<P> The Victorian Era saw a surge of Christmas carols associated with a renewed admiration of the holiday , including `` Silent Night '' , `` O Little Town of Bethlehem '' , and `` O Holy Night '' . The first Christmas songs associated with Saint Nicholas or other gift - bringers also came during 19th century , including `` Up on the Housetop '' and `` Jolly Old St. Nicholas '' . Many older Christmas hymns were also translated or had lyrics added to them during this period , particularly in 1871 when John Stainer published a widely influential collection entitled `` Christmas Carols New & Old '' . Few notable carols were produced from the beginning of the 20th century until the Great Depression era of the 1930s , when a stream of songs of often American origin were published , most of which did not explicitly reference the Christian nature of the holiday , but rather the more secular traditional Western themes and customs associated with Christmas . These included songs aimed at children such as `` Santa Claus Is Comin ' to Town '' and `` Rudolph the Red - Nosed Reindeer '' , as well as sentimental ballad - type songs performed by famous crooners of the era , such as `` Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas '' and `` White Christmas '' , the latter of which remains the best - selling single of all time as of 2017 . </P>
<P> The Victorian Era saw a surge of Christmas carols associated with a renewed admiration of the holiday , including `` Silent Night '' , `` O Little Town of Bethlehem '' , and `` O Holy Night '' . The first Christmas songs associated with Saint Nicholas or other gift - bringers also came during 19th century , including `` Up on the Housetop '' and `` Jolly Old St. Nicholas '' . Many older Christmas hymns were also translated or had lyrics added to them during this period , particularly in 1871 when John Stainer published a widely influential collection entitled `` Christmas Carols New & Old '' . Few notable carols were produced from the beginning of the 20th century until the Great Depression era of the 1930s , when a stream of songs of often American origin were published , most of which did not explicitly reference the Christian nature of the holiday , but rather the more secular traditional Western themes and customs associated with Christmas . These included songs aimed at children such as `` Santa Claus Is Comin ' to Town '' and `` Rudolph the Red - Nosed Reindeer '' , as well as sentimental ballad - type songs performed by famous crooners of the era , such as `` Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas '' and `` White Christmas '' , the latter of which remains the best - selling single of all time as of 2017 . </P>
whats the number one christmas song of all time
whats the number one christmas song of all time
`` White Christmas ''
`` White Christmas ''