Songs for the Christmas season (inc Thanksgiving)

Five fat turkeys

Five little Christmas trees

Five little jingle bells

Five little reindeer / Santa’s reindeer

Gloucestershire wassail

Holly berries

I have a turkey in my garden

I saw three ships

It’s almost day

Jingle bells

Jolly old Saint Nicholas

Kolyada

Nine happy reindeer

Old man of the woods

Once the was a turkey

Over there

Past three o’clock

Pat-a-pan

Reindeer go

Ring, ring, ring the bells

Sing a song of Christmas

Sing a song of mincemeat

Santa Claus

Santa’s reindeer

Sing hey! Sing hey!

Stir a bowl of gingerbread

Also: Mister Turkey and Mister Duck

Christmas songs: A-E 📦 🔔🔔 T-Z 🎅

Last updated: 12/12/2017 4:47 PM

The songs below are part of ‘Away we go’ compiled, adapted and illustrated by Dany Rosevear

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Five fat turkeys are we O

Explore ways of expressing the same words by singing in different tones: quietly in case the cook hears, loudly as if crowing how clever they are, wearily as if tired, angrily – how dare the cook try to cook them! Alternatively use as a hand play as below.

1. Put up five fingers. 2. Put closed hands to cheek. 3-4. Put hand to forehead in seeking mode. 5. Point to self.

Five fat turkeys are we,

We slept all night in a tree,

When the cook came around,

We couldn’t be found,

And that's why we're here, you see!

Oh, five fat turkeys are we,

We slept all night in a tree.

It sure does pay,

On Thanksgiving Day,

To sleep in the tallest tree!

Five little Christmas trees O

Use fingers, hands and arms to mime the actions in this song.

Five little Christmas trees

Standing straight and tall;

Stretch out their branches

As the snow begins to fall.

Along comes a woodcutter,

He’s on his way to town.

Chip chop! Chip chop!

A tree falls down.

Four little Christmas trees...

Three little Christmas trees...

Two little Christmas trees...

One little Christmas tree

Standing straight and tall;

Stretches out its branches

As the snow begins to fall.

Along comes a woodcutter,

He’s on his way to town.

Chip chop! Chip chop!

The tree falls down.

No little Christmas trees

Standing straight and tall;

Where have they gone

As the snow softly falls?

Each one is in a cosy house

Decked with Christmas cheer.

They wish you Merry Christmas

And a Happy New Year!

Five little jingle bells 🔊

This Christmas song was written by Virginia Pavelko and published 1962 in ‘Singing Fun’ as ‘Ten little jingle bells’. Older children might indeed prefer to start at ten. Music arranged by Dany Rosevear.

The steady beat of jingle bells would add a festive note to the music.

Even better, let children trot in lines of five weaving in and out of others groups each child shaking a jingle bell. On the second verse the child at the end of the line puts bell in hand so the sound is dulled. Each subsequent child does the same until there are no bells ringing. On the last verse trot slowly but then speed up for the chorus as all the bells appear and are rung joyfully.

Five little jingle bells hung in a row,

Five little jingle bells helped the horse go.

Merrily, merrily over the snow,

Merrily, merrily sleighing we go.

One little jingle bell fell in the snow,

Four little jingle bells helped the horse go.

Merrily, merrily over the snow,

Merrily, merrily sleighing we go.

One little jingle bell… Three... Merrily…

One little jingle bell… Two… Merrily…

One little jingle bell… One… Merrily…

One little jingle bell fell in the snow,

No little jingle bell helped the horse go.

Slowly, so slowly our bells are all gone,

Let’s get some new ones and put them back on!

Merrily, merrily …

Five little reindeer / Santa’s reindeer 🔊

A Christmas number game. Learn the number bonds that make eight.

Music by Dany Rosevear.

Line 1. Point to each finger one at a time then hands to head like antlers. 2. Point upwards. 3. Put hand to mouth. 4. Point to wrist. 5. As before. 6. Put hand to ear, listening, jingle bells. 7. Hold up three fingers. 8. Ask children to say how many reindeer it will take to make 8 - Hold up eight fingers.

Change the number of reindeer waiting each time: ‘1,2, 3, little reindeer...’ and ‘Wait for five…’.

One, two, three, four, five little reindeer,

Stood by the North Pole gate.

"Hurry, Santa," called the reindeer,

Or we’ll soon be late."

One, two, three, four, five little reindeer,

Santa said, "Please wait!"

"Wait for just three more little reindeer,

Then we will have eight."

Gloucestershire wassail 🔊

This simple version of the Gloucestershire wassail comes from BBC radio’s ‘Time and tune’ Autumn 1960. During the Christmas period groups of people went from door to door singing this wassail. Find out more about the song and wassailing customs at: http://www.gloschristmas.com/wassail/gloucestershire-wassail-3/

Wassail! Wassail all over the town!

Our toast it is white and our ale it is brown.

Our bowl it is made of the white maple tree;

With the wassailing-bowl, we'll drink to thee!

So here is to Cherry and to his right cheek,

Pray God send our master a good piece of beef.

And a good piece of beef that may we all see;

With the wassailing-bowl, we'll drink to thee!

And here is to Dobbin and to his right eye;

Pray God send our mistress a good Christmas pie,

And a good Christmas pie that we may all see;

With our wassailing-bowl, we'll drink to thee!

And here is to Fillpail and to her left ear;

Pray God send our master a Happy New Year,

And a happy New Year as e'er he did see;

With our wassailing-bowl, we'll drink to thee!

Then here's to the maid in the lily-white smock,

Who tripped to the door and slipped back the lock!

Who tripped to the door and pulled back the pin,

For to let those jolly wassailers in.

Holly berries 🔊

Appreciate how the Christmas season brightens up the darkest night with light and and good cheer. Learn the Christmas colours.

Why are holly berries red?

And why is snow so white?

Why are spruce and pine so green?

And why are candles bright?

Can't you guess?

It's Christmas time

When everything's aglow,

And loving hearts are full of cheer –

It's Christmas - don't you know?

I have a turkey in my garden 🔊

From the delightful collection of nursery rhymes and songs by Laura Corpuz: http://hagonoy-bahay-kubo.blogspot.co.uk/2009/02/nursery-rhymes-and-songs.html

The tune is by Dany Rosevear.

I have a turkey in my garden

And his name is Dan;

The feathers in his tail are brown and tan.

When he walks he wobbles,

When he talks he gobbles,

And he spreads his tail

In a big wide fan.

I saw three ships O

I have failed to find this secular children’s version of the Christmas song on the internet and would be delighted if someone could tell me its origins. The older and more traditional version tells of the Virgin Mary taken to Bethlehem. Find more at:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Saw_Three_Ships

I saw three ships come sailing by,

On Christmas day, on Christmas day,

I saw three ships come sailing by,

On Christmas day in the morning.

And what was in those ships all three,

On Christmas day, on Christmas day,

And what was in those ships all three,

On Christmas day in the morning?

Three jolly rats were in them then,

On Christmas day, on Christmas day,

Three jolly rats were in them then,

On Christmas day in the morning.

Now one could whistle and one could sing,

And one could play the violin;

They joyfully played at the cat’s wedding,

On Christmas day in the morning.

It’s almost day 🔊

You can easily change the words of this song to suit your own Christmas scenarios.

Ideally sing this without breaks between lines and with a swing.

Chicken crowing for midnight, it’s almost day…

Santa Claus is coming it’s almost day…

Morning star’s arising, it’s almost day…

Thought I heard my mother say, it’s Christmas Day…

Father stuffs the turkey on Christmas Day…

Turkey’s in the oven on Christmas Day…

Everybody’s coming, it’s Christmas Day…

Turkey’s on the table, it’s Christmas Day…

We all have a good time, it’s Christmas Day…

Jingle bells O

This song was written by James Lord Pierpoint in the 19^th century. To find out more visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jingle_Bells

The chorus of this song is a very compelling one and simple for young children to sing with gusto at Christmas time.

Jingle bells, jingle bells,

Jingle all the way,

Oh, what fun it is to ride

In a one horse open sleigh.

Dashing through the snow

In a one horse open sleigh,

O’er the fields we go,

Laughing all the way.

Bells on bobtail ring

Making spirits rise.

What fun it is to ride and sing

A sleighing song tonight!

Jingle bells, jingle bells...

Jolly old Saint Nicholas O

What is your name for Father Christmas: Santa Claus, Saint Nick?

This American carol was written by Benjamin Hanby. With its simple tune it is a popular recorder or piano favourite for those showing off their burgeoning musical skills at Christmas time.

Jolly Old Saint Nicholas,

Lean your ear this way;

Don't you tell a single soul

What I'm going to say,

Christmas Eve is coming soon,

Now my dear old man,

Whisper what you'll bring to me;

Tell me if you can.

When the clock is striking twelve,

When I'm fast asleep,

Down the chimney broad and black,

With your pack you'll creep;

All the stockings you will find

Hanging in a row;

Mine will be the shortest one,

You'll be sure to know.

Johnny wants a pair of skates;

Susy wants a sled;

Nellie wants a story book;

One she hasn't read.

As for me, I hardly know

What to give the rest;

Choose for me, dear Santa Claus,

What you think is best.

Kolyada 🔊

A simple cheerful Russian carol; Kolyada is the diminutive of Saint Nicholas.

Traditionally he leaves cakes on the windowsill on Christmas Eve, similar to our tradition of Father Christmas filling the children’s stockings.

Kolyada, Kolyada

Walks about on Christmas Eve;

Kolyada, Kolyada,

At our window cakes he’ll leave.

Kolyada, Kolyada

Come this holy night, we pray.

Kolyada, Kolyada

Come and bring us Christmas Day.

Nine happy reindeer 🔊

Rudolph saves the day! Learn the names of Santa’s reindeer.

Music and words by Dany Rosevear.

“Come Dasher and Dancer, come Prancer and Vixen,

Come Comet and Cupid, come Donner and Blitzen!"

Eight little reindeer ready to go,

Out in the dark and the falling snow;

“Oh dear!” said Santa, “What a terrible night -

We’ll never get going without a good light!”

Then Rudolph appeared and he pawed at the ground

His red nose a-shining, a light had been found!

Nine happy reindeer away they soon sped,

To visit good children, all tucked up in bed.

Old man of the woods O

This song for Christmas time comes from ‘Thirty folk settings for children’ words by Anne Mendoza to a Welsh folk tune which I found recently in an Oxfam book shop. It can also be found in the BBC Publication Singing Together, Autumn 1970.

Mime swinging an axe with a strong rhythm as the song is sung.

Chopping trees and cutting branches;

In the wood there is an old man.

In the wood there is an old man,

Chopping trees and cutting branches.

Trees for Christmas tall or short ones,

In the wood the old man's chopping,

Trees for Christmas tall or short ones.

Come and buy now all good people

From the old man in the wood,

Come and buy now all good people.

Once there was a turkey 🔊

From ‘This is Music 4’ published in 1968. The words are by Anonymous and the music is by Wallace E. De Pue and the girls and boys of Leetonia, Ohio; the tune has been arranged here by Dany Rosevear.

Mister Turkey Gobbler thought he was so grand,

He strutted round the barnyard like a king of all the land.

With feathers spread and beak held high, its very plain to see

Why all the barnyard fowls thought him conceited as can be.

“Gobble gobble,” said the turkey,

I’m the fairest of the fair,

“Gobble gobble,” said the turkey,

I am wanted everywhere.

Only this morning Mister Farmer came to say,

I’m invited to his dinner on Thanksgiving Day.

Over there 🔊

This light-hearted American version is an anomaly as it is sung as a Christmas carol but is based on the traditional Irish famine song “The praties they grow small”.

It can be found in the ‘This is music 4’ a schools songbook from North America published in 1968 which notes it is an early American song from 1844.

To find out more visit: https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=13830 .

The tune is arranged by Dany Rosevear.

Oh, potatoes they grow small over there,

Oh, potatoes they grow small, 'cause they plant 'em in the fall,

And then eats 'em tops and all, over there, over there.

Oh, the candles they are small over there,

Oh, the candles they are small, for they dips 'em lean and tall,

And then burns 'em sticks and all, over there, over there.

Oh, I wish that we were geese, night and morn,

Oh, I wish that we were geese and could live our lives in peace

And accumulate much grease eating corn, eating corn.

Past three o’clock 🔊

A lovely Christmas song but the traditional verses are rather challenging for little ones so I have added a simple couplet to complement the chorus.

Past three o’clock,

And a cold frosty morning,

Past three o’clock,

Good morrow masters all!

Softly sleeping, warm in your cradle,

Tiny babe sleep till dawn peeps through the sky.

Pat-a-pan O

Pat-a-pan is a French Burgundian carol that dates back to the 17^th C.

There are many loose translations of this song but this version felt right for young children.

By its very nature it is a perfect Christmas song to accompany with percussion.

William bring your little drum,

Robin, bring your flute and come;

We will listen as you play,

Tu-re-lu-re-lu,

Pat-a-pat-a-pan,

Flute and drum together play,

On a happy Christmas Day.

Children bring your flute and drum,

For it’s time to have some fun!

We’ll be merry as you play,

Tu-re-lu-re-lu, pat-a-pat-a-pan,

Listen to the lovely sound’

Sing and dance and jump around!

Children bring your flute and drum,

For the festive time has come!

We’ll be merry as you play,

Tu-re-lu-re-lu, pat-a-pat-a-pan,

We’ll be merry as you play,

Sing and dance this Christmas Day!

Reindeer go 🔊

A nursery knee jogging rhyme translated from the Norwegian.

Tune by Dany Rosevear.

Reindeer go, over the snow,

Fast, fast and never slow;

Up and down, through the town,

Go, reindeer, go, go, go!

Reindeer fly, way up in the sky,

Where the stars are twinkling high;

Over the hills, smooth and still,

Fly, reindeer, fly, fly, fly!

Ring, ring, ring the bells 🔊

This song can be sung as a round or played as a game like ‘Row your boat’. For the second verse try holding hands with a partner standing up and alternatively move up and down.

Ring, ring, ring the bells,

Ring them loud and clear,

To tell the children everywhere

That Christmastime is here!

Ring, ring, ring the bells,

Ring them up and down.

Christmas bells are here again,

All about the town.

Rocky, rocky road 🔊

Sing your hearts out at Christmas with this traditional West Indies spiritual, additional text by Louise Dobbs. For nostalgia buffs this comes from BBC School Radio ‘Singing together’ Autumn term 1979, 1986.

Wrapped in swaddlin’ clothes, the babe is lyin’,

In his mother's arms, there'll be no cryin’,

Shepherds from afar, they do come nigh him,

Rocky road-um, Hey, a Rocky road-um.

Rocky, rocky road, a rocky road-um,

Rocky road-um, Hey, a Rocky road-um.

Ox and the ram, bow down before him,

Shepherds in the field, how they adore him,

Angels up above are watchin’ o’er him,

Rocky road-um, Hey, a Rocky road-um.

Can you sound a note to greet the angels,

Can you sound a note ‘ta-ta’ to greet the angels?

Listen to the bells, how they are ringing,

Hear the trumpet sound, the people singing,

Music is the gift that we are bringing,

Rocky road-um, Hey, a Rocky road-um.

Santa Claus 🔊

An old German song. The English words were written by Nathan Haskell Dole and published ‘140 Folk songs’ in 1921, a wonderful collection of songs for young children.

What clatters on the roofs

With quick impatient hoofs?

I think it must be Santa Claus!

Hark! Old Santa Claus,

He’s in his loaded sleigh!

I wonder what he brings,

What heaps of pretty things,

And how he gets them down the flue.

Hark! Down through the flue

Just where the stockings hang!

‘Tis cold as cold can be,

Yet I should like to see

If Santa Claus is dressed his best.

Hark! Dressed for his ride,

His ride around the world.

I guess I’ll dare to peep,

He’ll think me sound asleep;

Why, there he is with heaps of toys!

Hark! Yes, heaps of toys; yes,

There is Santa Claus!

Santa’s reindeer 🔊

Another song for Christmas from ‘Singing Fun’ published 1962 song and written by Lucille F. Wood; tune arranged by Dany Rosevear. Note the reindeer’s names do not include Rudolph, the Victorian names come from the 1823 poem ‘The night before Christmas’; find out more at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Claus's_reindeer .

Some Christmas Eve I'd like to go with Santa in his sleigh,

To drive the reindeer o’er the snow, and this is what I’d say,

“On Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Ho! Vixen, Comet too;

Cupid, Donder, Blitzen” Oh!

That’s what I would do.

Sing a song of Christmas 🔊

A Christmas song for the Antipodes.

Sing a song of Christmas,

Old Santa's packed his sleigh;

He's coming to Australia,

We hope he knows the way.

His bag is overflowing,

With presents bright and gay,

He'll call to all the kangaroos,

“Tomorrow's Christmas day!”

Sing a song of mincemeat O

This poem by Elizabeth Gould works very well with the tune ‘Sing a song of sixpence’

A great excuse for finding a good recipe in the run up to Christmas.

Sing a song of mincemeat,

Currants, raisins, spice,

Apples, sugar, nutmeg,

Everything that’s nice.

Stir it with a ladle,

Wish a lovely wish,

Drop it in the middle,

Of your well-filled dish.

Stir again for good luck,

Pack it all away,

Tied in little jars and pots,

Until Christmas Day.

Sing hey! Sing hey! 🔊

A great Christmas song for making up your own rhyming verses. The first verse is traditional, the others and the musical arrangement is by Dany Rosevear.

Sing hey! Sing hey!

For Christmas Day;

Twine mistletoe and holly.

For a friendship glows

In winter snows,

And so let's all be jolly!

Sing hey! Sing hey!

For Christmas Day;

For reindeer, sleighs and Santa.

For Yuletide trees

And mince pies please,

For laughter, games and banter!

Sing hey! Sing hey!

For Christmas Day;

When we all come together,

For festive treats

And lots to eat,

Long walks in wintry weather!

Sing hey! Sing hey!

For Christmas Day;

Hear all the bells a-ringing,

For peace, goodwill

And moments still;

To set our hearts a-singing!

Stir a bowl of gingerbread 🔊

It’s time to get cooking. A Christmas hand play.

Lines 1.& 2. Hold a bowl and mix with the other hand. 3. & 4. Move flat hands back and forth. 5. & 6. Dramatise holding a cookie cutter and moving it up and down. 7. Pretend to place a tray in the oven. 8. Point to wrist and put up ten fingers.

Stir a bowl of gingerbread,

Smooth and spicy brown.

Roll it with a rolling pin,

Up and up and down.

With a cookie cutter,

Make some little men.

Put them in the oven

Till half past ten!

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