Are the holiday standards - like "Deck the Halls," "Jingle Bells," and "White Christmas" - just not doing it for you? After so many winter seasons, the classics can start getting stale. We recommend mixing up your yuletide listening with some funny holiday songs! Especially after two hard years of dealing with COVID-19, the world needs nothing more than a bit of merry mischief.
Comedians have been poking fun at Christmas - and Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa - songs since radio stations have been shoving overly-positive jingles down our throats every December. On this list, you'll find family-friendly classics as well as more mature fa-la-la's and a few tunes from TV shows as well.
Get ready to ho ho ho in laughter with our 15 picks!
1. "The 12 Pains of Christmas" - Bob Rivers
While this track is easily considered one of the funniest Christmas songs of all time, we still don't think Bob Rivers' 1997 yuletide gem gets the recognition it deserves. With some top-knotch comedic performances and very relatable lyrics (how many of us have experienced the pain of dead bulbs while rigging up the lights?), "The 12 Pains of Christmas" is a quotable song bound to get everyone laughing during your next holiday party.
2. "Santa's Lament" - Father Guido Sarducci
Even Santa gets overwhelmed during the holiday season! Father Guido Sarducci's "Santa's Lament" is a silly little track that'll spice up your Christmas playlist. Make sure you don't put any Jell-O under the tree for Santa this year!
3. "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" - Elmo & Patsy
This beloved song is a warning to anyone who can't hold their eggnog during the holidays. The then-married Elmo and Patsy recorded "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" in 1978, released it in 1979, and since then it's become a holiday staple. Over the years it's received a cartoon and a TV series, and many don't know that songwriter Randall Brooks actually based the track on a not-so-funny true story.
4. "Dominick the Donkey (The Italian Christmas Donkey)" - Lou Monte
Ah yes, that cute little Christmas tune Italians love to sing proudly during the holiday season. "Dominick the Donkey" may not be the most hysterical holiday song out there, but it's really funny watching everyone around you break out into mule sounds whenever this Lou Monte track plays on the radio.
5. "All I Want for Christmas (Is My Two Front Teeth)" - Melissa Lynn
Any kid who's lost their teeth around the holiday season understands the pain described in this song. Even if you have all your adult teeth, it's still fun to lisp along with Melissa Lynn in this cheerful song.
6. "The Chanukah Song" - Adam Sandler
Perhaps the best song about Hanukkah ever written that isn't "Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel." Adam Sandler appeared on SNL with this song in 1994 and we've been singing it ever since. In fact, the Haim sisters recently did their own rendition of the funny tune as part of their "Haimukkah" celebration.
7. "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas" - Gayla Peevey
We all know little kids' holiday present requests can sometimes get ridiculous, as exemplified by this novelty tune sung by Gayla Peevey. Why a hippopotamus instead of a pony or puppy? We'll never know. But it's her keen vocal ability and slick way of fitting in "rhinoceroses" into the rhyme scheme that keeps us listening every year.
8. "Christmas Infiltration" - Community
"Baby Boomer Santa" may be a more popular choice from the lovable NBC sitcom Community, but we prefer this Troy and Abed rap from the show's second season. In it, Troy (played by Donald Glover) is convinced by Abed (Danny Pudi) to "celebrate" Christmas despite the fact he's a Jehovah's Witness. With some impressive bars only the likes of Childish Gambino could create, it's a hysterical bop you'll want to try spitting for yourself. We hope you make this December the December of your December.
9. "Very First Christmas" - Spongebob Squarepants
We're celebrating an undersea Christmas with this adorable song from Spongebob Squarepants. Spongebob and Patrick pulling shenanigans on Squidward is funny enough, but the crazy "la la la" transition and Mr. Krabs' high note really steal the show.
10. "Ringing of the Bells" - The Muppets
We love Beaker, the Swedish Chef and Animal, so we couldn't exclude this Muppets carol from our list. No words: just pure hilarity as Animal figures out how to do his "ding dong" bit.
11. "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" - Dr. Seuss
Did you know this tune was written by Dr. Seuss himself? Composed by Albert Hague with vocals by Thurl Ravenscroft, this classic holiday number is bound to make you feel cuddly as a cactus and as charming as an eel. Tyler, the Creator even did a cover of this tune for the Illumination movie The Grinch.
12. “Don’t Shoot Me Santa” - The Killers & Ryan Pardey
If you're a person who enjoys warped, dark humor, this Christmas song was made for you. In 2007, The Killers and Ryan Pardey released "Don't Shoot Me Santa," which tells the story of a kid murderer who's about to get his comeuppance from Santa Claus. While the song may be naughty, the band's intentions were nice: proceeds from "Don't Shoot Me Santa" were donated to AIDS charities as part of the Red Campaign, led by U2 singer Bono.
13. "Give the Jew Girl Toys" - Sarah Silverman
If you're looking for another funny Hanukkah ditty besides Sandler's "Chanukah Song," we recommend "Give the Jew Girl Toys" by Sarah Silverman. The comedian released this track as part of her 2006 Jesus Is Magic album. Our favorite lyric is "You have a list, well Schindler did too / Liam Neison played him, Tim Allen played you." And yes, that is Zach Galifianakis dressed up as Santa in the music video.
14. "The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)" - Alvin and the Chipmunks
A family-friendly Christmas song that will make your loved ones try and impersonate the high-pitched chipmunks. It's hard to believe this silly jingle is over 60 years old! We hope Alvin eventually got his hula hoop.
15. "Reggie Watts' Holiday Song" - The Late Late Show with James Corden
We're finishing off our list with a holiday song that's all-inclusive of almost every year-end celebration out there! Reggie Watts performed this jam when Harry Styles took over The Late Late Show with James Corden back in 2017. Not only is it funny, but Watts' vocals are impressive. Remember not to eat too much chocolate ('cause constipation), and we hope you have a wonderful "Kwanzaahanu-chanukkahramadanchanukwanzaaka" and a Harry Styles Christmas!
READ NEXT: Top 10 Lesser-Known Christmas Songs, Top 10 Holiday Songs of The 2010s
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Article Image: A family and their dog laugh at something on a laptop screen while their house is adorned in holiday decor - including a Christmas tree and white stockings. (HayDmitry via DepositPhotos.)
