11. "Winter Wonderland" - Jason Mraz (2003)
Photo by Larry Busacca / Getty Images
This song was originally written and recorded in 1934. It quickly became considered a Christmas classic despite the fact the holiday is never specifically mentioned in the song. Jason Mraz performed the classic live on The Late Late Show With Craig Kilborn in 2003.
12. "All I Want for Christmas Is You" - Mariah Carey (1994)
Courtesy Sony
"All I Want for Christmas Is You" was featured on Mariah Carey's hit 1994 holiday album Merry Christmas. In the past decade the song has quickly become a contemporary holiday standard selling over 4 million copies around the world.
13. "The 12 Days of Christmas" - Taking Back Sunday (2006)
Photo by Gareth Cattermole / Getty Images
This English Christmas carol was popular in Europe as early as the 16th century. It features an increasingly more grand set of gifts with each successive day of Christmas. The song is cumulative in that each gift is sung with the previous gifts as the song progresses. Rock band Taking Back Sunday recorded their own version of the classic for AOL Sessions in 2006.
14. "Fairytale of New York" - The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl (1988)
Courtesy the Pogues
There seems to be a bit of irony that one of the most popular of all Christmas songs in the UK would be set in New York. Irish folk rockers the Pogues released this single in 1987, and it has been a favorite ever since.
15. "Do They Know It's Christmas?" - Band Aid (1984)
Courtesy Columbia Records
Bob Geldof and Midge Ure put together the impromptu "Do They Know It's Christmas?" project to provide aid for victims of a famine that was ravaging the people of Ethiopia. The recording featured a who's who of current British pop stars. It has become a radio Christmas standard.
16. "Jingle Bells" - Diana Krall (2005)
Courtesy Verve
"Jingle Bells" was first copyrighted under the title "One Horse Open Sleigh" in 1857. It became one of the most popular of secular Christmas songs around the world. Jazz singer Diana Krall included "Jingle Bells" in her 2005 album Christmas Songs.
17. "Silent Night" - Jackie Evancho (2010)
Courtesy Columbia
It is believed that "Silent Night" was first composed in German in 1816. The song was later translated into English and sung by both sides in the World War I Christmas truce due to the fact it was the primary Christmas carol that both German and British soldiers knew. Child operatic singer Jackie Evancho included the classic carol on her holiday collection O Holy Night.
18. "The Chanukah Song" - Adam Sandler (1994)
Courtesy Warner Bros.
Comedian Adam Sandler created an instant novelty classic in this tune that strings together a wide range of celebrities and public figures who are Jewish.
19. "Joy to the World" - Michael Bolton (1997)
Courtesy Sony
Scripture forms the basis for the lyrics of "Joy to the World" written by Isaac Watts. Michael Bolton performed his version at Placido Domingo's 1997 Christmas celebration concert in Vienna.
20. "River" - Sarah McLachlan (2006)
Courtesy Arista
"River" first made its appearance on Joni Mitchell's album Blue in 1971. The song is a reflection on the ending of a relationship near Christmas time. "River" has been re-recorded many times by a wide range of artists. Sarah McLachlan included it on her 2006 colletion Wintersong.
