Surprising Facts About Classic Christmas Songs

Here are some surprising facts about Christmas Songs

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1. While we associate “Jingle Bells” with Christmas, the song was written by James Lord Pierpont to celebrate Thanksgiving.
2. “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer,” “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree,” and “Holly Jolly Christmas” were written by Jewish songwriter Johnny Marks.
3. “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” is one of the oldest Christmas hymns to still get airplay. Originally composed in Latin during the twelfth century, it was translated into English by John Mason Neale in 1851.
4. Irving Berlin hated Elvis Presley’s version of “White Christmas” so much that he tried to prevent radio stations from playing Presley’s cover.
5. In April 1975, the American military played “White Christmas” over Armed Forces Radio as a covert signal instructing soldiers in Vietnam to evacuate Saigon.
6. Bing Crosby’s version of “White Christmas” is the highest-selling single of all time.
7. “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” and “Joy to the World” are two of the oldest English language Christmas hymns, originating in the 1700s.
8. Bing Crosby’s version of “Silent Night” is the third highest-selling single of all time.
9. “Jingle Bells” was the first song performed in space.
10. Songwriter Gloria Shayne Baker wrote “Do You Hear What I Hear?” as a plea for peace during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962.