Holiday Traditions: Our Favorite Tunes for your Holiday Playlist

Do you hear what I hear? Once the holidays roll around, you can pretty much count on certain things: eggnog, presents, poinsettias, office parties with random coworkers wearing a lampshade on their head…and, oh yeah, Christmas carols. Regardless of your religious denomination, or whether or not you even celebrate Christmas, holiday music can get even the Grinch-iest of fellows in the spirit.

Come on, admit it. There’s nothing that gets you in the holiday spirit quite like the glorious sounds of the season. That’s right. We’re talking about Christmas carols. Holiday hits. Jingle jams. No matter your style of music, there’s just something about holiday music that makes the most wonderful time of the year even more wonderful. (Is that even possible?)

At Seaside Vacations, our elves have been busy preparing a list of our favorite holiday hits. From the classic sounds of Bing Crosby to the mesmerizing sounds of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra to the not-so-traditional sounds of Jimmy Fallon and John Rich, check out our exclusive list that offers up some of the best holiday tunes this season:

White Christmas by Bing Crosby
It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year by Andy Williams
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing by Carrie Underwood
Angels We Have Heard On High by Christina Aguilera
Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree by Brenda Lee
The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You) by Nat King Cole
Christmas Song by Dave Matthews
Feliz Navidad by Jose Feliciano
A Holly Jolly Christmas by Burl Ives
Jingle Bell Rock by Bobby Helms
I’ll Be Home For Christmas by Josh Groban
Baby, It’s Cold Outside by James Taylor and Natalie Cole
Chanukah Song by Adam Sandler
Christmas All Over Again by Tom Petty
Here Comes Santa Claus by Willie Nelson
Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24) by Trans-Siberian Orchestra
Last Christmas by Wham!
Where Are You Christmas? by Faith Hill
Jingle Bells by Diana Krall
Carol of the Bells
I Saw Three Ships by Sting
Christmas Lights by Coldplay
Drunk On Christmas by Jimmy Fallon featuring John Rich
All I Want For Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey
Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer by Jack Johnson
I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus by Jackson 5
Happy Xmas (War Is Over) by John Lennon & Yoko Ono
Little Drummer Boy | Peace on Earth by David Bowie and Bing Crosby
Christmas In Hollis by RUN-DMC
Christmas Time Is Here by Vince Guaraldi Trio
Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town by Bruce Springsteen
Santa Baby by Eartha Kitt
My Favorite Things by John Coltrane
You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch by Thurl Ravenscroft
Blue Christmas by Elvis Presley
Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) by U2
Do You Hear What I Hear? by Whitney Houston
Deck The Halls by R.E.M.
Joy To The World by Johnny Cash
O Holy Night by Mariah Carey (hands down my all time favorite)

While we couldn’t list them all, we hope this list of our favorite holiday hits has inspired you to break tradition and start listening to some holiday tunes pre-Thanksgiving. After all, Thanksgiving comes late this year…which means you have less time to take in the cool sounds of Michael Buble, the hilarious lyrics of Jimmy Fallon, or the powerful voice of Mariah Carey belting out “O Holy Night.”

So, get jammin’! You can find your favorite holiday playlist on sites like Pandora, Spotify, or create your own personal playlist on sites like Grooveshark, Google Music, iTunes, etc.

Note: If our list of holiday jams doesn’t get you groovin’, then maybe our list of Christmas TV Classics or our 31 Days of Holiday Movies will turn change your Scrooge-y ways. Feel like less is more during the holiday season? Go snuggle up by the fire with some hot cocoa and read one of our 25 holiday books and find some peace this holiday season.