Secular Christmas Songs: Extended List

One of the first posts on this site was a list of Secular Christmas Songs. These are songs that celebrate Christmas, Santa and the winter season without being religious. As the holidays are rapidly approaching, I think it's time for an expanded list--with mp3 clips!

These songs often include the word Christmas, but only describe non-religious traditions. Many artists have covered these songs, so I just picked versions that I like.

The list is loosely grouped into sections for easier reading. Emphasis on loosely... I spent way too much time trying to sort them before deciding this is good enough! (Each section has its own clip player and they do require Flash.)

There are a lot more non-religious holiday songs out there, so feel free to comment with your own favorites. But please don't comment about who should or shouldn't be allowed to celebrate Christmas. It's a federal holiday, with plenty of secular traditions, in addition to being a Christian holiday. Let's let everyone celebrate in their own way.


Winter Favorites (no Mention of Christmas):

  • Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow! - Dean Martin
  • Jingle Bells - Rosemary Clooney
  • Frosty the Snowman - Harry Connick Jr.
  • Jingle Bell Rock - Bobby Helms
  • Sleigh Ride - Ella Fitzgerald
  • Deck the Halls - Bing Crosby
  • Marshmallow World - Dean Martin
  • Winter Wonderland - Jason Mraz
  • Baby It's Cold Outside - Margaret Whiting and Johnny Mercer

Christmas Standards:

  • The Christmas Song - Nat King Cole
  • Carol of the Bells - Paper Tongues
  • Christmas Waltz - She & Him
  • A Holly Jolly Christmas - Burl Ives
  • White Christmas - Bing Crosby
  • Silver and Gold - Burl Ives
  • I'll Be Home for Christmas - Josh Groban
  • We Need a Little Christmas - Johnny Mathis
  • Rockin Around the Christmas Tree - Brenda Lee
  • Silver Bells - Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney
  • The Twelve Days of Christmas - Burl Ives
  • Christmas in New Orleans - Louis Armstrong
  • Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - Judy Garland
  • O Christmas Tree - London Chamber Orchestra
  • It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year - Andy Williams
  • We Wish You a Merry Christmas - New York Symphony Orchestra
  • It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas - Johnny Mathis
  • Christmas Night in Harlem - Louis Armstrong

Modern Christmas Songs:

  • Please Come Home for Christmas - Eagles
  • This Christmas - Donny Hathaway
  • All I Want for Christmas is You - Michael Buble
  • Wonderful Christmas Time - Paul McCartney
  • Happy Xmas (War is Over) - John Lennon
  • Blue Christmas - Michael Buble
  • Merry Christmas Baby - B.B. King
  • A Christmas Love Song - Barbra Streisand
  • I Wish it Could be Christmas Everyday - Wizzard

Indie Christmas Songs:

  • All My Bells are Ringing - Lenka
  • No Christmas For Me - Zee Avi
  • The Christmas Party Scene - Jamie Drake
  • Maybe Next Year (X-mas Song) - Meiko
  • Happy Christmas, Baby - The Boy Least Likely To
  • It Must Be Christmas - Math and Physics Club
  • Xmas Time Is Here Again - My Morning Jacket
  • Christmas Eve For Two - Summer Fiction (no clip)
  • Let Me Be the Fairy on Your Christmas Tree Tonight - The School (no clip)

Songs About Santa:

  • 'Zat You Santa Claus - Louis Armstrong
  • Santa Baby - Eartha Kitt
  • Stay a Little Longer Santa - Shemekia Copeland
  • Santa Claus is Coming to Town - Harry Connick Jr.
  • Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer - Gene Autry
  • Here Comes Santa Claus - Doris Day
  • Up on the Housetop - Gene Autry
  • I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus - Bowling For Soup
  • (It Must Have Been Ol') Santa Claus - Harry Connick Jr.

Funny Christmas Songs:

  • Present Face - Garfunkel and Oates
  • Mr. Heatmiser - Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
  • Nuttin' for Christmas - Barry Gordon
  • The Twelve Pains of Christmas - Bob Rivers
  • Another Christmas Song - Stephen Colbert
  • You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch - Thurl Ravenscroft
  • Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer - Elmo and Patsy
  • I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas - Gayle Peevey
  • Dominick the Donkey - Lou Monte
  • The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late) - Alvin and the Chipmunks

Off-Color/Dark Christmas Songs:

  • Father Christmas - The Kinks
  • Is this Christmas? - The Wombats
  • Happy Holidays You Bastard - Blink 182
  • Santa Shaved His Beard - The Nobility
  • Santa's Lost His Mojo - Jeremy Lister
  • Your Christmas Whiskey - The Minus Five
  • Santa's Beard - They Might Be Giants
  • Christmas at Ground Zero - Weird Al Yankovich
  • Santa Stole My Lady - Fritz and the Tantrums
  • I Don't Want a Lump of Coal - Kyle Andrew
  • I've Got a Present for You - The Nobility
  • Merry Christmas (I Don't Want to Fight Tonight) - The Ramones

14 comments:

  1. This is a great list and a great blog. I am so glad I found this. A big thank you from another atheist!

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  3. I am actually NOT an atheist, I just can't stand religious Christmas music because it is too schlocky and...just...ugh. Anyway, Eastern Orthodox greetings and thanks for your point of view!

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