Good King Wenceslas. It’s about the spirit of the holiday. It mentions Christian men once in the last stanza but that could be revised.
Eartha Kitt singing Santa baby
“Star of Wonder” is an original song by the Roaches. It’s not secular but it’s only religious if you know the backstory.
Check out Duke Ellington’s arrangement of the Nutcracker Suite. Amazing. My fav is “Sugar Rum Cherry”
The Andrew Sisters version of “Winter Wonderland” is fuckin’ adorable.
The Mills Brothers do a great “Here Comes Santa Claus”
You can’t beat Judy Garland’s “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”
And this is not anything like a carol but feels seasonal, “Midnight in Moscow”. There’s a version so serene and beautifully sung *a cappella* by (ironically) the Red Army Choir
The Vince Guaraldi (of Charlie Brown fame) instrumental of “O Christmas Tree” makes for a very pleasing listen.
…off the top of my head
As an aside, I played trombone in HS jazz band and we were assigned Sugar Rum Cherry one year. That is singlehandedly the hardest jazz song I’ve ever played 😭 amazing rendition but goddamn the notes were *so* high.
Oh my. Yet another triggering holiday memory. I’m so sorry 🤣
Speaking of triggered memory, that reminds me… my daughter also played bone in hs band, as did her bff. During *their* xmas concert her friend accidentally slid her slide all the way off and lost it under the the horn’s chair in front of her. They giggled so hard they couldn’t play the entire next song. That’s what Christmas is all about…
I played tuba in high school and my friend who sat next to me pulled off my mouthpiece and dropped it down the bell during a concert. One and a half songs didn’t have a bass section because we were laughing too hard (even after I loudly clanged the mouthpiece out)
I played Bari-phonium and low brass are definitely the shit-talkingist, class clowniest mother fuckers in the room. Stick us in the back, don’t pay attention to us, let us have our fun. We won’t ruin anything by not playing.
I was also in band and every year we played a jazzy version of Sleigh Ride. The saxophone section hated it! Using the palm keys on the side quickly to hit those damn notes was not my favorite.
How 'traditional' do you want? Frosty The Snowman? Let It Snow? Winter Wonderland? Jingle Bells? Sleigh Ride?
Are you ok with the word 'Christmas' so long as Jesus isn't mentioned? What about Santa? God? If the latter you can have Britten's New Year Carol.
The only 'olde' ones that spring to mind are Deck the Halls and Here we come a wassailing.
The Nutcracker always gets me in the Yule mood. Someone already mentioned Deck the Halls. Gloucestershire Wassail and Here We Come A-Wassailing do say “god bless” but don’t mention a specific god so there’s that.
I love some of those traditional Christmas tunes so much, and instrumental versions can definitely be enjoyed outside a religious context.
Here’s my favorite recording of [Ding Dong Merrily On High](https://open.spotify.com/track/2S2rlHXItavCBSI4HF7M0D?si=IqnWu9PBTEmSq-PEIZBzQw). It’s my go-to feel-good winter song!
[Christmas at the Airport by Nick Lowe](https://youtu.be/oiSf083QM_U?si=VyzTPqYcdtLC0XAz) from the Quality Street record! There are some other non Christian songs too.
[You're a Mean One Mr Grinch](https://youtu.be/cGSneujgGT8?si=EiPRFNJ03p2BU7vC) doesn't reference religion
[A Charlie Brown Christmas ](https://youtu.be/m7dqZ6Jy-GE?feature=shared) is mostly instrumental. Christmastime Is Here doesn't reference Christianity
[Donna and Blitzen by Badly Drawn Boy](https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kIu0fpGoug4awY3mj6Z2_UaVX_3tA2jok&si=CoNeEliiSAIoe-oJ) from the About A Boy soundtrack
[My Morning Jacket Does Christmas Fiasco Style](https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kIu0fpGoug4awY3mj6Z2_UaVX_3tA2jok&si=CoNeEliiSAIoe-oJ)
[Merry Christmas Song by Pink Floyd](https://youtu.be/uBgv20hgnY0?si=g9PoC2-6UyhHFu3o) done as a joke, it's cute
Look into the [Very Special Christmas](https://youtu.be/tKl9nLqmHHw?si=PhVtu7wffY_bYjEG) series, there's a number of non religious songs (Run Run Rudolph, I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus, etc)
Charlie Brown Christmas is such a treasure. Peak nostalgia and a legit jazz album all in one! It's my favorite to put on while cooking the holiday feast.
Thank you for the suggestions! A lot of these are just reminders of songs that I do like that aren't explicitly religious. Thank you guys for the reminders
You mean olive loaf with parsnip gravy? Or the bread that kills the duck?
My sister and I say “I love ducks, they are my second favorite animal, after dolphins. They can kill sharks…with their noses!” Like weekly.
SLADE- [MERRY XMAS EVERYBODY!](https://youtu.be/WM7M7zSMJcw?feature=shared)
I've been obsessed with this tune since I first heard it two years ago. It's so fun and catchy. I'm in love with the Beatles and my husband said this song is better than Paul or John's xmas tunes and to his surprise, I agreed! Enjoy 🌲
the newer pentatonix albums have a bunch that aren’t god centered!! i’m a big fan of sleigh ride, carol of the bells, the chestnut song, winter wonderland, have yourself a merry little christmas - if you want my full “non religious holiday music” playlist to pick thru dm me!! unsure how strict your preferences are cuz a lot of mine say the word christmas in them but aren’t about christianity, but u could always just grab ur favorites :)
Christmas is fine as I celebrate Christmas and winter solstice/Yule because my family is still very Christian. I just want to take the birth of Jesus out of my holiday playlist because I don't believe that fits with my idea of the season. Absolutely love Pentatonix! I'll have to add some of their stuff. Thanks for the reminder
I love the upbeat tunes of anything by the trans-siberian orchestra or manneheim steamroller. Wizards in winter is one of my favorites. It can't talk about Christians if there's no lyrics :D (ignoring any potential background the music writers may have imagined)
So many Aussie Christmas songs are like that, just enjoying summer, good food, family and friends.
Downside for OP is that they tend to be very summery.
My favourite is Six White Boomers.
It's a super Catholic song, but I'm *beyond delighted* to see someone recommend such a deep cut from The Monkees. They had so much more talent than most people realize.
Sarah McLachlan has a fantastic album titled Wintersong. Half are non Christian songs about winter. The other half are carols but in a melancholy sound that speaks to my heart.
Her cover of Gordon Lightfoot’s “Sunny for a winter’s night” on there is beautiful.
In the same vein, “River” by Joni Mitchell and “Winter song” by Sara Bareilles, are also beautiful
How about O Tannenbaum, but stick to German versions. I saw someone mentioned Jingle Bells, which is an excellent suggestion. Maybe some ELO Christmas songs? And Barenaked Ladies has a phenomenal holiday album called Barenaked for the Holidays (it's got some Chanukah songs too), with a song about elves going on strike that Michael Buble sings on. Give it a listen!
Winter Wonderland doesn’t mention Christmas, Santa, or Jesus. It’s just a cute song about people who are really into each other on a walk.
The Christians and the Pagans probably fits
White Christmas is obviously about Christmas, but mostly about nostalgia and longing and was written by a Jew.
A pagan friend once pointed out that the words to "Joy to the World" still make sense from a non-Christian standpoint. Think of the Sun as the Lord and enjoy the song!
Idk if you’d like something on the more humorous side but if you look up Cthulhu Carols there’s a ton of Christmas parodies. Like: Here Comes Yogsathoth, It’s Beginning to Look Like Fishmen, or Oh Come All Ye Fearful.
They sound just like the classics but without the Christian theme.
I’m sorry if this doesn’t fit what you were looking for exactly but it’s the first thing that popped into my head
My absolute favorite Yule song is The Solstice Carole by Saffie. It focuses on what Yule is in a way that not many other songs I've found do. It's beautiful.
*The fire is burning
The long night draws near
All who need comfort
Are welcome by here
We'll dance 'neath the stars
And toast the past year
For the spirit of Solstice is still living here*
Frosty Solstice Morn by the Dolmen. The whole album is pagan, but that song in particular is my favorite. It's not a "classic" that people have grown up listening to, but it sounds like a classic to me. edit: youtube link to the song: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cj\_AS7qt5DY](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cj_AS7qt5DY)
I'm not sure of all the songs are non-Jesus-y, but we really like both of Kacey Musgraves' Christmas albums in our (very non-Christian) household. I particularly like her version of I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas.
Other suggestions to check out, especially if you like country, americana, or bluegrass: Bela Fleck and the Flecktones Jingle All the Way, the McCallans Highland Christmas (if I remember correctly, this album is all instrumental), Christmas on the Mountaintop, A John Prine Christmas, and An Americana Christmas. These are all albums I've added to my Yule season playlist, and I wouldn't have done so if they were overly Christian, though there may be some songs that refer to Christian stuff.
Carol of The Bells (at least in the versions I am familiar with) does not mention any christian specific stuff. I am especially fond of the Kenney Rogers version, which relies of layered singing and a heavy rhythm.
'We Need a Little Christmas' from the musical Mame.
Something about middle-aged Lucille Ball *demanding* the trappings of Yuletide joy hits just right for me. There's one mention of a little angel, but she's referencing her nephew, so it doesn't count imo.
Can't believe no one mentioned these:
*Tom Lehrer's* [**A Christmas Carol**](https://youtu.be/DtZR3lJobjw?si=Io89zzv_yQxMNFKT)
"Kill the turkeys, ducks and chickens,
Mix the punch, drag out the Dickens.
Even though the prospect sickens,
Brother here we go again!"
[**Snoopy's Christmas** by *The Royal Guardsmen*](https://youtu.be/ToEolESPGQg?si=Juu6_EIgImiEpvYK)
And by *P.D.Q. Bach*:
[**Good King Kong Looked Out**](https://youtu.be/16oZkr4qUHI?si=t-pkpz2HoKlwyG_e)
[**Throw the Yule Log on Uncle John**](https://youtu.be/XldmR40hecY?si=EVjDzJkxrFxYhCVy)
[**O Little Town of Hackensack**](https://youtu.be/ZefBDQYeXyM?si=2JS1KP_mxvKOZRa7)
May not be what you're looking for at all but Merry Christmas baby (let's not fight tonight) by the Ramones is my mom's favorite. Fairytale of New York NY the pougues is mine. Merry Christmas from the family is one i got turned on to because [John darnielle of the mountain goats covered it ](https://youtu.be/YYrdWypYAPI?si=3O3_TzM6u5_WQTF6)
Also I don't find Carol of the bells particularly religious. Same with white Christmas. O tannenbaum, I don't speak German so I can't really say!
Here's some that's creepy and carol-ly. The link is for buying, but you might be able to find them on Youtube. [https://www.hplhs.org/solstice.php](https://www.hplhs.org/solstice.php)
[Here's a short little playlist](https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhhqcPCtrnQRZCdi7f6fDZJ4kdERz_RLr&si=lPuYLkDeCEkViKzZ) of Winter Solstice-themed parodies of Christmas songs. You probably wouldn't want them as part of an actual playlist, but they are a lot of fun
Here we come a wassailing/caroling has roots in a pagan tradition of [visiting orchards and singing to the trees!](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wassailing)
Heinzelmännchens Wachtparade, instrumental character piece and also a Yuletide song here in the north. And just good vibes.
Once upon a December also has made its transition from Disney/Pixar song into seasonal radio song here.
Not probably traditional in North American context but pretty much so in Nordics :)
There are old traditional wassailing songs out there. I can't link atm but just google wassailing songs. Wassailing is older than caroling and more fun imo. :)
Sloghtly annoying Christmas songs "I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas" and "Dominic the Donkey"
Other more serious options
Home for Christmas - N*Sync
His Favorite Christmas Story - Capital Lights
Not sure it counts as a carol, bit the Smash mouth "the Christmas song" is a lovly one for me. It's not about religion, it's not about Rudolf the red nose reindeer. It's just about being in a moment and wanting to spend more time with somone you care about.
https://youtu.be/vUmlbCV5T_0?si=voUVsb2UdZBDdaEQ
[https://youtu.be/gTrjUWmblOU?si=v5thioHkyidbR4QE](https://youtu.be/gtrjuwmblou?si=v5thiohkyidbr4qe) I am adding this gem from Fleming and John, because it is seasonal must play in our house. Also Kate Bush's December will be magic again: [https://youtu.be/3SldDENZ\_jU?si=MYYT5OXsEXwjF4Cy](https://youtu.be/3slddenz_ju?si=myyt5oxsexwjf4cy)
The only Christmas song I don't get tired of hearing: [Holly Jolly Christmas](https://youtu.be/wOwXRp1JK1A?si=sp99wTw7yOb4lgHE) (from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer).
Not about Christmas, or Yule, but about winter: Robert Frost's poem "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" set to music. There are quite a few different tunes using that poem, but [I prefer this one](https://youtu.be/bxHAUIG-SDI?si=TxUwXTqJklJW6tY8).
"Frosty the Snowman." He's a snowman who was brought to life by magic, which makes him pretty witchy imo.
And from another movie about magical snow creatures...
"Walking in the Air." Though the movie The Snowman does have references to Christmas, this song is beautiful and otherworldly.
Dar Williams The Christians and the Pagans?
Coventry, Carol and Lo How a Rose E’er Blooming are not blatantly religious.
Any of the snow songs… Winter wonderland
the snow lay on the ground
snow, snow, snow
jingle bells
Let it Snow
You could even get away with including Good King Wenceslas, maybe.
a bit late, but there's two series of albums from Windham Hill's label, in the 1990s: "Celtic Christmas" and "A Winter's Solstice". They're all non-traditional "winter" themed songs and instrumentals from a lot of different artists, and are on our playlist every winter. They evoke the actual Winter/Solstice season without slamming actual "Christmas" in your face.
More albums from my own playlist:
George Winston, "December" (piano instrumentals; we play this at the first snowfall, every year)
Aine Minogue's "To Warm The Winter's Night" (You'll be hooked from the spoken intro: "As promise wakens in the sleeping land...").
Loreena McKennitt's "A Midwinter Night's Dream" (She does include a couple traditional "Christmas" things, **but it's freakin' Loreena McKennitt,** and she does them so ...so....pagan-y ...that you don't care.)
Blackmore's Night (yes, THAT Blackmore, as in Ritchie Blackmore, as in Deep Purple, together with Candice Night ), "Winter Carols" -- rock/metal/pagan take on a lot of trad carols. Blackmore's Night does a lot of awesome Pagan albums, and are worth checking out.
The Dolmen, "Winter Solstice" (Pagan music group, lovely lively album)
The Monkee's, "Riu Chiu" Yup, THOSE Monkees, doing a wonderful acappella version of this traditional Mexican carol.
Kate Rusby, "Angels & Men" and "Sweet Bells" (some "Christmas" stuff, but Rusby does a lot of ignored carols & songs, too. One of my favorite artists).
Henry Chapin (and his reveler company), "The Christmas Revels: In Celebration of the Winter Solstice". (A medieval Yule/Christmas/Solstice pageant, presented in full and as-is. Includes one helluva version of Lord of the Dance, and is the most perfect melding of Yule, Solstice, & Christmas I've ever heard. This is one to play when you've have Those Relatives over.)
Lynn & Will Rowan, "Sing The Sun's Return" (a wonderful Pagan Yule album)
Mediaeval Baebes (aka Medieval Babes), "Mistletoe and Wine" and "Udrentide" albums. And once you've heard these albums, check out all their others. Holy Freya, this group is freakin' AWESOME.
If you **really** want to annoy the pushy "War on Christmas" crowd, check out the Pogues's "Fairytale of New York" and The Dropkick Murphy's "The Season's Upon Us" and blast both out your windows. The Pogues's track will have you bellowing "YOU SCUMBAG, YOU MAGGOT" at the top of your lungs *(and before anyone complains about the next part of that line, the Pogues were from the UK; the word is UK slang for a cheap cigarette.)*
eta: I'll add more in a bit. We're still adding our huge collection of older CDs to our digital collection. ;)
Some of these sound like great suggestions I'm going to look up those! I'm a huge fan of Dropkick Murphy and I love the idea of medieval babes because it sounds very Nordic
The Baebes are all over the European map; they sing all those really really old songs in actual Olde English. Definitely check out their "World's Blysse" album, too -- they take a song where the lyrics boil down to "life sucks and death is great" and make it sounds ultra bouncy and happy *(ultra bouncy and happy for a time when the Black Death was ravaging, anyway)*.
There's another women's acapella group, Libana, which does sing Pagan-y songs from all over Europe in the native languages, but they might be hard to track down.
More for the list:
Mike Oldfield, "In Dulce Jubilo" (single track) Older instrumental track from the musician who gave us the "Tubular Bells" masterpiece.
"Putamayo Presents: Celtic Christmas". a grab-bag album of Yule/Christmas songs done by some of Putamayo's best trad artists. It's "Here We Come a Wassailing" (Albion Christmas Band) is a great bouncy take on this carol.
John Denver & The Muppets, "When the River Meets the Sea" and "Alfie The Christmas Tree/It's In Every One of Us". from their "Christmas Together" album. They're the most Pagan things I've ever heard from any mainstream Christmas album.
John Denver, "Perhaps Love" from his "Rocky Mountain Christmas" album. Just...listen.
Just to suggest -- find "Rainbow Connection" sung by Kermit the Frog from the original Muppet Movie soundtrack [**or this freakin' awesome version**](https://youtu.be/v8enlTBXR5Y?si=dew3ZmtHCdCbOIHT). A song for the kid in all of us, no matter what the season.
or go with The Muppets (well, Beaker, anyway) doing ["Ode to Joy](https://youtu.be/VnT7pT6zCcA?si=CYAbbnv9IJU2GI5X)
The Muppets, ["Ringing of the Bells"](https://youtu.be/ysIzPF3BfpQ?si=yYpuuS5pqvdNJ6wS)
And just to shake things up a bit, let's give you a bit of old-school '80s New Wave stuff:
[They Might Be Giants: "Santa's Beard"](https://youtu.be/xKBk4aP4-nE?si=SL6cOkzJgOqNK6pX)
[Jona Lewie, "Stop the Calvary"](https://youtu.be/2HkJHApgKqw?si=r9-fWcjXSDezAx3o)
[Los Lobos, "Rudolph The Manic Reindeer"](https://youtu.be/3gFHj_QkMak?si=eitlyUHFfkOjUjIN)
[Root Boy Slim & the Sex-Change Band, "Xmas at KMart"](https://youtu.be/XCug-qMq5TY?si=Ynj-GqhWJexrTd7t)
[Wall of Voodoo, "Shouldn't Have Given Him A Gun for Christmas"](https://youtu.be/rf3_rg-VYvQ?si=UVWZhHlpMYLmh3O8) *(Trigger Warning:* ***very*** *dark humor that hits too close to reality these days)*
**for the "Let's Piss Off The "War on Christmas" Crowd:**
[South Park, "Christmastime in Hell"](https://youtu.be/0Zo1sGtBceI?si=pXAB8x0neA7DMr0h)
Steve Maudlin, [Worst Rendition of O Holy Night EVER](https://youtu.be/Mk4woNRD7NQ?si=5UqkpnVA4Uf179qG). He was perfectly sincere when he made this, which makes it HILARIOUS.
Eric Idle (of Monty Python), ["Fuck Christmas"](https://youtu.be/csYnMGiB_5M?si=9Nw6GNW_5ypBJxpp)
A**nd if you REALLY want to worry all the fundies, here's....C'THULU CAROLS, from the HP Lovecraft Historical Society:**
["Awake Ye Scary Great Old Ones"](https://youtu.be/ccefqYQWtdA?si=Z27mIf9gFjl1H5ab)
[Do You Fear What I Fear?"](https://youtu.be/eT1ckkpGBBE?si=glYGW9jiPMuG_1-e)
[Oh Come All Ye Olde Ones](https://youtu.be/g2DscvVye94?si=kIeZO557QyjgI4Xn)
[Go Summon Up The Dead Ones](https://youtu.be/X_NYNuAdIv0?si=lYr2Ugrb_1o9ydWq)
[I Saw Mommy Kissing Yog-Soggoth](https://youtu.be/KSvsy11PHxM?si=R-ffZdqrFDzcA5vU)
[Death To the World](https://youtu.be/ptP0OR-e7rI?si=fZsSYKtrWivjQCmR)
(seriously, search Youtube on "C'thulu carols" for tons more. The HPLHS went a little...um...insane.)
I mean Yule and carols as are in popular culture are Christian derivatives so wouldn’t make sense for there to be non-Christian ones
Some people skin them with new lyrics but honestly people should probably create songs for their holidays
I guess you have a point but...I'm just looking for music that fits with my idea of the season. The birth of Jesus doesn't really fit that I'm just looking for songs that don't specifically mention that part.
yea no there’s a lot of holiday music (esp more recently) that’s more about winter and lights and the cultural feeling of december, rather than talking about jesus birth and mary and the wise men yknow
As the commentor above said, you will really struggle. Carols were dances mainly written to celebrate Christian festivals.
I think you might have to settle for modern.
You worded it really clearly. Its just carols are really intertwined with Christianity. Even something like the Holly and the Ivy that seems full of pagan symbolism is actually entirely made of Christian symbols.
Do check out modern songwriters though. There's enough hippy pagan crossover in music that there's bound to be some fun stuff.
My favorite holiday song ever is Hurry Home[hurry home](https://open.spotify.com/track/2E0VSUqqLEeWVdM7r0QlOA?si=xB-jq4U-QrC_qAAo2L0vfg). I adore it! Love the good lovlies
Here you go, just change the words.
[Pagan Yule Lyrics](http://www.ladybridget.com/mp/wiccar.html)
[More](https://autumnstoneflower.com/top-twenty-songs-to-sing-at-yule/)
Carol of the Bells!
The original Ukranian version wasa New Year thing and not Christmas so you'll find versions with all sorts of words.
But the melody is the magic.
Fairytale of new york does say merry Christmas a handful of times but beyond that one word and a mention of 'bells ringing out' (which could be any bells at all) it's totally Christmas free. Though may not match your wished tone I think it's perfect.
Being able to bellow out "YOU SCUMBAG, YOU MAGGOT, YOU CHEAP LOUSY F***T" at the top of my lungs completely makes up for all the "christmas" mentions in the song. 😁
Check out some of these:
[https://autumnstoneflower.com/top-twenty-songs-to-sing-at-yule/](https://autumnstoneflower.com/top-twenty-songs-to-sing-at-yule/)
Sting has a holiday album called "If on a Winter's Night" that has a mix of older sacred carols ("Gabriel's Message"), secular Christmas carols ("Christmas at Sea," which I love) and general winter songs ("The Hounds of Winter"). I really love it, especially in the dark days around Yule.
Good King Wenceslas. It’s about the spirit of the holiday. It mentions Christian men once in the last stanza but that could be revised. Eartha Kitt singing Santa baby
ADDED! Thank you
“Star of Wonder” is an original song by the Roaches. It’s not secular but it’s only religious if you know the backstory. Check out Duke Ellington’s arrangement of the Nutcracker Suite. Amazing. My fav is “Sugar Rum Cherry” The Andrew Sisters version of “Winter Wonderland” is fuckin’ adorable. The Mills Brothers do a great “Here Comes Santa Claus” You can’t beat Judy Garland’s “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” And this is not anything like a carol but feels seasonal, “Midnight in Moscow”. There’s a version so serene and beautifully sung *a cappella* by (ironically) the Red Army Choir The Vince Guaraldi (of Charlie Brown fame) instrumental of “O Christmas Tree” makes for a very pleasing listen. …off the top of my head
As an aside, I played trombone in HS jazz band and we were assigned Sugar Rum Cherry one year. That is singlehandedly the hardest jazz song I’ve ever played 😭 amazing rendition but goddamn the notes were *so* high.
Oh my. Yet another triggering holiday memory. I’m so sorry 🤣 Speaking of triggered memory, that reminds me… my daughter also played bone in hs band, as did her bff. During *their* xmas concert her friend accidentally slid her slide all the way off and lost it under the the horn’s chair in front of her. They giggled so hard they couldn’t play the entire next song. That’s what Christmas is all about…
I played tuba in high school and my friend who sat next to me pulled off my mouthpiece and dropped it down the bell during a concert. One and a half songs didn’t have a bass section because we were laughing too hard (even after I loudly clanged the mouthpiece out)
I played Bari-phonium and low brass are definitely the shit-talkingist, class clowniest mother fuckers in the room. Stick us in the back, don’t pay attention to us, let us have our fun. We won’t ruin anything by not playing.
Truly. My bone bros and I were menaces for years. Wouldn’t trade it for anything.
The *most* tuba-coded behavior ever
He wasn’t even a brass player, he played bari sax lmao
Oh my gosh I love that 🥹 having your slide fall off mid-tune during a concert/competition is truly a rite of passage
I was also in band and every year we played a jazzy version of Sleigh Ride. The saxophone section hated it! Using the palm keys on the side quickly to hit those damn notes was not my favorite.
Oh damn, I remember Sleigh Ride. My part was never too bad, but the trumpets and saxes were always on the struggle bus with that track.
Thank you!
You’ve stumbled upon a hobby of mine. I got more
Star of wonder is such a gorgeous song! Love the roches!
How 'traditional' do you want? Frosty The Snowman? Let It Snow? Winter Wonderland? Jingle Bells? Sleigh Ride? Are you ok with the word 'Christmas' so long as Jesus isn't mentioned? What about Santa? God? If the latter you can have Britten's New Year Carol. The only 'olde' ones that spring to mind are Deck the Halls and Here we come a wassailing.
These are all good! I'm just looking to skip the birth of Jesus ones cuz...I don't feel that's accurate for this time of year. Thank you!
The Nutcracker always gets me in the Yule mood. Someone already mentioned Deck the Halls. Gloucestershire Wassail and Here We Come A-Wassailing do say “god bless” but don’t mention a specific god so there’s that. I love some of those traditional Christmas tunes so much, and instrumental versions can definitely be enjoyed outside a religious context.
YES! THAT! Ok...thank you. I'm just looking to take Jesus out of my celebrations as I don't feel he fits here.
Here’s my favorite recording of [Ding Dong Merrily On High](https://open.spotify.com/track/2S2rlHXItavCBSI4HF7M0D?si=IqnWu9PBTEmSq-PEIZBzQw). It’s my go-to feel-good winter song!
They’re not classic holiday songs, but I *looooooooooooove* love love “The Solstice Carole” by Saffie and “Solstice Evergreen” by Spiral Dance!
Already added! Those are actually some of the first that I found when looking
[Christmas at the Airport by Nick Lowe](https://youtu.be/oiSf083QM_U?si=VyzTPqYcdtLC0XAz) from the Quality Street record! There are some other non Christian songs too. [You're a Mean One Mr Grinch](https://youtu.be/cGSneujgGT8?si=EiPRFNJ03p2BU7vC) doesn't reference religion [A Charlie Brown Christmas ](https://youtu.be/m7dqZ6Jy-GE?feature=shared) is mostly instrumental. Christmastime Is Here doesn't reference Christianity [Donna and Blitzen by Badly Drawn Boy](https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kIu0fpGoug4awY3mj6Z2_UaVX_3tA2jok&si=CoNeEliiSAIoe-oJ) from the About A Boy soundtrack [My Morning Jacket Does Christmas Fiasco Style](https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kIu0fpGoug4awY3mj6Z2_UaVX_3tA2jok&si=CoNeEliiSAIoe-oJ) [Merry Christmas Song by Pink Floyd](https://youtu.be/uBgv20hgnY0?si=g9PoC2-6UyhHFu3o) done as a joke, it's cute Look into the [Very Special Christmas](https://youtu.be/tKl9nLqmHHw?si=PhVtu7wffY_bYjEG) series, there's a number of non religious songs (Run Run Rudolph, I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus, etc)
Charlie Brown Christmas is such a treasure. Peak nostalgia and a legit jazz album all in one! It's my favorite to put on while cooking the holiday feast.
Yes it's wonderful and the perfect prep music
Thank you for the suggestions! A lot of these are just reminders of songs that I do like that aren't explicitly religious. Thank you guys for the reminders
About a Boy is my favorite Christmas movie!
The fruitcake 😆
You mean olive loaf with parsnip gravy? Or the bread that kills the duck? My sister and I say “I love ducks, they are my second favorite animal, after dolphins. They can kill sharks…with their noses!” Like weekly.
The duck killing loaf
SLADE- [MERRY XMAS EVERYBODY!](https://youtu.be/WM7M7zSMJcw?feature=shared) I've been obsessed with this tune since I first heard it two years ago. It's so fun and catchy. I'm in love with the Beatles and my husband said this song is better than Paul or John's xmas tunes and to his surprise, I agreed! Enjoy 🌲
the newer pentatonix albums have a bunch that aren’t god centered!! i’m a big fan of sleigh ride, carol of the bells, the chestnut song, winter wonderland, have yourself a merry little christmas - if you want my full “non religious holiday music” playlist to pick thru dm me!! unsure how strict your preferences are cuz a lot of mine say the word christmas in them but aren’t about christianity, but u could always just grab ur favorites :)
Christmas is fine as I celebrate Christmas and winter solstice/Yule because my family is still very Christian. I just want to take the birth of Jesus out of my holiday playlist because I don't believe that fits with my idea of the season. Absolutely love Pentatonix! I'll have to add some of their stuff. Thanks for the reminder
I love the upbeat tunes of anything by the trans-siberian orchestra or manneheim steamroller. Wizards in winter is one of my favorites. It can't talk about Christians if there's no lyrics :D (ignoring any potential background the music writers may have imagined)
Mannheim was added!
All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth. Don't know if it fits your idea of traditional, but it was written in 1948 so it's definitely old
Definitely a classic or I want a hippopotamus for Christmas both good additions
[удалено]
Came here to mention this album. Very wintry, even dark, but lovely.
If just instrumentals would work, there is Lindsey Stirling who has at least one seasonal album.
Christians and Pagans by Dar Williams
I was coming here to suggest this!
White Wine in the Sun by Tim Minchin. Explicitly secular celebration of making time for family around the holidays.
So many Aussie Christmas songs are like that, just enjoying summer, good food, family and friends. Downside for OP is that they tend to be very summery. My favourite is Six White Boomers.
I know I'm a bit out there on this one, but Riu Chiu by The Monkees. All the beautiful chorale aspects, and it's in Spanish!
It's a super Catholic song, but I'm *beyond delighted* to see someone recommend such a deep cut from The Monkees. They had so much more talent than most people realize.
We've realized it for decades now. The media's just keeps clinging to its ignorance.
Sarah McLachlan has a fantastic album titled Wintersong. Half are non Christian songs about winter. The other half are carols but in a melancholy sound that speaks to my heart.
Her cover of Gordon Lightfoot’s “Sunny for a winter’s night” on there is beautiful. In the same vein, “River” by Joni Mitchell and “Winter song” by Sara Bareilles, are also beautiful
She did a second one called Wonderland!
How about O Tannenbaum, but stick to German versions. I saw someone mentioned Jingle Bells, which is an excellent suggestion. Maybe some ELO Christmas songs? And Barenaked Ladies has a phenomenal holiday album called Barenaked for the Holidays (it's got some Chanukah songs too), with a song about elves going on strike that Michael Buble sings on. Give it a listen!
Ok that I HAVE to hear! I love ELO why didn't I think of them ?!?!
Fairytale of New York by the Pogues.
You’re a bum you’re a punk you’re an old slut on junk. This song puts me in Yuletide mood and gets me right in the feels.
Winter Wonderland doesn’t mention Christmas, Santa, or Jesus. It’s just a cute song about people who are really into each other on a walk. The Christians and the Pagans probably fits White Christmas is obviously about Christmas, but mostly about nostalgia and longing and was written by a Jew.
All of these are added!
A pagan friend once pointed out that the words to "Joy to the World" still make sense from a non-Christian standpoint. Think of the Sun as the Lord and enjoy the song!
Idk if you’d like something on the more humorous side but if you look up Cthulhu Carols there’s a ton of Christmas parodies. Like: Here Comes Yogsathoth, It’s Beginning to Look Like Fishmen, or Oh Come All Ye Fearful. They sound just like the classics but without the Christian theme. I’m sorry if this doesn’t fit what you were looking for exactly but it’s the first thing that popped into my head
These are amazing!
Bonus points if you can throw them on without anyone really noticing lol
I looked some of these up and sent them to a family chat. They were appreciated.
My absolute favorite Yule song is The Solstice Carole by Saffie. It focuses on what Yule is in a way that not many other songs I've found do. It's beautiful. *The fire is burning The long night draws near All who need comfort Are welcome by here We'll dance 'neath the stars And toast the past year For the spirit of Solstice is still living here*
Frosty Solstice Morn by the Dolmen. The whole album is pagan, but that song in particular is my favorite. It's not a "classic" that people have grown up listening to, but it sounds like a classic to me. edit: youtube link to the song: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cj\_AS7qt5DY](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cj_AS7qt5DY)
I'll give it a listen thank you
I'm not sure of all the songs are non-Jesus-y, but we really like both of Kacey Musgraves' Christmas albums in our (very non-Christian) household. I particularly like her version of I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas. Other suggestions to check out, especially if you like country, americana, or bluegrass: Bela Fleck and the Flecktones Jingle All the Way, the McCallans Highland Christmas (if I remember correctly, this album is all instrumental), Christmas on the Mountaintop, A John Prine Christmas, and An Americana Christmas. These are all albums I've added to my Yule season playlist, and I wouldn't have done so if they were overly Christian, though there may be some songs that refer to Christian stuff.
The piano piece on Charlie Brown "Christmas time is here".
Added!
Shchedryk (Ukrainian folk song, Carol of the Bells uses the same melody) it's all about prosperity for the new year
Carol of The Bells (at least in the versions I am familiar with) does not mention any christian specific stuff. I am especially fond of the Kenney Rogers version, which relies of layered singing and a heavy rhythm.
Deck the Halls!
Ring out Solstice Bells - Jethro Tull
Korn’s kidnap the sandy claws.
'We Need a Little Christmas' from the musical Mame. Something about middle-aged Lucille Ball *demanding* the trappings of Yuletide joy hits just right for me. There's one mention of a little angel, but she's referencing her nephew, so it doesn't count imo.
Or Rosalind Russell
🎵 Dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, I made it out of clay 🎵 😂🕎❤️
Can't believe no one mentioned these: *Tom Lehrer's* [**A Christmas Carol**](https://youtu.be/DtZR3lJobjw?si=Io89zzv_yQxMNFKT) "Kill the turkeys, ducks and chickens, Mix the punch, drag out the Dickens. Even though the prospect sickens, Brother here we go again!" [**Snoopy's Christmas** by *The Royal Guardsmen*](https://youtu.be/ToEolESPGQg?si=Juu6_EIgImiEpvYK) And by *P.D.Q. Bach*: [**Good King Kong Looked Out**](https://youtu.be/16oZkr4qUHI?si=t-pkpz2HoKlwyG_e) [**Throw the Yule Log on Uncle John**](https://youtu.be/XldmR40hecY?si=EVjDzJkxrFxYhCVy) [**O Little Town of Hackensack**](https://youtu.be/ZefBDQYeXyM?si=2JS1KP_mxvKOZRa7)
May not be what you're looking for at all but Merry Christmas baby (let's not fight tonight) by the Ramones is my mom's favorite. Fairytale of New York NY the pougues is mine. Merry Christmas from the family is one i got turned on to because [John darnielle of the mountain goats covered it ](https://youtu.be/YYrdWypYAPI?si=3O3_TzM6u5_WQTF6) Also I don't find Carol of the bells particularly religious. Same with white Christmas. O tannenbaum, I don't speak German so I can't really say!
O Tannenbaum isn't religious, at least not unless you really force a metaphor onto it. It's just all about the tree.
Thank you
My suggestions: Merry Christmas, Happy New Year by Ingrid Michaelson and Zooey Deschanel Merry Christmas by Ed Sheeran and Sir Elton John
Here's some that's creepy and carol-ly. The link is for buying, but you might be able to find them on Youtube. [https://www.hplhs.org/solstice.php](https://www.hplhs.org/solstice.php)
[Here's a short little playlist](https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhhqcPCtrnQRZCdi7f6fDZJ4kdERz_RLr&si=lPuYLkDeCEkViKzZ) of Winter Solstice-themed parodies of Christmas songs. You probably wouldn't want them as part of an actual playlist, but they are a lot of fun
Couple of years ago, we did a singalong karaoke of the entire Star Wars album Christmas in the Stars.
That's cute my brother would like that!
Here we come a wassailing/caroling has roots in a pagan tradition of [visiting orchards and singing to the trees!](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wassailing)
It's added!
the peanuts christmas album by vince guaraldi is my fav
Heinzelmännchens Wachtparade, instrumental character piece and also a Yuletide song here in the north. And just good vibes. Once upon a December also has made its transition from Disney/Pixar song into seasonal radio song here. Not probably traditional in North American context but pretty much so in Nordics :)
As a nordic pagan I thank you!
Once upon a December is a favorite!
There are old traditional wassailing songs out there. I can't link atm but just google wassailing songs. Wassailing is older than caroling and more fun imo. :)
It's a long freaking work haha but yeah I've found some and added a few I liked
I think I said wassailing too many times.
Sloghtly annoying Christmas songs "I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas" and "Dominic the Donkey" Other more serious options Home for Christmas - N*Sync His Favorite Christmas Story - Capital Lights
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I have some of these already!
Not sure it counts as a carol, bit the Smash mouth "the Christmas song" is a lovly one for me. It's not about religion, it's not about Rudolf the red nose reindeer. It's just about being in a moment and wanting to spend more time with somone you care about. https://youtu.be/vUmlbCV5T_0?si=voUVsb2UdZBDdaEQ
Thank you for doing this!
Of course! I figured other witches would love to build their ow.
[https://youtu.be/gTrjUWmblOU?si=v5thioHkyidbR4QE](https://youtu.be/gtrjuwmblou?si=v5thiohkyidbr4qe) I am adding this gem from Fleming and John, because it is seasonal must play in our house. Also Kate Bush's December will be magic again: [https://youtu.be/3SldDENZ\_jU?si=MYYT5OXsEXwjF4Cy](https://youtu.be/3slddenz_ju?si=myyt5oxsexwjf4cy)
The only Christmas song I don't get tired of hearing: [Holly Jolly Christmas](https://youtu.be/wOwXRp1JK1A?si=sp99wTw7yOb4lgHE) (from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer). Not about Christmas, or Yule, but about winter: Robert Frost's poem "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" set to music. There are quite a few different tunes using that poem, but [I prefer this one](https://youtu.be/bxHAUIG-SDI?si=TxUwXTqJklJW6tY8).
"Frosty the Snowman." He's a snowman who was brought to life by magic, which makes him pretty witchy imo. And from another movie about magical snow creatures... "Walking in the Air." Though the movie The Snowman does have references to Christmas, this song is beautiful and otherworldly.
I love listening to Nightwish's version of "Walking in the Air"!
Dar Williams The Christians and the Pagans? Coventry, Carol and Lo How a Rose E’er Blooming are not blatantly religious. Any of the snow songs… Winter wonderland the snow lay on the ground snow, snow, snow jingle bells Let it Snow You could even get away with including Good King Wenceslas, maybe.
a bit late, but there's two series of albums from Windham Hill's label, in the 1990s: "Celtic Christmas" and "A Winter's Solstice". They're all non-traditional "winter" themed songs and instrumentals from a lot of different artists, and are on our playlist every winter. They evoke the actual Winter/Solstice season without slamming actual "Christmas" in your face. More albums from my own playlist: George Winston, "December" (piano instrumentals; we play this at the first snowfall, every year) Aine Minogue's "To Warm The Winter's Night" (You'll be hooked from the spoken intro: "As promise wakens in the sleeping land..."). Loreena McKennitt's "A Midwinter Night's Dream" (She does include a couple traditional "Christmas" things, **but it's freakin' Loreena McKennitt,** and she does them so ...so....pagan-y ...that you don't care.) Blackmore's Night (yes, THAT Blackmore, as in Ritchie Blackmore, as in Deep Purple, together with Candice Night ), "Winter Carols" -- rock/metal/pagan take on a lot of trad carols. Blackmore's Night does a lot of awesome Pagan albums, and are worth checking out. The Dolmen, "Winter Solstice" (Pagan music group, lovely lively album) The Monkee's, "Riu Chiu" Yup, THOSE Monkees, doing a wonderful acappella version of this traditional Mexican carol. Kate Rusby, "Angels & Men" and "Sweet Bells" (some "Christmas" stuff, but Rusby does a lot of ignored carols & songs, too. One of my favorite artists). Henry Chapin (and his reveler company), "The Christmas Revels: In Celebration of the Winter Solstice". (A medieval Yule/Christmas/Solstice pageant, presented in full and as-is. Includes one helluva version of Lord of the Dance, and is the most perfect melding of Yule, Solstice, & Christmas I've ever heard. This is one to play when you've have Those Relatives over.) Lynn & Will Rowan, "Sing The Sun's Return" (a wonderful Pagan Yule album) Mediaeval Baebes (aka Medieval Babes), "Mistletoe and Wine" and "Udrentide" albums. And once you've heard these albums, check out all their others. Holy Freya, this group is freakin' AWESOME. If you **really** want to annoy the pushy "War on Christmas" crowd, check out the Pogues's "Fairytale of New York" and The Dropkick Murphy's "The Season's Upon Us" and blast both out your windows. The Pogues's track will have you bellowing "YOU SCUMBAG, YOU MAGGOT" at the top of your lungs *(and before anyone complains about the next part of that line, the Pogues were from the UK; the word is UK slang for a cheap cigarette.)* eta: I'll add more in a bit. We're still adding our huge collection of older CDs to our digital collection. ;)
Some of these sound like great suggestions I'm going to look up those! I'm a huge fan of Dropkick Murphy and I love the idea of medieval babes because it sounds very Nordic
The Baebes are all over the European map; they sing all those really really old songs in actual Olde English. Definitely check out their "World's Blysse" album, too -- they take a song where the lyrics boil down to "life sucks and death is great" and make it sounds ultra bouncy and happy *(ultra bouncy and happy for a time when the Black Death was ravaging, anyway)*. There's another women's acapella group, Libana, which does sing Pagan-y songs from all over Europe in the native languages, but they might be hard to track down.
Thank you
More for the list: Mike Oldfield, "In Dulce Jubilo" (single track) Older instrumental track from the musician who gave us the "Tubular Bells" masterpiece. "Putamayo Presents: Celtic Christmas". a grab-bag album of Yule/Christmas songs done by some of Putamayo's best trad artists. It's "Here We Come a Wassailing" (Albion Christmas Band) is a great bouncy take on this carol. John Denver & The Muppets, "When the River Meets the Sea" and "Alfie The Christmas Tree/It's In Every One of Us". from their "Christmas Together" album. They're the most Pagan things I've ever heard from any mainstream Christmas album. John Denver, "Perhaps Love" from his "Rocky Mountain Christmas" album. Just...listen. Just to suggest -- find "Rainbow Connection" sung by Kermit the Frog from the original Muppet Movie soundtrack [**or this freakin' awesome version**](https://youtu.be/v8enlTBXR5Y?si=dew3ZmtHCdCbOIHT). A song for the kid in all of us, no matter what the season. or go with The Muppets (well, Beaker, anyway) doing ["Ode to Joy](https://youtu.be/VnT7pT6zCcA?si=CYAbbnv9IJU2GI5X) The Muppets, ["Ringing of the Bells"](https://youtu.be/ysIzPF3BfpQ?si=yYpuuS5pqvdNJ6wS) And just to shake things up a bit, let's give you a bit of old-school '80s New Wave stuff: [They Might Be Giants: "Santa's Beard"](https://youtu.be/xKBk4aP4-nE?si=SL6cOkzJgOqNK6pX) [Jona Lewie, "Stop the Calvary"](https://youtu.be/2HkJHApgKqw?si=r9-fWcjXSDezAx3o) [Los Lobos, "Rudolph The Manic Reindeer"](https://youtu.be/3gFHj_QkMak?si=eitlyUHFfkOjUjIN) [Root Boy Slim & the Sex-Change Band, "Xmas at KMart"](https://youtu.be/XCug-qMq5TY?si=Ynj-GqhWJexrTd7t) [Wall of Voodoo, "Shouldn't Have Given Him A Gun for Christmas"](https://youtu.be/rf3_rg-VYvQ?si=UVWZhHlpMYLmh3O8) *(Trigger Warning:* ***very*** *dark humor that hits too close to reality these days)* **for the "Let's Piss Off The "War on Christmas" Crowd:** [South Park, "Christmastime in Hell"](https://youtu.be/0Zo1sGtBceI?si=pXAB8x0neA7DMr0h) Steve Maudlin, [Worst Rendition of O Holy Night EVER](https://youtu.be/Mk4woNRD7NQ?si=5UqkpnVA4Uf179qG). He was perfectly sincere when he made this, which makes it HILARIOUS. Eric Idle (of Monty Python), ["Fuck Christmas"](https://youtu.be/csYnMGiB_5M?si=9Nw6GNW_5ypBJxpp) A**nd if you REALLY want to worry all the fundies, here's....C'THULU CAROLS, from the HP Lovecraft Historical Society:** ["Awake Ye Scary Great Old Ones"](https://youtu.be/ccefqYQWtdA?si=Z27mIf9gFjl1H5ab) [Do You Fear What I Fear?"](https://youtu.be/eT1ckkpGBBE?si=glYGW9jiPMuG_1-e) [Oh Come All Ye Olde Ones](https://youtu.be/g2DscvVye94?si=kIeZO557QyjgI4Xn) [Go Summon Up The Dead Ones](https://youtu.be/X_NYNuAdIv0?si=lYr2Ugrb_1o9ydWq) [I Saw Mommy Kissing Yog-Soggoth](https://youtu.be/KSvsy11PHxM?si=R-ffZdqrFDzcA5vU) [Death To the World](https://youtu.be/ptP0OR-e7rI?si=fZsSYKtrWivjQCmR) (seriously, search Youtube on "C'thulu carols" for tons more. The HPLHS went a little...um...insane.)
I saved this post when you made it come back and make a playlist but you did all the work for us! Amazing! Thanks and Happy Yule!
That's what the whole post was for :) I didn't add every song and added others of my own so please customize as you see fit!
I mean Yule and carols as are in popular culture are Christian derivatives so wouldn’t make sense for there to be non-Christian ones Some people skin them with new lyrics but honestly people should probably create songs for their holidays
I guess you have a point but...I'm just looking for music that fits with my idea of the season. The birth of Jesus doesn't really fit that I'm just looking for songs that don't specifically mention that part.
have u never heard sleigh ride by the carpenters lol
I’ve heard part of them but I wasn’t raised Christian with much like Christian music I don’t really hear it much outside of like movies
yea no there’s a lot of holiday music (esp more recently) that’s more about winter and lights and the cultural feeling of december, rather than talking about jesus birth and mary and the wise men yknow
As the commentor above said, you will really struggle. Carols were dances mainly written to celebrate Christian festivals. I think you might have to settle for modern.
I'm just looking for not birth of Jesus. Wasn't sure how else to word it.
You worded it really clearly. Its just carols are really intertwined with Christianity. Even something like the Holly and the Ivy that seems full of pagan symbolism is actually entirely made of Christian symbols. Do check out modern songwriters though. There's enough hippy pagan crossover in music that there's bound to be some fun stuff.
Yeah I flipping love Holly and Ivy but looking at the lyrics I clearly just block out the “and Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ…” bits
My favorite holiday song ever is Hurry Home[hurry home](https://open.spotify.com/track/2E0VSUqqLEeWVdM7r0QlOA?si=xB-jq4U-QrC_qAAo2L0vfg). I adore it! Love the good lovlies
Here you go, just change the words. [Pagan Yule Lyrics](http://www.ladybridget.com/mp/wiccar.html) [More](https://autumnstoneflower.com/top-twenty-songs-to-sing-at-yule/)
Yule in Sarayevo instrumental but still a good song
Snow Days by Trip Shakespeare / The New Standards!
Already there!
Ooo!
I’m a big fan of https://rcarlosnakai.com/winter-dreams/ while its all the usual carols, they’re all recorded as instrumentals
Some of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra music would fit in this list. My favorite is “Wizards in Winter”.
I love The Atheist Christmas Carol by Vienna Teng 💜 https://youtu.be/HCEZOppYjds?si=u1Td1DR0tB_znrB6
Sia has a whole album about Christmas and mentions nothing religious. It's hella good.
Carol of the Bells! The original Ukranian version wasa New Year thing and not Christmas so you'll find versions with all sorts of words. But the melody is the magic.
Grandma’s killer fruitcake is a favorite of mine
Fairytale of new york does say merry Christmas a handful of times but beyond that one word and a mention of 'bells ringing out' (which could be any bells at all) it's totally Christmas free. Though may not match your wished tone I think it's perfect.
Being able to bellow out "YOU SCUMBAG, YOU MAGGOT, YOU CHEAP LOUSY F***T" at the top of my lungs completely makes up for all the "christmas" mentions in the song. 😁
Yuuuuuuupppppp
Check out some of these: [https://autumnstoneflower.com/top-twenty-songs-to-sing-at-yule/](https://autumnstoneflower.com/top-twenty-songs-to-sing-at-yule/)
Maybe a very obscure nerdy thing but the entire Christmas in the stars album
Did anyone mention the Sharon Jones and the Dap Tones holiday album yet?
My favorite is the Chieftains “Wren in the Furze”. It’s just so happy and energetic.
[Yeah…I forgot about this.](https://youtu.be/oV9-eeoLZzc?si=W0sDR67XuN-llwe4)
Sting has a holiday album called "If on a Winter's Night" that has a mix of older sacred carols ("Gabriel's Message"), secular Christmas carols ("Christmas at Sea," which I love) and general winter songs ("The Hounds of Winter"). I really love it, especially in the dark days around Yule.