Secular Christmas Songs

Update: Atheist Living now has a new extended list of secular Christmas songs, which includes all of these songs and many, many more.

While a Christmas controversy may exist for some atheists, others are happy to forget the religious debate, celebrate a season of giving, and embrace secular inventions like Santa Claus, Frosty the Snowman, and The Grinch. Festive music sets the holiday mood and there are plenty of Christmas songs with secular lyrics.

Here are some great secular Christmas songs to play at your next nontheist holiday gathering (many do use the word Christmas):

'Zat You Santa Claus -- Louis Armstrong

The Christmas Song -- Nat King Cole

It Must Have Been Old Santa -- Harry Connick Jr.

Santa Baby -- Eartha Kitt

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas -- Judy Garland

Winter Wonderland -- Perry Como

Stay a Little Longer Santa -- Shemekia Copeland

Christmas in New Orleans -- Louis Armstrong

Rockin Around the Christmas Tree -- Brenda Lee

Let it Snow -- Dean Martin

Jingle Bells -- Perry Como

Christmas Waltz -- Frank Sinatra

Frosty the Snowman -- Harry Connick Jr.

Baby It's Cold Outside -- Margaret Whiting and Johnny Mercer

Santa Claus is Coming to Town -- Harry Connick Jr.

Jingle Bell Rock -- Bobby Helms

A Holly Jolly Christmas -- Burl Ives

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus -- Jimmy Boyd

Sleigh Ride - Carpenters

White Christmas -- Bing Crosby

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year -- Andy Williams

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer -- Gene Autry

All I Want for Christmas is You -- My Chemical Romance

Merry Christmas (War is Over) -- John Lennon

Silver Bells - Bing Crosby

Deck the Halls -- Traditional

The Twelve Days of Christmas -- Traditional

Silver and Gold -- Burl Ives

We Need a Little Christmas -- Johnny Mathis

Please check back for updates, and feel free to add more secular seasonal songs in the comments!