faith, culture, memory, and celebration. From ancient hymns sung in candlelit churches to modern holiday songs played on radios and playlists worldwide, Christmas music has shaped how generations experience the season.
Over centuries, these songs have told the story of Christ’s birth, reflected communal joy, and preserved cultural traditions across continents. Some were written as acts of worship, others as folk carols for public celebration, and many modern ones as expressions of love, nostalgia, and goodwill.
In this article, we present 100 popular Christmas 🎄 songs and hymns, carefully compiled with their authors or singers and the year they were written or released.
History of Christmas: Origin, Meaning, & Why It Is Celebrated December 25
100 Timeless Christmas Hymns and Songs Every Christian Should Know
| No. | Christmas Song / Hymn | Singer / Composer / Author | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Silent Night | Franz Xaver Gruber / Joseph Mohr | 1818 |
| 2 | O Holy Night | Adolphe Adam | 1847 |
| 3 | Joy to the World | Isaac Watts | 1719 |
| 4 | Hark! The Herald Angels Sing | Charles Wesley | 1739 |
| 5 | O Come All Ye Faithful | John Francis Wade | 1744 |
| 6 | Away in a Manger | James R. Murray (attrib.) | 1887 |
| 7 | O Little Town of Bethlehem | Phillips Brooks | 1868 |
| 8 | The First Noel | Traditional English Carol | 16th Century |
| 9 | Angels We Have Heard on High | Traditional French Carol | 18th Century |
| 10 | It Came Upon the Midnight Clear | Edmund Sears | 1849 |
| 11 | What Child Is This? | William Chatterton Dix | 1865 |
| 12 | God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen | Traditional English Carol | 16th Century |
| 13 | We Three Kings | John Henry Hopkins Jr. | 1857 |
| 14 | O Come, O Come Emmanuel | Traditional Latin Hymn | 12th Century |
| 15 | Go Tell It on the Mountain | John W. Work Jr. | 1907 |
| 16 | Good King Wenceslas | John Mason Neale | 1853 |
| 17 | Ding Dong Merrily on High | George Ratcliffe Woodward | 1924 |
| 18 | Deck the Halls | Traditional Welsh Carol | 16th Century |
| 19 | Once in Royal David’s City | Cecil Frances Alexander | 1848 |
| 20 | While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks | Nahum Tate | 1700 |
| 21 | Come Thou Long Expected Jesus | Charles Wesley | 1744 |
| 22 | I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day | Henry Wadsworth Longfellow | 1863 |
| 23 | Carol of the Bells | Mykola Leontovych | 1914 |
| 24 | O Christmas Tree | Traditional German Carol | 1824 |
| 25 | Little Drummer Boy | Katherine K. Davis | 1941 |
| 26 | Mary, Did You Know? | Mark Lowry / Buddy Greene | 1991 |
| 27 | Do You Hear What I Hear? | Noël Regney / Gloria Shayne | 1962 |
| 28 | The Twelve Days of Christmas | Traditional English Carol | 18th Century |
| 29 | In the Bleak Midwinter | Christina Rossetti | 1872 |
| 30 | Infant Holy, Infant Lowly | Traditional Polish Carol | 14th Century |
| 31 | Coventry Carol | Traditional English Carol | 16th Century |
| 32 | See Amid the Winter’s Snow | Edward Caswall | 1858 |
| 33 | Love Came Down at Christmas | Christina Rossetti | 1885 |
| 34 | As With Gladness Men of Old | William C. Dix | 1860 |
| 35 | The Holly and the Ivy | Traditional English Carol | 19th Century |
| 36 | Break Forth, O Beauteous Heavenly Light | Johann Sebastian Bach | 1734 |
| 37 | A Mighty Fortress Is Our God | Martin Luther | 1529 |
| 38 | Of the Father’s Love Begotten | Aurelius Prudentius | 4th Century |
| 39 | Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne | Emily E. S. Elliott | 1864 |
| 40 | On Christmas Night | Traditional English Carol | 16th Century |
| 41 | Jesus Christ the Apple Tree | Traditional American Hymn | 18th Century |
| 42 | Unto Us a Boy Is Born | Traditional Latin Carol | 15th Century |
| 43 | How Great Our Joy | Traditional German Carol | 16th Century |
| 44 | Pat-a-Pan | Bernard de La Monnoye | 1700 |
| 45 | Still, Still, Still | Traditional Austrian Carol | 19th Century |
| 46 | Noel Nouvelet | Traditional French Carol | 16th Century |
| 47 | Gabriel’s Message | Basque Folk Carol | 13th Century |
| 48 | Christians Awake, Salute the Happy Morn | John Byrom | 1749 |
| 49 | Now Sing We, Now Rejoice | Traditional German Carol | 16th Century |
| 50 | Brightest and Best | Reginald Heber | 1811 |
| 51 | White Christmas | Irving Berlin | 1942 |
| 52 | Jingle Bells | James Lord Pierpont | 1857 |
| 53 | Santa Claus Is Coming to Town | J. Fred Coots / Haven Gillespie | 1934 |
| 54 | Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer | Johnny Marks | 1949 |
| 55 | Frosty the Snowman | Walter Rollins / Steve Nelson | 1950 |
| 56 | Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas | Hugh Martin / Ralph Blane | 1944 |
| 57 | Winter Wonderland | Felix Bernard / Richard B. Smith | 1934 |
| 58 | Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! | Sammy Cahn / Jule Styne | 1945 |
| 59 | The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting) | Mel Tormé / Bob Wells | 1945 |
| 60 | It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year | Edward Pola / George Wyle | 1963 |
| 61 | Silver Bells | Jay Livingston / Ray Evans | 1951 |
| 62 | Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree | Johnny Marks | 1958 |
| 63 | Feliz Navidad | José Feliciano | 1970 |
| 64 | Last Christmas | Wham! (George Michael) | 1984 |
| 65 | All I Want for Christmas Is You | Mariah Carey | 1994 |
| 66 | Do They Know It’s Christmas? | Bob Geldof / Midge Ure | 1984 |
| 67 | Happy Xmas (War Is Over) | John Lennon / Yoko Ono | 1971 |
| 68 | Wonderful Christmastime | Paul McCartney | 1979 |
| 69 | Blue Christmas | Billy Hayes / Jay Johnson | 1948 |
| 70 | The Little Drummer Boy | Katherine K. Davis | 1941 |
| 71 | Sleigh Ride | Leroy Anderson | 1948 |
| 72 | Christmas Time Is Here | Vince Guaraldi | 1965 |
| 73 | You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch | Dr. Seuss / Albert Hague | 1966 |
| 74 | O Come, Little Children | Christoph von Schmid | 1798 |
| 75 | Masters in This Hall | Traditional French Carol | 18th Century |
| 76 | I Saw Three Ships | Traditional English Carol | 17th Century |
| 77 | Ring Out, Wild Bells | Alfred Lord Tennyson | 1850 |
| 78 | Jesus, Jesus, Rest Your Head | Traditional Spiritual | 19th Century |
| 79 | Star of Wonder | Contemporary Worship Carol | 2000s |
| 80 | Emmanuel | Bob McGee | 1976 |
| 81 | Light of the World | Lauren Daigle | 2015 |
| 82 | Noel | Chris Tomlin | 2009 |
| 83 | Born Is the King (It’s Christmas) | Hillsong Worship | 2011 |
| 84 | King of Kings | Hillsong Worship | 2019 |
| 85 | O Come All You Unfaithful | Sovereign Grace Music | 2015 |
| 86 | Welcome to Our World | Chris Rice | 1995 |
| 87 | The Night Before Christmas Song | Carly Simon | 2002 |
| 88 | Christmas Canon | Trans-Siberian Orchestra | 1998 |
| 89 | A Strange Way to Save the World | 4Him | 1997 |
| 90 | Breath of Heaven | Amy Grant | 1992 |
| 91 | Joseph’s Lullaby | MercyMe | 2005 |
| 92 | Star of Bethlehem | Neil Diamond | 1976 |
| 93 | Celebrate Me Home | Kenny Loggins | 1977 |
| 94 | Mary’s Boy Child | Jester Hairston | 1956 |
| 95 | Ding Dong! Merrily on High | George Woodward | 1924 |
| 96 | Christmas Hallelujah | Cloverton | 2015 |
| 97 | Born This Happy Morning | Traditional German Carol | 18th Century |
| 98 | Noel Noel | Traditional Carol | 17th Century |
| 99 | This Is Christmas | Luther Vandross | 1995 |
| 100 | Glory to the Newborn King | Contemporary Hymn Adaptation | 21st Century |
Conclusion
Christmas songs and hymns continue to endure because they speak to something universal—hope, joy, generosity, faith, and togetherness. While styles, languages, and musical forms have evolved, the heart of Christmas music remains the same: celebrating light in darkness and meaning beyond the moment.
Meaning of The Song: “Twelve Days of Christmas”
From centuries-old hymns like “Silent Night” and “O Come, All Ye Faithful” to modern classics that define contemporary Christmas celebrations, each song carries a story shaped by its time, culture, and purpose. Together, they form a musical heritage that bridges worship and celebration, tradition and innovation.
This collection of 100 Christmas songs and hymns serves not only as a festive playlist but also as a historical and cultural archive—reminding us why these songs are sung year after year, generation after generation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the difference between a Christmas song and a Christmas hymn?
A Christmas song is often secular or cultural and may focus on themes like winter, family, or celebration. A Christmas hymn is religious in nature and specifically centers on the birth of Jesus Christ and Christian worship.
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What is the oldest known Christmas hymn?
One of the earliest Christmas hymns is “Jesus Refulsit Omnium”, written in the 4th century by Saint Hilary of Poitiers. Many early Christmas hymns emerged from the early Christian church in Latin.
Which Christmas song is the most recorded of all time?
“Silent Night” is widely recognized as the most recorded Christmas song in history, with thousands of versions in multiple languages across the world.
Why are Christmas hymns important in Christian worship?
Christmas hymns help believers reflect on the meaning of Christ’s birth, teach biblical truths through music, and unite congregations in worship during the Christmas season.
The Origin of the Christmas Tree: History, Meaning, and Traditions
Are Christmas carols and hymns the same thing?
Not exactly. Christmas carols may be religious or secular and are often sung publicly or socially, while hymns are primarily written for worship and sung within church settings.
Why do some Christmas songs remain popular for centuries?
Timeless melodies, meaningful lyrics, strong spiritual themes, and emotional connections across generations help certain Christmas songs remain relevant long after they were written.
Bible Verses About Christmas: Old and New Testament Scriptures on the Birth of Jesus Christ
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Last modified: December 26, 2025
