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
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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