Christmas Song-a-Day Countdown {2025 Edition}

 

Oh, hello again! Here we are at my annual (16th annual!!!) Christmas Song Countdown. Maybe nobody even reads/listens to this list anymore? (It sure is looking pretty dusty and cobwebby in this corner of the internet!) But it's baked into my psyche and I just can't quit! So, dear void, sit back and relax and count down this most wonderful time of year with me and with these songs that I have picked out for just such an occasion.

*****************************************************

(pre-countdown bonus!) 30 November: Oh, what's that? Starting the countdown a day early? Yep! (It's my countdown and I can do what I want haha!) Actually, today is the first day of Advent, which I have been reading/learning/observing, even, for the past few years. And I thought it would be fun to share an Advent hymn for this first Sunday of Advent. But what is Advent? I was actually really impressed with google's AI definition: "Advent is a Christian season of waiting and preparation for Christmas, which celebrates the birth of Jesus. It begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, and is also a time of anticipating the Second Coming of Christ. The season involves spiritual and practical preparations such as prayer, reflection, decorating, and gift-giving, often marked by traditions like using an Advent wreath and Advent calendars." And I would add: Christmas Song-a-Day Countdowns! BUT, true hard core Advent adherents will tell you that Advent songs are different from Christmas songs. Some people don't even listen to or sing Christmas songs until Christmastide, which are the actual Twelve Days of Christmas from Christmas Day to Twelfth Night (Jan 5th). I'm obviously not that particular, but I thought it was interesting to think about Advent songs as being the ones about waiting and anticipating. Perhaps the most common of these types of songs to the readers of this countdown list would be O Come, O Come Emmanuel. It's all about that waiting period, not quite the celebrating of the baby Jesus just quite yet. The hymn I picked for today is one that is in the new Hymns for Home and Church collection, and it's not a traditional Christian Advent hymn, but I think it fits perfectly into this time of waiting and hoping for Christmas and the Second Coming. And it is beautiful! (I even snuck in into my organ prelude this morning in Sacrament Meeting, though I'm guessing nobody noticed it but me.) So, happy Advent. (Do people even say that? I still have a lot to learn!) And enjoy!

1 December: How about a little Whitney Houston? Plus Pentatonix? I think this mash up works really well, actually. Her original version of this song was one I remember from my childhood - what a voice! And then last year Gregg was on a Whitney Houston kick, so now whenever I hear her sing I think of him, too. :)

2 December: Today I thought I'd share some jazzy Jingle Bells from Count Basie and his Orchestra. There is a slightly different album version out there on youtube, but I loved this live video version from the Ed Sullivan Show. (I mean, that set itself is worth the price of admission! Ha!) If this doesn't make you want to get up and dance, I don't know what will. (Sam just came boogie-ing out of the laundry room when he heard me posting now {insert star eye emoji!}) Jingle all the way!

3 December: Today’s song makes me think of Elf (I think this is the version that is on the movie? update: actually no; it’s the Stevie Wonder one that I used back in 2021, but this one is good too) and that just makes me smile. 

4 December: Barry Manilow reminds me of my childhood, hanging out with my sister Heather in our room, listening to our cassette tape on my karaoke machine, and singing along to "we're just two ships that pass in the night" (I don't think I had any idea what that even meant, but I loved his voice and the tune - ha!). I have never, not once, included a Barry Manilow Christmas song in my countdown, but that all changes today, because of a chance listening last year to FM100's 100 Hours of Christmas (there's another flashback to my childhood!), where I heard this one playing and I jotted it down to save for this year. Here's his rendition of Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.

5 December: We're headed to the Nutcracker tonight with Kim and Paul, and our old friend Claire is performing the Snow Queen! Can't wait!

*****************************************************

If you just can't wait for more, you could check out my previous countdowns here:  (I make no guarantees that the old links will still be working on these posts, but don't forget that Sarah has made playlists for all of them on youtube! And hopefully she'll do the same for this year, too? {Insert praying hands emoji})

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013 (this is for December 1st - I posted each day separately back then)
2012 (this is for December 1st - I posted each day separately back then)
2011 (this is for December 1st - I posted each day separately back then)
2010 (I did a countdown on facebook, but didn't post it on the ol' blog my first year, but thanks to Sarah, she's resurrected it on youtube!)