12 Silly Holiday Songs for a Festive December

Well, the leaves are gone and the bare branches can mean only one thing: winter and the holidays are here! Whether you’re spending the holidays fighting crowds at the mall or cuddling under a blanket by the fire, the holidays are, for many, a time of excitement and joy. You may have seen our list of “12 Songs to Feed your Winter Blues,” but for those of you feeling the excitement in the air, we’ve compiled a list of 12 songs to feed your happy vibe. These silly songs may not be on your regular holiday rotation, but they are certainly worth mentioning. Without further ado, here are our picks for the silliest holiday/winter tunes:

Click below to listen along as you read!

1) Christmas Wrapping by The Waitresses

The jolly melody of this song is bound to make even the stiffest snowman nod his head. While most holiday songs sing about love and decorating for the holiday season, The Waitresses can’t help but complain all about this busty time. Though this song is low-key hating on the holidays, it keeps a light and fun mood. This mood is comically contradicted by the fact that only about three notes are sung for the whole song, making the song pretty monotone despite its silly beat and melody. If this wasn’t on your playlist before, we’re sure that, after one listen, it’ll become a welcome addition.

2) Wonderful Christmastime by Paul McCartney

If a bouncing ball ever grew legs and wrote a song about its life, it would be this one. All jokes aside, this song is the epitome of a silly little song. The lyrics are pretty repetitive, but I think it adds to the song’s bouncy pattern. The moment the clock hits 12:00 on December 1st, it is time for this hit to come out of retirement. I would expect nothing less from a former Beatle, especially considering how strong Paul McCartney’s solo career was on top of his awesome run with his fellow band members. This song goes platinum in my house during December and I hope it does the same in yours.

3) Run Rudolph Run by Chuck Berry

This is the classic “omg we’re gonna miss the plane!!” song for every holiday movie and I’m not complaining. There’s something about Chuck Berry’s vocals throughout this whole song that makes me feel like I’m a diner in the 1950s dancing around a jukebox. That accompanied by the classic rock and roll sound makes for the perfect seasonal dance hit. Most people associate this song with “Home Alone” as the Mcalister family races through the airport to make their flight to Paris. However, my first memory of this song came from the movie “Good Luck Charlie: It’s Christmas,” an underrated Disney Channel classic. Regardless of where you heard this song, it remains a song that perfectly encapsulates the chaos of the holidays.

4) I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas by Gayla Peevey

While I personally preferred Barbies as a Christmas gift, I suppose a hippopotamus is a valid choice for a gift. This song is silly and it knows it. From beginning to end, the lyrics emphasize just how much this little girl wants a hippopotamus under the tree. The music in this song is joyful from the start, with loud trumpets, clarinets, and trombones starting the song off strong. The lyrics are just as fun and silly! Gayla Peevey wants to make sure you know that ONLY a hippo will do as a gift for Christmas, and don’t you forget it.

5) I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus by The Jackson 5

This song truly never gets old. The entire premise of the song is so fun and crazy and the Jackson 5 pull it off so well. The music matches the lyrics with its upbeat instrumental and the very tasteful use of a xylophone. This song is a classic holiday song, and with good reason. Whenever this comes on the radio, just know it’s getting turned up all the way.

6) Little Saint Nick by The Beach Boys

As is implied by their name, The Beach Boys always make me think of warm California beaches with surfers in every wave. The last thing I would think of is a jolly tune about the Arctic North Pole. The Beach Boys released this tune as a part of their holiday album in 1964. This song keeps that jolly beachy vibe that The Beach Boys are known for with a fun holiday twist. To me, this song is like a snowman who traveled down to the sandy beaches of Santa Monica and started shredding the waves.

7) Christmas In Hollis by Run-D.M.C.

This song is hands down one of my favorite holiday songs. For most people, the last thing they think of when they hear the words holiday song is a rap song, but “Christmas In Hollis” breaks the mold. Those bells at the beginning and the start of the “Jingle Bells” melody set the vibe for the whole song. The lyrics are truly the best part of this song, each line bringing a fun new rhyme about the holidays. My biggest takeaway is why aren’t there more

holiday rap songs?

8) Twelve Days of Christmas by John Denver, The Muppets

Now we all know that “Twelve Days of Christmas” is a holiday song, but if you listen to this song for just twelve seconds, you’ll realize just what makes it so silly. The Muppets really make this song so special and fun. There’s nothing like listening to Kermit and Miss Piggy sing all about the holidays. The song itself is pretty normal until you hear Miss Piggy’s majestic “five golden ringsss.” To me, it wouldn’t be the holidays without The Muppets!

9) The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late) by Alvin and The Chipmunks 

I. Love. The. Chipmunks. There I said it. I honestly think the first Alvin and The Chipmunks movie should be considered a classic holiday movie. With the chipmunks as the singers, things are bound to get silly. This song has such fun lyrics and the delivery from the chipmunks is the cherry on top. There’s nothing quite like this song with its funny lyrics, upbeat music, and constant interruptions from Dave yelling at Alvin. In my house, this song is a holiday classic.

10) El Burrito de Belen by La Rondallita

Most of you are probably wondering what in the world this song is and where it came from. In my house, while we enjoy classic English holiday music, there are a couple of Spanish holiday songs that are staples around this time. This song is one of those staples and there is no doubt

you’ll hear this song playing around my house during December. The song is all about a donkey and his journey, probably winning the prize for the silliest idea for a song. Regardless, this song is a personal holiday classic that I couldn’t help but include.

11) Hotta Chocolatta by Ella Fitzgerald

There is truly nothing better than a rich cup of hot chocolate during the cold holiday season and Ella Fitzgerald is going to tell you all about it in her upbeat jazzy hit! The holidays are the perfect time for some fun jazz music and there’s no one better to listen to than the queen of jazz. I guarantee this song will make you feel like you’re sitting by the fire with a big old cup of hot

chocolate.

12) Auld Lang Syne by Duke Ellington

Yes, this is an instrumental song. Yes, it is still an incredible holiday song. Duke Ellington is another one of the greatest jazz musicians of all time and he delivers a heartwarming rendition of a classic holiday song. The jazzy instrumentals are the perfect soundtrack for the holiday season and capture all those festive feelings of the time. Even if instrumental music isn’t your thing, this song is definitely worth a listen.