Image: Paramount Pictures
About This Quiz
The ham's in the oven, and the stockings are hung by the chimney with care. Isn't it about time to break out your holiday playlists? You know, "White Christmas," "Frosty the Snowman" and "Santa Baby?" You can't rock around the Christmas tree to just any old song.
Regardless of where you live — be it cold and snowy or humid and tropical — there's nothing like a little Christmas cheer delivered through your speakers to get you in a holiday mood. We can almost envision waking up to a fresh blanket of snow with "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!" We instantly get a snuggly vibe when hearing Nat King Cole sing "The Christmas Song" (Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, anyone?) We can't help but giggle when we're shopping and "Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer" comes on.
Yes, we love them. Christmas tunes are the backdrop to all of our holiday activities. And they're the focal point of this quiz. We're giving you 35 clues; think of them as hints about what presents are under the tree! Identify the vintage tunes and then step back, crank up your speakers, and get ready to ring in the season!
"Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town"
If anybody but Santa Claus were to see you "when you're sleeping" and know "when you're awake," it would be downright creepy. Of course, a fat guy in a red fur suit makes it OK. Wait ...
"Ol' Santa Nicholas"
"Kissin' By The Mistletoe"
"Jingle Bells"
Advertisement
"'Twas The Night Before Christmas"
"I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus"
When "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" first came out, a commissioned work by the department store Saks Fifth Avenue, the Catholic church in Boston took issue with the idea of Christmas and "kissing" being intermingled. The song's writer was able to clear up the song's intent and, as they say, the rest was history.
"Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree"
"We Wish You The Merriest"
Advertisement
"I Believe In Father Christmas"
"Santa Claus Is Watching You"
"Here Comes Santa Claus"
"Here Comes Santa Claus" was written by Gene Autry, known as the "Singing Cowboy," in the late 1940s. Autry is said to have been inspired by a horseback ride during a parade, which helped him craft the lyrics to this popular childhood tune.
"The Man With All The Toys"
Advertisement
"I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day"
"Jingle Bells"
There have been plenty of, ahem, modifications made to "Jingle Bells" over the years, including "The Simpsons" version that goes, "Jingle bells ... Batman smells." Hey, we didn't make it up. In fairness, the original version, one of the world's most popular Christmas songs ever, dates back to the 1850s.
"Silver Bells"
"Carol of the Bells"
Advertisement
"I Believe in Father Christmas"
"It's Christmas Once Again"
"It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year"
We all have our own definitions of when the most wonderful time of the year is. In this song, it's the holiday. In television commercials for Staples, it's the back-to-school season. For us, it's when football starts. Hey, to each their own.
"The Man With All The Toys"
Advertisement
"Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town"
"May You Always"
"Snoopy's Christmas"
"Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!"
Would you believe this tune was actually written during a California heatwave? What better way to deal with the temperatures than to imagine a bit of cold and snow! One of the best-known versions ever sung was recorded by Frank Sinatra.
Advertisement
"Frosty the Snowman"
When the lyrics to "Frosty the Snowman" were first written, there was no mention of Christmas at all. Of course, that's probably appropriate since snowmen can be built at any point in the year when there's enough snow.
"The Christmas Waltz"
"Run, Rudolph, Run"
"Little St. Nick"
Advertisement
"May You Always"
"All I Want for Christmas Is You"
In fairness, "All I Want for Christmas Is You" was released in 1994 — a full 25 (25!) years ago now. It remains one of Carey's most enduring holiday songs, from a Christmas album that was packed full of good ones.
"Someday At Christmas"
"Please Come Home For Christmas"
Advertisement
"Frosty the Snowman"
"A Charlie Brown Christmas"
"Snoopy's Christmas"
"The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)"
OK, maybe we gave this one away a bit with the clue, but the holiday season isn't complete with "The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)." Just one listen to it, though. Any more than that and you'll lose your mind.
Advertisement
"Holly Jolly Christmas"
"Sleigh Ride"
"What Christmas Means To Me"
"I'll Be Home For Christmas"
"I'll Be Home For Christmas" was originally written in honor of soldiers overseas during the holidays, fighting in World War II. Since then, it has become an anthem for anyone or anyplace we're missing at the holidays.
Advertisement
"Winter Wonderland"
"Jingle Bells"
"Blue Christmas"
"Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree"
Can you believe it? Brenda Lee was just 13 years old when "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" was first recorded. All these years later, we're still listening to Lee's iconic 13-year-old voice on this Christmas classic.
Advertisement
"You're All I Want For Christmas"
"Blue Christmas"
"Sleigh Ride"
It stands to reason if you're going on a "Sleigh Ride," there's probably going to be a horse. "Sleigh Ride" has been performed both instrumentally as well as vocally, with Johnny Mathis' being the most popular.
"If It Doesn't Snow on Christmas"
Advertisement
"Merry Christmas, Darling"
"Do They Know It's Christmas?"
"Santa Baby"
Eartha Kitt's "Santa Baby," released in 1953, was a song about a woman who knew what she wanted for Christmas. Among her requests: "Slip a sable under the tree" and "fill my stocking with a duplex and checks." Chump change for Santa!
"Little Drummer Boy"
Advertisement
"Merry Christmas Darling"
"Blue Christmas"
Elvis Presley did eventually record "Blue Christmas" and enjoyed widespread commercial success with it. But numerous reports in the years since have claimed Presley didn't actually want to do the song. Maybe he was ... um ... blue?
"White Christmas"
"Christmas Ain't Christmas"
Advertisement
"The Twelve Days of Christmas"
Whoever wrote "The Twelve Days of Christmas" had a thing for birds. The song mentions a partridge (in a pear tree, no less), turtle doves, calling birds, French hens, geese and swans. We prefer our Christmas gifts without feathers, please. Unless it's a pair of turtle dove ornaments like the ones Kevin splits with the Pigeon Lady in "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York."
"We Wish You The Merriest"
"Happy Christmas (War is Over)"
"Ol' Saint Nick"
Advertisement
"Santa Claus Is Watching You"
"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer"
Did you know that the red-nosed character, Rudolph, was created for retailer Montgomery Ward? It was a few years later before the song came along, the work of Rudolph's creator's brother-in-law.
"Parade of The Wooden Soldiers"
"The Twelve Days of Christmas"
Advertisement
"Little Drummer Boy"
"Reindeer Games"
"Run, Rudolph, Run"
"Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer"
Apparently, even though grandma got run over by a reindeer, it was her fault for drinking too much eggnog and WWE (Walking While Eggnogged). This cute classic was first released in 1979.
Advertisement
"O Little Town of Bethlehem"
"Do You Hear What I Hear?"
It may be called, "Do You Hear What I Hear?", but this song asks plenty of other questions as well, such as "Do you see what I see?' and "Do you know what I know?" The song goes on to detail what is heard, seen and known.
"Mary, Did You Know?"
"What Child Is This?"
Advertisement
"A Marshmallow World"
"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"
"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" was first performed by Judy Garland of "The Wizard of Oz" fame in the 1944 film, "Meet Me In St. Louis." For the record, most people consider "Meet Me In St. Louis" a vintage Christmas flick.
"Please Come Home For Christmas"
"The Night Before Christmas Song"
Advertisement
"Next Christmas"
"Last Christmas"
"Last Christmas" was recorded in the mid-1980s by Wham!, a two-person group made up of George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley. The song is so iconic that its lyrics inspired the 2019 movie "Last Christmas," starring Emilia Clarke.
"This Christmas"
"Wonderful Christmastime"
Advertisement
"'Twas The Night Before Christmas"
"The Night Before Christmas"
"O Holy Night"
"Silent Night"
This popular Christmas carol sung the world over has its origins in Austria. The lyrics to the song, "Stille Nacht," were written in the early 1800s and later set to the melody we know today.
Advertisement
" A Holly Jolly Christmas"
The voice behind that snowman, Burl Ives, was the one who made "A Holly Jolly Christmas" popular as a holiday favorite. This song was actually written by the same person who wrote "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer."
"Winter Wonderland"
"Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas"
"Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree"
Advertisement
"Carol of the Bells"
"Winter Wonderland"
"Winter Wonderland" is a bit more about the snowy landscape than Christmas itself, although we associate the song with the holiday. If you look at the lyrics, it tells the story of a couple building a snowman.
"It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas"
"Mistletoe and Holly"
Advertisement
"Happy Holidays"
"Winter Wonderland"
"It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas"
We don't know about you, but "It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas" is one of our favorite just-entering-the-season holiday tunes. Something about the singer talking about "toys in every store" and the holly "on your own front door" just warms our heart.
"Pretty Paper"
Advertisement
"Bells of St. Mary"
"Christmas Auld Lang Syne"
"Feliz Navidad"
You've heard "Feliz Navidad" on the radio, and we're guessing you probably don't understand all the lyrics. That's OK; we're here to interpret. The chorus, specifically, is quite positive, wishing you a merry Christmas, happiness and a prosperous year. How thoughtful!
"Donde Esta Santa Claus"
Advertisement
"White Christmas"
Despite being released before the official charts that keep track of this sort of thing, Guinness World Records declared Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" the all-time best-selling single with more than 50 million copies. It beats out Elton John's "Candle in the Wind" by roughly 15 million copies.
"You're All I Want For Christmas"
"Baby, It's Cold Outside"
"It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas"
Advertisement
"Hark! the Herald Angels Sing"
"O Holy Night"
"O holy night, the stars are brightly shining" is the first line from this widely-performed Christmas carol. Written by a wine merchant in the mid-1800s, "O Holy Night" has been sung by everyone from Nat King Cole to Josh Groban.
"Do You Hear What I Hear?"
"The First Noel"
Advertisement
"Home For The Holidays"
"This Time of Year"
"Christmas Time Is Here"
"Christmas Time Is Here" was written in 1965 for the televised event, "A Charlie Brown Christmas," released the same year. Many artists have performed the song since, including Sara McLachlan, Michael W. Smith and LeAnn Rimes.
"You're My Christmas Present"
Advertisement
"Santa Baby"
"Merry, Merry Christmas Baby"
"Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)"
"Baby, It's Cold Outside"
We'll keep our opinions to ourselves, but for some, the lyrics to "Baby, It's Cold Outside" are suggestive of bad behavior. You be the judge. It's still a rather catchy Christmas tune, written in the 1940s.
Advertisement
"Silver Bells"
"The Christmas Song"
We know; you're shocked. You thought this song was called "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire." Alas, it is not. It is known, quite plainly, as "The Christmas Song." The part about chestnuts, however, is frequently used as a sub-title for the song.
"Give Love on Christmas Day"
"Christmas Auld Lang Syne"
Advertisement
"Merry Christmas All"
"Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas"
"We Need a Little Christmas"
The song, "We Need a Little Christmas," actually got its start on Broadway. No, really! It was first performed on stage at the production of "Mame," originally by none other than five-time Tony Award winner Angela Lansbury. Lucille Ball took on the role in the 1974 movie.
"What Christmas Means To Me"
Advertisement
"Merry Christmas Darling"
In the 1970s, the Carpenters were synonymous with Christmas. Karen and Richard Carpenter released the original version of "Merry Christmas Darling" in 1970 and a second version in 1978 on "Christmas Portrait," their first holiday album. The sister/brother duo also hosted multiple TV Christmas specials.
"I'll Be Home For Christmas"
"Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)"
"River"
Advertisement
"Winter Wonderland"
"All I Want For Christmas Is You"
"Blue Christmas"
"Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)"
Released in 1963 on "A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector," this bittersweet holiday song has gone on to become one of the most iconic holiday tunes. "Rolling Stone" even gave it the number one spot on its list of the greatest rock and roll Christmas songs. Darlene Love performed the hit for years on David Letterman's show. After he retired, the annual tradition moved to "The View."
Advertisement
"Rock and Roll Holidays"
"The Christmas Rock"
"Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree"
"Jingle Bell Rock"
If you were clever enough to mash up the referenced songs' titles, you'd come up with "Jingle Bell Rock," a popular tune first recorded in 1957. "Jingle Bell Rock" was written by two professionals in the public relations and advertising professions.
Advertisement
"The Christmas Waltz"
"Nuttin' for Christmas"
"Wonderful Christmastime"
Paul McCartney recorded "Wonderful Christmastime" in the late 1970s and has enjoyed both success and criticism of the work. Despite some remarks that the song's composition is not up to McCartney's usual standards, it is estimated he's made more than $15 million on it alone. We'd call that a success.
"Step Into Christmas"
Advertisement
You Got:
/35
