A controversial question throughout the holiday season is when is it acceptable to begin listening to Christmas music? Some say after Halloween, others after Thanksgiving, while there are also people who think Dec. 1 is still too early. Regardless of when people begin listening to the seasonal classic hits, Christmas music is what truly gets everyone into the holiday spirit.

Carols originated thousands of years ago in Europe. They were sung and written for each season. However, the tradition of singing during Christmas time is the only one that has lasted. Many songs started off as pagan solstice songs, and Christians adapted them to become their own songs. Most Christmas songs written at this time were made up stories about the holy family, and very vaguely focused on the holiday. These songs were also sung in homes, rather than at church.

Soon following, traveling singers started to go to people’s homes to sing these songs. This began the tradition of Christmas Carolers. However, when the Puritans and Oliver Cromwell came to power in England in 1647, officials put a stop to singing these carols. The people loved these songs, so they continued singing them in private, despite the new rule. The carols became legal once again during the Victorian times.

Thousands of years later, people still can’t be stopped from singing their favorite Christmas tunes. Each year, Billboard puts together a list of the top 100 holiday songs. As many would guess, Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” has consistently stayed at number one over the years.

106.7 and 98.3 are two local stations that play nonstop Christmas music throughout the holiday season. While most songs are classics, there are new holiday albums that have been released just in time for the season. Some of these albums are  A Pentatonix Christmas by the Pentatonix, A Very Kacey Christmas by Kacey Musgraves, A Swingin’ Little Christmas! by Jane Lynch, and Christmas Together by Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood.

Regardless of if they are old or new, Christmas songs are an important part of the holiday season. They help bring families, friends, and even strangers together with an overwhelming feeling of joy.