Christmas Songs
Popular Christmas songs are specifically about Christmas, but are typically not overtly religious and therefore do not qualify as Christmas carols, but rather Christmas songs.

Christmas Hymns
A hymn is a type of song, usually religious, specifically written for the purpose of praise, adoration or prayer; and in the Christian tradition typically addressed to God.

Christmas Carols
A Christmas carol is a song in which a religious topic is treated in a style that is familiar or festive. Christmas carols are traditional without a specific religious context. A Christmas carol has lyrics about Christmas themes or the winter season which are traditionally sung in the period before Christmas.

Did You Know?

• Much of Christmas music today was adopted from music initially created for other purposes. They later became associated with Christmas in some way.
• Many secular songs are regarded as “Christmas” songs due to the time of year they are most often heard or sung, despite never mentioning anything about Christmas. These include favorites such as “Winter Wonderland,” “Let it Snow,” and “Baby, It’s Cold Outside.”
• “Sleigh Ride” doesn’t mention Christmas. Instead it mentions a birthday party.
• “Jingle Bells” was originally written to celebrate Thanksgiving and not Christmas.
• Many songs we sing at Christmas are just winter songs and not Christmas songs because they carry no Christmas connotation at all. Of course, it is difficult to popularize a winter-themed song, without its being regarded as a “Christmas” song. Winter-themed songs are generally not played on the radio during the larger part of the winter after the Christmas season has ended.

So whether you call it a Christmas song, a Christmas hymn, or a Christian carol, sing to the glory of God during the season leading up to the celebration of the birth of His Son, Jesus Christ.

Margaret Minnicks has been a licensed minister since 1995 and an ordained minister of Christian education since 1996. She has an M.A. in christian education from the Presbyterian School of Christian Education in 1998 along with a MDiv. from Union Theology Seminary in Richmond. Minnicks teaches 22 biblical and theological courses at The Way of Life Spiritual Development Center in Partnership with Oral Roberts University in Richmond, Virginia.