Top 12 Christmas hymns

It's the holidays, so it must be time for a holiday-themed list, right? Well this year, I'm I thought I would list my Top 12 Christmas hymns. Most of them will be familiar, but I expect there might be one or two most of you won't recognize.

These are the songs I associate most with Christmas. Sure you have to have the Chipmunks singing about Christmas time, and it really isn't Christmas for me until I hear Snoopy facing off against the Red Baron on the radio, but these are the songs that really put me in the mood.

I'd totally forgotten one of our traditions growing up was to call my grandma on my Mom's side and sing Silent Night to her on Christmas Eve, and then we got to open one present.

Another important part of this music is singing it with a group of people. The church I grew up in was a singing church. We had a strong history and present of singing accapella, and that really made these songs special. I was going to write about each song, but that was when I was going to do a set of posts. For this, you just get the video and no explanation. I will mention that I really love songs that have a lot going on, especially in a minor key, hence the top pick. But enough of all the background, let's get to the list.

Number 12-Hark the Herald Angels Sing

Number 11-O Come all Ye Faithful

Number 10-Joy to the World

Number 9- To Us a Child

Number 8-The First Noel

Number 7-It Came Upon a Midnight Clear

Number 6-Silent Night

Number 5-Oh Holy Night

Number 4-What Child is This?

Number 3- We Three Kings

Number 2-Angels We have Heard on High

Number 1-Oh Come Oh Come Emmanuel

Top Twelve Christmas Specials (Top 3)

Number 3- Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Sure Rudolph is adorable and there are some amazing things going on with the animation here, but there's more to my placement than that. Rudolph is a cute tale and it has one of the most memorable holiday songs out there, but I don't really find myself missing it if I don't happen to catch it. It's still one of the major holiday draws for sure, but it's not the best.

Number 2- Charlie Brown Christmas Special

This is one of the best Christmas specials ever. The story is simple but touching. The characters are familiar and delightful. More importantly, the music is unforgettable. Charlie Brown just can't get into the Christmas spirit. I'm sure most of us have been there at some point in our lives. Thankfully Charlie Brown shows us that it could be worse.

Number 1- How the Grinch Stole Christmas

 Here it is, the number one special of Christmas. Just like the Peanuts special this one has great music and a simple story that delivers. It also has something the Peanuts just can't offer-the voice stylings Boris Karloff and that guy that does the voice of Tony the Tiger. It was a tough choice, but the Grinch wins this one. (Just don't ask me to watch the Jim Carey movie.)