40 Funny Christmas Songs, From Novelty Classics to Country and Parodies

What is the funniest Christmas song?

The one most people name first is "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" by Elmo & Patsy, a 1979 country novelty song that has never left holiday radio. Close behind are "The 12 Pains of Christmas" by Bob Rivers, a countdown of every holiday annoyance, and "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch", which kids and adults both love. For a family that likes country, "Merry Christmas from the Family" by Robert Earl Keen is the funniest portrait of a holiday get-together ever recorded.

Classic funny Christmas songs

1. "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer", Elmo & Patsy: the novelty classic about a very unlucky grandma.
2. "The 12 Pains of Christmas", Bob Rivers: the holiday stresses, counted down.
3. "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch", Thurl Ravenscroft: the creative insults from the 1966 cartoon.
4. "All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth", Spike Jones: a lisping 1940s classic.
5. "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas", Gayla Peevey: a 1953 wish list with one very big item.
6. "Dominick the Donkey", Lou Monte: the Italian Christmas donkey.
7. "Jingle Bells", The Singing Dogs: the 1955 recording made of barking dogs.
8. "Christmas Don't Be Late (The Chipmunk Song)", Alvin and the Chipmunks: high-pitched and iconic.
9. "Nuttin' for Christmas", Barry Gordon: a kid confessing everything he did wrong this year.
10. "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus", Jimmy Boyd: a child's very funny misunderstanding.
11. "Santa Claus Is Watching You", Ray Stevens: a 1962 comedy song about being on your best behavior.
12. "Green Chri$tma$", Stan Freberg: a 1958 satire of holiday advertising.

Funny Christmas songs for kids

13. "Snoopy's Christmas", The Royal Guardsmen: Snoopy and the Red Baron call a holiday truce.
14. "I Want an Alien for Christmas", Fountains of Wayne: an unusual gift request.
15. "Santa's Coming for Us", Sia: bright, bouncy and silly.
16. "Must Be Santa", Bob Dylan: a breakneck polka with a pile-up of reindeer names.
17. "Run Rudolph Run", Chuck Berry: rock and roll on the sleigh.
18. "Mele Kalikimaka", Bing Crosby: Christmas in Hawaii.
19. "Blue Christmas", Porky Pig (Seymour Swine and the Squeelers): the stuttering cartoon version.
20. "Elf's Lament", Barenaked Ladies featuring Michael Bublé: Santa's elves want better working conditions.

Funny country Christmas songs

21. "Merry Christmas from the Family", Robert Earl Keen: the chaos of a real family Christmas.
22. "Redneck 12 Days of Christmas", Jeff Foxworthy: the countdown, Southern style.
23. "Santa Looked a Lot Like Daddy", Buck Owens: a kid who notices something suspicious about Santa.
24. "Christmas Cookies", George Strait: a playful song about baking with someone you love.
25. "Santa Claus Is Back in Town", Elvis Presley: rockabilly swagger in a Santa suit.

Christmas parodies and comedy songs

26. "The Twelve Days of Christmas", Straight No Chaser: an a cappella version that wanders off into other songs.
27. "The Christmas Can-Can", Straight No Chaser: a can-can about how early the holidays start.
28. "The Twelve Gifts of Christmas", Allan Sherman: a countdown of truly tacky presents.
29. "Present Face", Garfunkel and Oates: about faking delight at a bad gift.
30. "Christmas Wrapping", The Waitresses: a too-busy single's wry holiday story.
31. "Christmas in Hollis", Run-DMC: a fun holiday story from Queens.
32. "The Chanukah Song", Adam Sandler: the holiday comedy classic for mixed families.

Cheeky Christmas songs for adults

33. "Santa Baby", Eartha Kitt: a flirty, expensive wish list.
34. "Back Door Santa", Clarence Carter: a soul song full of winks.
35. "Christmas with the Devil", Spinal Tap: a heavy-metal holiday parody.
36. "The Night Santa Went Crazy", "Weird Al" Yankovic: dark comedy, for grown-up parties only.

Fun Christmas songs to sing along to

37. "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree", Brenda Lee: the party starter.
38. "Jingle Bell Rock", Bobby Helms: the classic dance.
39. "A Holly Jolly Christmas", Burl Ives: pure cheer.
40. "All I Want for Christmas Is You", Mariah Carey: the song everyone sings at full volume.

Funny Christmas songs for the office party

At work, keep it clean and inclusive: "The 12 Pains of Christmas", "Elf's Lament", "The Christmas Can-Can", "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" and "Present Face" get laughs without making anyone uncomfortable. Save the cheeky section for friends. A white elephant gift exchange set to "The Twelve Gifts of Christmas" is an easy win.

Funny Christmas songs for seniors and choirs

For a senior center or a community choir, the novelty songs of the 1940s and 1950s are the biggest hits: "All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth", "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas", "Dominick the Donkey", "Nuttin' for Christmas" and "Mele Kalikimaka". Choirs looking for a showpiece love Straight No Chaser's arrangement of "The Twelve Days of Christmas".

Silly holiday songs through the decades

• 1940s and 1950s: "All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth", "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas", "Nuttin' for Christmas" and The Singing Dogs.
• 1960s: "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch", "Santa Claus Is Watching You" and "Snoopy's Christmas".
• 1970s and 1980s: "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer", "Christmas Wrapping" and "The 12 Pains of Christmas".
• 1990s: "Merry Christmas from the Family", "Redneck 12 Days of Christmas" and "I Want an Alien for Christmas".
• 2000s and later: "Elf's Lament", Straight No Chaser's a cappella comedy and "Santa's Coming for Us".

Funny Christmas songs to sing as a group

For carolers, a classroom or a family sing-along, pick songs with a simple chorus and room for actions: "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas", "Dominick the Donkey" and "The Twelve Days of Christmas" with each person acting out one day. Hand out printed song sheets so nobody has to fake the words.

Ideas for using funny Christmas songs

• Ugly sweater party: play the novelty classics while people vote on the worst sweater.
• Christmas karaoke: "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" and "Santa Baby" are crowd favorites.
• Gift-opening: "Present Face" for the moment someone unwraps socks.
• Road trip to the relatives: "Merry Christmas from the Family" sets expectations.
• Kids' party: "The Chipmunk Song", "Snoopy's Christmas" and "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas".

A funny Christmas song about your own family

The funniest Christmas song is the one about your people: the uncle who burns the turkey every year, the dog that eats the ornaments, the sister who shakes every present, the dad who insists the lights worked last year. A personalized funny Christmas song with real names and inside jokes is the gift the whole family will quote until next December. See our guides to a Christmas song for the family, a Christmas song for a coworker and our Christmas song gift ideas.

How to create a funny Christmas song

1. Choose a style from 14 genres: country, swing, pop, rock and more.
2. Add up to three names.
3. Share three funny habits or holiday disasters, each with one concrete detail.
4. Review the lyrics and edit or regenerate them for free before any music is made.
5. Listen to 4 free 45-second previews and choose your favorite.

The full 3 to 4 minute song costs $24.99, or $29.99 for Premium with four full versions and editable lyrics. You get the MP3, a gift page to share and the lyrics as a PDF.

Give your family a laugh they will replay every year: create a funny Christmas song and hear four previews for free.