My Favorite Christmas Songs

Part of what makes Christmas, well, Christmas, is the music. I know not everyone is into Christmas carols. I'm not into a lot of them myself. But some songs are just so beautiful and capture so perfectly the wonder of that night so long ago, I just have to mention them. I'll even include links for my favorite renditions of them for your listening pleasure.

Breath of Heaven - Seriously, this song nails it as to what Mary must have felt as she carried the Son of God inside her. Who wouldn't have felt inadequate? Who wouldn't have been afraid? Who wouldn't have cried out "Help me?" I love the raw honesty in these lyrics https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8_475FKJWQ 

Welcome to Our World - This song makes it so easy to picture the squirming baby Savior of the world. I love its simplicity and the contrast between our broken world and Christ's perfect holiness come to heal it. Chris Rice is one of my favorites, mainly because he's so James Taylor-ish. What's not to love about that?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrgwL5r7IcU

Mary Did You Know? - The perspective here is awesome. Seeing the baby Jesus, yet knowing His future begs the title's question. I wonder how much God actually revealed to Mary ahead of time. Or did He let the days gently unfold as he does with all earthly parents?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifCWN5pJGIE

Silent Night - This is such a classic song and brings me to tears every year. It's the Amazing Grace of the Christmas season. Everyone knows it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pEndgvJe2s

Mary's Boy Child - I love this because of its Jamaican flair. It's so different from most Christmas songs. In our church, we were encouraged to get out our car keys and jingle them as we sang it. So fun!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8amHW-xdbzE

Nutcracker Suite - For several years, the girls in my family went to see The Nutcracker ballet together at Christmastime. Ever since, I've loved the music and can see the scenes unfold as it plays. To me, this is classic Christmas music even though it doesn't have anything to do with Jesus' birth. I've given you a link to listen to the entire soundtrack if you'd like, song by song. You're welcome.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL55F0FC900094FCFA

I'm sure there are others that I left out. But these are the songs that immediately came to mind as I sat down to write.

What are your favorite Christmas songs? Least favorite? Share them in the comments below.

Linda