Last week, I asked NewsDash readers, “What is your favorite holiday song?”

Angels We Have Heard on High, Away in a Manger, Ding Dong Merrily on High, Feliz Navidad, Frosty the Snowman, Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer, Here We Come A-Wassailing, Jingle Bells, Let it Snow!, Please Come Home for Christmas, Santa Baby, Santa Claus Is Coming to Town and The First Noel were not chosen by any responding readers. Do They Know It’s Christmas?, Here Comes Santa Claus, I’ll Be Home for Christmas, It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas, It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, Silver Bells, The Hannukah Song by Adam Sandler and The Twelve Days of Christmas were each selected by 1.2% of respondents.

I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas, Little Drummer Boy, O Come All Ye Faithful and What Child Is This (Greensleeves) were selected by 2.4% of readers. All I Want for Christmas Is You, Carol of the Bells, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree and Silent Night were each chosen by 3.6% of respondents.

“Other” responses included Sleigh Ride, Christmas Wrappings, On This Very Christmas Night, The Chipmunk Song and Jingle Bell Rock.

That leaves the top picks:

• The Christmas Song (“Chestnuts roasting on an open fire . . .”) – 4.8%;
• Do You Hear What I Hear? – 6%;
• White Christmas” (“I’m dreaming of a . . . “) – 6%;
• Baby It’s Cold Outside – 7.2%;
• Mary, Did You Know? – 7.2%; and
• O Holy Night – 20.5%.

I also asked NewsDash readers whether their favorite song changed from the 2016 survey. One-third (33.7%) indicated they don’t remember, 20.5% said it didn’t, 7.2% said it did, and 38.5% did not participate in the 2016 survey.

Readers who chose to leave comments expressed how they loved holiday songs and it was difficult to pick a favorite. Others gave reasons for the favorite they picked. There were several comments about Baby It’s Cold Outside. Editor’s Choice goes to the reader who said: “My favorite time of year because all the music genres come together and sing the most beautiful songs. If only our world would come together like our music can!”

Many thanks to all who participated in the survey!

Verbatim

It is difficult to pick a favorite. There are so many great holiday songs! Love Trans-Siberian Orchestra and their rock influence on traditional Christmas music.

I love the oldies versions best: Andy Williams, Eartha Kitt, Dean Martin, Elvis and all those who have gone to the great toy shop afterlife.

Hate Hippo song. Hippos are killers.

Love classical music this time of year. Handel, anything by Tchaikovsky.

Love the holiday music channels.

I think Mariah Carey’s version of “All I want for Christmas” has become the iconic Christmas song and that is reflected in my vote, but I have to admit that Adam Sandler’s “The Hannukkah Song” and Bob and Doug McKenzie’s “12 Days of Christmas” are probably my FAVORITE holiday songs.

On the radio the other day, they did a survey. Would you rather work in an environment where you had to hear Jingle Bells over and over, or wear a Santa suit to work every day. Overwhelmingly, people opted for the Santa suit. It just goes to show that there is a very limited repertoire of Christmas songs, and people get tired of them very quickly.

I love them all!!

I love any song performed by the Pentatonix!

Incredible music, but it is absolutely transcendent if done by the few vocalists that can actually hit those notes

How can you go wrong with a Christmas Chipmunk.

I like all Christmas music, but I really don’t want to hear any of it until after Thanksgiving! Don’t rush the season please.

Underappreciated Christmas song: Santa’s Beard by the Beach Boys

I love the remakes that are available. Have you ever heard TSO’s version of Carol of the Bells? That places a positive spin on holiday music.

I love a lot of Christmas songs. My favorite tends to be the one I’ve heard most recently.

Chose Baby It’s Cold Outside just because I’m sick of the PC police.

I love most Christmas songs, but picked the Hippopotamus one because it is fairly new to me, it’s fun, and I don’t hear it very often! If you aren’t familiar with it, Google it. It is by Gayla Peevey. 🙂

I have like a top 5 list…sometimes it changes from year to year, depending on how often and how early Christmas music is played. The reason for my pick this year….reminds me of relatives and Christmases past….good memories to cherish during the holiday season….

O Holy Night brings tears of joy and peace every time I hear it.

Because it pisses everyone off 🙂

“Jingle Bell Rock” is a toe-tapping, hip-swishing tune that never fails to put me in a good mood!

I prefer the funny Christmas songs, but don’t mind all Christmas songs playing in the background.

Silent Night is my favorite song. The perfect place to sing or hear it is in the sanctuary of my church. Otherwise those Trans-Siberian Orchestra songs definitely get the blood flowing and make me dance in my car and get strange looks.

Baby It’s Cold Outside, but I guess that song is taboo now…

Must be sung by Nat King Cole.

They are FANTASTIC! I rarely listen to music except for Christmas, and despite hearing them for hundreds of times before I still enjoy them!

They’re all good, EXCEPT Dominic the Donkey! According to my Italian friends, there is NO Italian donkey!

Every time I hear White Christmas by Bing Crosby I see my father sitting in his chair listening to the 45 rpm record player & it warms my heart with holiday memories.

My favorite time of year because all the music genres come together and sing the most beautiful songs. If only our world would come together like our music can!