The Best 40 Christmas Carol Songs of All Time

Photo by sixteenmilesout on Unsplash

The holiday season wouldn’t feel complete without the familiar melodies of Christmas carol songs ringing through homes, churches, shopping malls, and radios everywhere. These timeless tunes carry centuries of tradition, joy, and nostalgia while creating the perfect soundtrack for decorating the tree, wrapping gifts, or gathering with loved ones. In this ultimate ranking of the best 40 Christmas carol songs of all time, we’ll count down classics that have stood the test of time, explore their origins, and share official YouTube performances so you can start singing along right now.

Christmas carol songs do more than entertain—they connect generations. Whether you’re hosting a holiday party or simply want the perfect background music, these 40 selections represent the very best of Christmas music.

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Why Christmas Carol Songs Matter More Than Ever

Every year, as soon as December arrives, Christmas carol songs flood playlists worldwide. They remind us of childhood memories, spark spontaneous sing-alongs, and instantly put people in the holiday spirit. Researchers have even found that listening to Christmas music triggers the brain’s reward centers almost as powerfully as food or love. That’s the magic of a great Christmas carol.

If you’re planning a holiday gathering this year, consider turning these classic Christmas carol songs into an interactive experience. One of the most beloved ways families and friends enjoy Christmas music together is through music bingo. With Muzingo, you can bond with your family and get a chance to win cash prizes.

In case you are wondering, Muzingo is an online music bingo platform where players match short clips of popular songs to titles on digital bingo cards. When five in a row line up, you shout “Muzingo!” and win. It’s also free playlist promotion for artists and endless fun for players.

Now, let’s dive into the definitive list of the 40 best Christmas carol songs ever written and recorded.

The Top 40 Christmas Carol Songs Countdown

40. Good King Wenceslas

This 1853 carol tells the story of a kind king helping a poor peasant on the Feast of Stephen.
Watch on YouTube

39. Ding Dong Merrily on High

The lively 16th-century tune paired with George Woodward’s lyrics makes this a bell-ringing favorite.
Watch on YouTube

38. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen

One of the oldest surviving Christmas carol songs, dating back to the 16th century.
Watch on YouTube

37. The Wexford Carol

A hauntingly beautiful Irish carol from the 12th century.
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36. Coventry Carol

This eerie 16th-century lullaby remembers the Massacre of the Innocents.
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35. I Wonder as I Wander

John Jacob Niles collected this Appalachian carol in 1933—simple and profound.
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34. Go Tell It on the Mountain

A spirited African-American spiritual that became a Christmas staple.
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33. Angels from the Realms of Glory

Written in 1816 by James Montgomery, still powerful two centuries later.
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32. Once in Royal David’s City

The opening carol for the famous King’s College Nine Lessons and Carols service.
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31. It Came Upon the Midnight Clear

Edmund Sears wrote this peaceful carol in 1849 during a time of social unrest.
Watch on YouTube

Photo by Jess Bailey via Pexels

30. What Child Is This?

Set to the tune of “Greensleeves,” William Dix gave us one of the most poetic Christmas carol songs in 1865.
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29. The First Noel

A traditional English carol possibly originating in the 1600s or earlier.
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28. Away in a Manger

Often called the “children’s carol,” though its exact origins remain debated.
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27. Angels We Have Heard on High

The soaring “Gloria in excelsis Deo” chorus is unforgettable.
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26. We Three Kings

John Henry Hopkins Jr. wrote both words and music in 1857.
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25. In the Bleak Midwinter

Christina Rossetti’s poem became Gustav Holst’s beloved carol.
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24. Joy to the World

Isaac Watts based this on Psalm 98; Lowell Mason set it to a tune resembling Handel.
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23. Deck the Halls

Welsh origins from the 16th century, with the familiar “fa la la la la” refrain added later.
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22. We Wish You a Merry Christmas

A classic English greeting carol demanding figgy pudding!
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21. The Twelve Days of Christmas

The cumulative song we all love (and struggle to remember).
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20. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

Charles Wesley wrote the lyrics in 1739; Mendelssohn provided the triumphant tune a century later.
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19. O Christmas Tree (O Tannenbaum)

German roots from the 16th century celebrating the evergreen fir.
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18. Carol of the Bells

Ukrainian origin (“Shchedryk”) adapted by Peter Wilhousky in 1936.
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17. O Little Town of Bethlehem

Phillips Brooks wrote it after visiting Bethlehem in 1865.
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16. Silent Night (Stille Nacht)

Written in 1818 in Austria—now translated into over 300 languages.
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15. O Holy Night

Originally French (“Cantique de Noël”) in 1847; Placide Cappeau & Adolphe Adam.
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Photo by sixteenmilesout on Unsplash

14. Jingle Bells

Written by James Lord Pierpont in 1857—originally for Thanksgiving!
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13. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Gene Autry’s 1949 recording made this Johnny Marks tune a global phenomenon.
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12. Winter Wonderland

Written in 1934 by Felix Bernard and Richard Bernhard Smith.
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11. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne wrote it during a Los Angeles heatwave in 1945.
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10. White Christmas

Bing Crosby’s version remains the best-selling single of all time.
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9. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Judy Garland introduced it in Meet Me in St. Louis (1944).
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8. I’ll Be Home for Christmas

Recorded by Bing Crosby in 1943 for troops overseas during WWII.
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7. The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)

Nat King Cole’s velvet voice made Mel Tormé’s 1945 classic immortal.
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6. Santa Claus Is Coming to Town

Written in 1934; over 500 versions recorded.
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5. It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Andy Williams made this 1963 Johnny Marks song a holiday standard.
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4. Fairytale of New York – The Pogues ft. Kirsty MacColl

The greatest modern Christmas carol song ever written (1987).
Watch on YouTube

3. All I Want for Christmas Is You – Mariah Carey

The undisputed queen of contemporary Christmas music (1994).
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2. Last Christmas – Wham!

George Michael donated all royalties to Ethiopian famine relief.
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1. O Come, All Ye Faithful (Adeste Fideles)

The ultimate Christmas carol song—perfect for triumphant finales at midnight mass.
Watch on YouTube

How to Turn These Christmas Carol Songs into an Unforgettable Party

Love this playlist of Christmas carol songs? Take the fun to the next level with Christmas music bingo. Platforms like Muzingo (built by the brilliant team at Charisol) let hosts create custom games featuring any of these 40 classics. Grab essential music bingo supplies, choose creative winning patterns, and decide how to award prizes at music bingo night. Your guests will talk about it for years.

Conclusion

Photo by sixteenmilesout on Unsplash

From centuries-old hymns that once echoed through European cathedrals to modern anthems that dominate December playlists, these 40 Christmas carol songs prove that great holiday music never goes out of style. They remind us to slow down, sing loudly (even off-key), and share moments of joy with the people who matter most.

This year, don’t just listen to your favorite Christmas carol songs—make them the star of the party. Fire up a game of Christmas music bingo on Muzingo, watch everyone from grandparents to teenagers light up when their song plays, and create brand-new memories around the same timeless melodies.

Which of these Christmas carol songs will be the first one you play this December? Head over to Muzingo right now, build your holiday playlist into a custom bingo game, and get ready to shout “Muzingo!” with family and friends all season long.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Christmas Carol Songs

What is the oldest Christmas carol song still sung today?

Many trace “Of the Father’s Heart Begotten” to the 4th century, but “Angels We Have Heard on High” and “O Come, All Ye Faithful” date to the 1600–1700s and remain hugely popular.

Which Christmas carol songs are public domain?

Any carol published before 1928 in the U.S. is public domain, including Silent Night, Joy to the World, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, and most traditional Christmas carol songs on this list.

What’s the best way to use Christmas carol songs at a party?

Host a Christmas music bingo night! Players mark songs as they play, and the energy is unbeatable. Learn more at Muzingo.

Are modern songs considered true Christmas carols?

Traditionally, carols are religious hymns sung during the Christmas season. Today, the term includes secular holiday classics like “All I Want for Christmas Is You.”

Christmas carol songs remain one of the few art forms that can stop strangers in a mall and make them harmonize together. They carry history, hope, and pure joy in every note.

Which of these 40 Christmas carol songs brings back your strongest holiday memory?

Drop it in the comments, then head over to Muzingo and turn your favorite Christmas music into an interactive game everyone will love this season.