It’s the most wonderful time of the year! The holiday season is great for spending time with your loved ones and taking a break from the troubles of the rest of the year. Even if you do not celebrate any holidays, you can always enjoy a cup of hot cocoa or listen to some of your favorite winter tunes. While there are so many different songs to choose from, there is a wide range in the popularity of the hits. Here are some of the most well-known holiday songs and their rankings in the “music hierarchy.”

“All I Want for Christmas Is You”

Artist: Mariah Carey

Release Date: Oct. 29, 1994

Our Rating: A+++

As one of the most popular upbeat holiday songs, “All I Want for Christmas is You” gets everyone ready for Christmas time. The romantic lyrics melt your heart, while the jingle bells that play in the background make you want to dance like no one is watching. Its origins may be slightly more recent than some of the other Christmas songs, but Mariah Carey’s voice makes you want to sing along to every word. Overall, this is one of the best songs for getting into the holiday spirit and should definitely be on your winter playlist.

“Jingle Bell Rock”

Artist: Bobby Helms

Release Date: Winter 1957

Our Rating: B

“Jingle Bell Rock” is a lively twist on a calmer holiday song that remains timeless despite its age. The tempo is cheery and the catchy lyrics are perfect for the holidays. This song appeared in one of the main scenes of the 2004 hit movie “Mean Girls,” and the iconic dance has been learned by many for this specific occasion. The song itself is not particularly outstanding but if you enjoyed the film, the song will be much more enjoyable to listen to. That aside, “Jingle Bell Rock” is still a festive song that can be played at any time of year– if you are always in the Christmas spirit.

“I [do not think] holiday songs are not cheesy at all … they represent a time when everyone can be happy while spending time with family and friends,” freshman Esly Garcia said.

“The Twelve Days of Christmas”

Artist: Frank Sinatra, Frank Sinatra Jr., Tina Sinatra and Nancy Sinatra

Release Date: Oct. 26, 2004

Our Rating: C

The Sinatra family’s version of “The Twelve Days of Christmas” is one of  twelve songs on the “Frank Sinatra Christmas Collection.” The song is a parody of the original “The Twelve Days of Christmas” but instead of using the original lyrics, the family made the song about giving presents to their father, Frank Sinatra. It is nice that they showed their love for their father through the lyrics, but just reusing the slightly irritating song and changing the words only makes the song confusing to the listener. The beat is enjoyable at first, but if you listen to the full song, the repetition is clear. The song itself does not put you in the cheery Christmas spirit and also emphasizes the more materialistic aspect of the holidays. However, the vocals are nice and the family harmonizes well – a talent not many people share.

“I love holiday songs, and I love Christmas. Whenever I hear a holiday song I think about Christmas and I become super excited and happy. I feel that the songs bring joy to people everywhere and I find that to be such a great thing,” freshman Sabrina Bonavita said.

These songs have been so important in shaping the culture surrounding the Winter holidays. They make this time of year more enjoyable for those who celebrate Christmas and other winter holidays. The holiday spirit can make people much happier, and just listening to these tunes can help you get through the tough winter months.