The changing themes of holiday songs

It is interesting to note during the “Holiday Season” that there are two distinct and growing elements: that which relates to Christ and His birth and that which is reminiscent of the older pagan holidays. More ancient than Christmas, these pagan celebrations - some say excess celebration - evolved as if people needed a time of joyous celebration during the time of the year where there is the least daylight, no matter what the reason, to overcome this otherwise gloomy and depressing time of the year.

One can see this fairly clearly in the nature of the so-called “Christmas” or to be more accurate, “Holiday” songs.

The themes of most of the popular Holiday songs have changed over the years to conform more to the nature of the ancient pagan celebration of the winter solstice and have moved away somewhat from the religious, Christ-based hymns and carols.

According to numerous sources, including ASCAP and Media Guide, the following list of songs (that, incidentally, do not once mention Christ) are the among most popular Christmas recordings played on radio and in other public venues, including stores where Christmas shoppers visit, during the last few decades:

Jingle Bell Rock by Bobby Helms; The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You) by Nat King Cole; Happy Xmas (War Is Over), by John Lennon; White Christmas by Bing Crosby; It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year by Andy Williams; A Holly Jolly Christmas by Burl Ives; Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree by Brenda Lee; Wonderful Christmastime by Paul McCartney; Blue Christmas by Elvis Presley; All I Want For Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey; Sleigh Ride by Leroy Anderson; Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer by Gene Autry; Santa Claus Is Coming To Town by Bruce Springsteen; Home For The Holidays by Perry Como; Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer by Elmo and Patsy; Jingle Bells by Singing Dogs; Frosty the Snowman by Gene Autry; Merry Christmas Darling by The Carpenters; Little St. Nick by The Beach Boys; It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas by Perry Como; The Chipmunk Song by The Chipmunks; I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus by Jimmy Boyd; Here Comes Santa Claus by Gene Autry; The Christmas Waltz by Frank Sinatra; Silver Bells by Johnny Mathis.

Conversely, before the advent of popular, recorded music, the list of songs below were among the most popular Christmas songs. These reflect the devotional nature of a holiday associated primarily with the birth of Christ and far less of the celebratory nature of the pagan holiday season associated with the winter solstice. While all of these songs have been recorded by various artists, and are still heard during the Christmas season, they are not played nearly as much as the more popular secular and bright holiday songs.

In fact you can almost separate the two kinds of Christmas songs: those with Christ in it and those that do not mention the word Christ, although they mention the word Christmas, as if the holiday were just about partying and the warm gathering of friends.
This may have as much to do with the human need for cheer during this time of year, as it does with the commercial view of the season, where many merchants do as much as twenty-five percent of their entire year’s business, encouraging the happy, gift-giving mood the popular songs inspire. After all, a serious rendition of Silent Night played at a store is not nearly as likely to prompt customers to pop open their wallets as a rollicking “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree”, where the presents, after all, are to be found.

Joy to the World; O Come, All Ye Faithful (Adeste fideles); Away in a Manger; God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen; O Holy Night; O Little Town of Bethlehem; Hark! the Herald Angels Sing; The First Noel; Angels We Have Heard On High; Silent Night; We Three Kings of Orient Are; Ave Maria; I Saw Three Ships; Carol of the Bells; It Came Upon a Midnight Clear.