It’s Day 12 of the 21 Days to a Simple Christmas Challenge! And today we’re talking about one of my favorite things — Christmas music!
Christmas would not be Christmas to me without wonderful Christmas music playing in the background. When I was growing up, we always had a special stack of Christmas records and cassettes (yes, remember those?) that we pulled out to play only at Christmas time. Pulling out the Christmas records and cassettes always signaled that Christmas time was really here.
We decorated the Christmas tree, baked cookies for the neighbors, made homemade gifts for the grandparents, drank hot cocoa, wrapped Christmas presents, and celebrated our family gatherings with Christmas music playing in the background. It set the tone for so many special memories.
Today, we’ve traded the records and cassettes for MP3s, but Christmas still wouldn’t be the same without the music. I like to buy a new album or two each year to add to our family’s collection. And then we rotate playing our Christmas music all December long.
Here are six of my favorite Christmas albums:
He is Born — This CD is by my sister so I happen to be a little biased. 🙂 You can listen to sample clips from most of the songs here. You can listen to one of the complete songs here (and yes, that’s my sister playing the harp!)
Free Music Downloads:
- Free GreenHill Christmas Music Album
- Create a Christmas station on Pandora
- Jim Brickman Holiday downloads
- Free 3-song Celtic Christmas download
- Free Amazon Christmas Music downloads
What are some of your family’s favorite Christmas albums or songs? I’d love to find new ones to add to our list of favorites!
Day 12 Project & Update
1. If you didn’t do so yesterday, read chapter 7 from Celebrating & Savoring a Simple Christmas if you didn’t get a chance to read it yet. (Did you sign up for your free copy yet? If not, click here and fill out the form to be emailed a copy.)
2. Download some Christmas music and play it in your home/car over the next two weeks.
Our Update: We’ve been playing Christmas music since November! 🙂 However, most of that had just been MP3’s. I pulled out all our Christmas CDs today for us to rotate through over the next two weeks.
Kathleen says
This is our new favorite Christmas album. LOVE it!
http://www.yankeehomestead.com/2013/12/13/sounding-joy-christmas-music-families/
I also love this James Taylor Christmas album. 🙂
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00078V7AW/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00078V7AW&linkCode=as2&tag=yankehomes-20
Yvonne Reynolds says
Casting Crowns has a wonderful Christmas CD, as well as Jeremy Camp!
Brandy says
I love Casting Crowns; thanks!
Kim M says
My husband has had Christmas music playing since Nov 5th!! He’s kinda Christmas crazy lol He has satellite radio, so he has that streaming a good majority of the time, and they have different stations for different types, so I get my chrismtas in the country and he gets his classic mix of everything. Two of the radio stations here also play 24/7 Christmas music from the beginning of November until just after New Years Day.
Victoria says
The kids and I all love the Go Fish Christmas Album. We had it on CD for the longest time but sadly it broke. I need to get a new one, or get the MP3 of it. Our favorite song on it is “Its called Christmas with a Capital C”. On grey days we crank it up and dance to it (well okay I do most of the dancing they kind of sway to it).
sona says
The Martins. Light of the World
http://www.amazon.com/Light-World-Martins/dp/B000TEPHVE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1387011501&sr=8-1&keywords=the+martins+light+of+the+world
Denise says
Growing up Amy Grant’s Christmas album was my favorite! This post reminded me of that!
and I love the Michael Buble Christmas album too!
Cameron Dodd says
We love the first two CDs you mentioned!
One of our favorites is God of God by Enfield…I love their arrangements on the familiar carols. I love their original music on their other CDs, although new Christmas music is always special!
http://enfieldband.com/music/gog/index.html
Anne says
Elmo Saves Christmas is our car ride CD for our 13 month old. I also enjoy Charlie Brown Christmas and Jars of Clay Christmas.
jamiej says
My favorie Christmas album!
https://www.amazon.com/gp/dmusic/device/mp3/store/album/B00GTZ5T38?ie=UTF8&keywords=christmas%20time%20is%20here%20stacy&ref_=sr_1_1&s=dmusic&sr=1-1#album/B00GTZ5T38
or
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/christmas-time-is-here/id762546952
Jeanna M says
I love Casting Crowns Christmas Album and also Sawyer Browns–it is old but I do like it. I have been trying to decide about the Michael Buble one but I think I will download it.
Anna @ The DIY Mom says
Brigette’s music is beautiful!
Heather says
My favorite is A Little Christmas Music, a saxophone and all instrumental cd:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/a-little-christmas-music/id49540226
Missy Homemaker says
The kids and I did this today as we made Christmas cookies. It was nice to not have the tv on in the background or just silence. Besides, it gets us into the spirit of the holiday.
Mannheim Steamroller is definitely my favorite.
Elizabeth | Ready. Set. Simplify. says
My favorite Christmas album is Andrew Peterson’s Behold the Lamb of God. It basically tells the Christmas story in song. If you get it, I think it will make it on your favorite list for next year. Enjoy! 🙂
Jolene says
We love Mannheim Steamroller, The Piano Guys “A Family Christmas” and Stephen Sharp Nelson’s “Christmas Cello.” Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas music is great also.
Jolene says
I forgot 2 of the kid’s favorites. The Charlie Brown Christmas CD and Have Yourself a Looney Tunes Christmas!