The Backstories Behind Your Favorite Christmas Songs

The familiar tunes never fail to get us in the festive mood—but many of them have remarkably un-Christmassy roots.

On the uncertain history of the first song to be broadcast from space.

We dive deep into the biggest holiday song of the past three decades and Mariah Carey’s long journey to happiness.

It might seem unbelievable given that the “Christmas creep” now begins before Halloween, but the true Christmas season actually starts on Christmas Day itself.

Berlin might not have understood the tune’s true power at first because he may not have fully realized what it meant to him.

From George Michael hogging the sleigh bells in the studio to pratfalling on the snowy video set, the beloved Christmas song is testament to the late pop star’s talent—and insecurities.

The song debuted on Christmas Eve in 1818 in an Austrian church.

Songwriters Hugh Martin and Ralph Blaine wrote the classic song “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” for Judy Garland's 1944 movie, Meet Me in St. Louis.

Read the story behind José Feliciano’s Christmas classic in this excerpt from Decoding Despacito: An Oral History of Latin Music.

Despite its fantastical holiday elements, the story was partly based on some of author Robert L. May’s past experiences.

While “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” would prove to be a monster hit, it would also stand as an example of the lesson that no good deed ever goes unpunished.

From Bing Crosby to Bob Dylan, Motown to Death Row, we rank the best Yuletide listens ever.

From pagan days and drinking halls to high church and holiness, a look at the history of the Christmas carol.

How Tchaikovsky’s iconic ballet went from critical flop to holiday classic. Plus: the creepy origins of the Mouse King.