An iconic part of wintertime is listening to cheerful and festive holiday music.  If you listen to the radio in December, certain songs become impossible to avoid. Despite our annoyance with the repetitiveness on the radio, the holiday season would not be the same without these classic songs.

1.  “All I Want For Christmas” by Mariah Carey is one of the most famous and beloved Christmas songs.  It came out in November of 1994 and is now one of the most iconic Christmas songs around. The song begins with the sound of the glockenspiel, giving it a festive tone and reminding listeners of childhood joy and the holiday spirit. The song’s upbeat chorus later features jingle bells. Whether you like Mariah Carey or not, no one can deny the  festivity and vivaciousness of “All I Want For Christmas”.

2. “Last Christmas” by Wham! is another holiday hit. Unlike most holiday songs,  “Last Christmas” is a somber song about heartbreak and moving on.  Perhaps due to its connection to love and hurting, this song has become one of the most popular holiday singles. “Last Christmas” has appeared in multiple television series and movies, such as in Glee in 2010.

3. Andy Williams’ “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” is a holiday song that everyone knows and loves.  This classic Christmas song was released in 1963.  Unlike other popular holiday songs, this song is slow, and Williams sings with a deep, rich voice.

4. “Let It Snow” by Frank Sinatra has continued to maintain its popularity around the fireplace each year.  This well-known holiday song has been wildly popular since 1948 when it was originally released.  Michael Bublé’s more modern take on “Let It Snow” has also become popular in recent years.

5. Jose Feliciano’s “Feliz Navidad” always seems to be playing on Christmas morning. Released in 1970, the song saw a breakthrough for Spanish singers and songwriters in America.

6. “Jingle Bell Rock” by Bobby Helms reminds us of two things: Mean Girls and wintertime.  Since its appearance in Mean Girls, the song has continued to gain popularity.

7. “The Hanukkah Song” by Adam Sandler, which originated on Saturday Night Live, has become very popular. Being one of the only songs about Hanukkah, it has become wildly popular during the holiday season.  Although not everyone celebrates Christmas, people from all religious backgrounds listen to holiday songs and joy is always in the air.

8.  It’s not Christmas time without Madonna’s remake of “Santa Baby.”  This song was originally released by Eartha Kitt in 1953.  Although people continue to listen to the original version, Madonna’s remake is more popular around Christmas time.

9. “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town,” originally released in 1934,  remains a holiday staple.  The most popular remakes of this single are those of Bruce Springsteen and Michael Bublé.  This familiar song gets children excited about opening the presents left under the tree.

10. “Mistletoe” by Justin Bieber is another popular Christmas song.  Despite being quite different from most famous holiday songs, which are older and more traditional, this song is beloved by Justin Bieber fans, making it very popular around the holiday time.  Bieber’s 2011 hit makes us all want someone to kiss under the mistletoe around the holidays.