One of the best parts of the holiday season is the music. Even when it starts playing at the beginning of November, holiday music is undoubtedly an essential part of the season. There’s many great holiday songs that didn’t make this list, but here’s my ranking of my top ten favorites:

10. “What Christmas Means to Me” by Stevie Wonder

This song never gets old. Its energetic sound never fails to get me into the holiday spirit. Even though it’s not at the top of this list, it’s an iconic holiday song I listen to every year.

9. “Christmas Vacation” by Mavis Staples

This song is criminally underrated. Not only is it from “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation”, which I would argue to be one of the best Christmas movies of all time, the song itself is festive and nostalgic. In my mind, “Christmas Vacation” is a classic Christmas song.

8. “Last Christmas” by Wham!

This song seems to be constantly playing during the holiday season, and for a good reason. No matter how many times I listen to this song, it never gets old. Although countless covers of this song have been made, the original version remains superior.

7. “Sleigh Ride” by The Ronettes

This song is truly a classic. Every time I listen to it, I can’t help but feel nostalgic as I remember the amount of times I’ve heard it in holiday movies, while shopping, and by bands who inevitably play this song every year. This song’s fun and upbeat sound perfectly encapsulates the holiday spirit. 

6. “Christmas Wrapping” by The Waitresses

Although not as popular as other holiday songs, this song always seems to get stuck in my head during the holiday season. Its catchy beat and amazing bass line make it a great holiday song that I could honestly listen to all year. 

5. “Ribbons and Bows” by Kacey Musgraves

I won’t deny that this song is too new to be considered a classic, but it’s still one of my personal favorites. Even as someone who dislikes most country music, the song’s mixture of holiday and country creates a great song to listen to during the holiday season. 

4. “Happy Xmas (War Is Over) by John Lennon and Yoko Ono

Even though this song doesn’t exactly put me in the holiday spirit like the rest of the songs on this list, it is undoubtedly a beautiful song. Of course, the song is best to listen to during the holiday season, but its deep lyrics make it a good song to listen to year-round.

3. “Christmas Tree Farm” by Taylor Swift

This song isn’t technically a classic, but in my mind it beats the majority of “classic” holiday songs. This song perfectly encapsulates how the holiday season felt as a child. Despite being a newer song, it always makes me nostalgic in the best way possible. 

2. “Underneath the Tree” by Kelly Clarkson

This is one of the few holiday songs that not only doesn’t get old, but gets better each time I listen to it. The impressive vocals, instrumentals, and the overall energy of the song make it easily one of the best holiday songs. 

1. “All I want for Christmas Is You” by Mariah Carey

No other holiday songs are even close to being as iconic as this song. This song has everything a holiday song should have: catchy lyrics, amazing vocals, nostalgia, and festivity that is unmatched. Even when I’m listening to it in the middle of the summer, this song never fails to get me in the holiday spirit.