Yep, I’m one of “those people” — the people who love Christmas music, and begin listening to it way too early each year. I don’t know about you all, but I started putting the She & Him Christmas album, the Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer soundtrack, and other holiday tunes on heavy rotation in early November. Now that we’ve reached December 24, a date on which my love for Christmas music is more appropriate than it was a month and a half ago, I thought I’d share a playlist of some of my favorite Christmas songs from films (or from holiday-themed TV specials)! The list is not comprehensive, but the following are nine songs that I love.

“Christmas Time is Here” from A Charlie Brown Christmas
Usually I wouldn’t gravitate toward a song sung by a children’s choir, but for some reason, in my million viewings of A Charlie Brown Christmas, this song has always stood out.

Theme from Christmas Vacation
“Hip hip hooray for Christmas Vacation!” – The perfect declaration for the end of the fall semester’s final exams, which has made this song a favorite since the dawn of time.

“Baby It’s Cold Outside” from Elf
The lyrics are mildly creepy, but I love this film, and Zooey’s voice.

“White Christmas ” from Holiday Inn
I always loved this song when I lived in the South as a child. One inch of snow is considered a blizzard down there, and I missed the snowy Michigan holiday season!

“You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” from How the Grinch Stole Christmas
The song that taught me how to insult people. “You’ve got garlic in your soul!”

“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” from Meet Me In St. Louis
This song has been recorded a million times over, but nothing compares to Judy’s version.

“Christmas is All Around” from Love Actually
It’s not Christmas without a screening of Love Actually, and it’s not Christmas without Uncle Billy!

“What’s This?” from The Nightmare Before Christmas
Nothing emphasizes the magic of Christmas like a Halloween skeleton experiencing it for the first time.

“Silver and Gold” from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
The whole Rudolph soundtrack is mandatory December listening, but this is my favorite song from it.

*BONUS*
I also love this ironic use of “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year” in Just Friends