Songs for the Christmas season (inc Thanksgiving) S

Santa Claus

Santa is his name-o

Santa’s come back

Santa’s footsteps

Santa’s on his way

Santa’s reindeer

Santa’s reindeer alphabet

Santa’s spectacles

Santa’s workshop

Shy Santa

Silent night

Sing a song of Christmas

Sing a song of mincemeat

Sing hey! Sing hey!

Sleep of the infant Jesus

Song of the birds

Stir a bowl of gingerbread

Also: Mister Turkey and Mister Duck

Christmas songs: A-E 📦 🔔 F-N 🔔 T-Z 🎅

Last updated: 12/5/2022 8:00 AM

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

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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 is his name-o 🔊

A Christmas version of Bobby Bingo. Simply clap each letter as it is sung or miss one letter out each time. Visit Bobby Bingo to find a circle game to play.

I know a man with a long white beard and Santa is his name-o S-A-N-T-A, S-A-N-T-A, S-A-N-T-A and Santa is his name-o!

He wears a red hat and big black boots...

Eight little reindeer pull his sleigh...

He flies through the air with a Ho-Ho-Ho

He slides down the chimney with a sack on his back...

He leaves toys under the Christmas tree...

Santa’s come back 🔊

A hand play and welcome for a festive annual visitor with adjectives galore.

The movements should be obvious ones!

Music by Dany Rosevear.

Two merry blue eyes,

A dear little nose,

A long snowy beard

And cheeks like a rose.

A round chubby man,

A big bulging sack;

“Hurrah!” for old Santa

We’re glad he’s come back!

Santa’s footsteps 🔊

A Christmas hand play.

Words and music Dany Rosevear.

Verse 1. Two fingers on each hand creep. One finger on each hand creep, finger to mouth. Stroke beard, form large sack. Thumbs behind lapels, fists up.

Verse 2. Form rooftop then antlers above head. Beckon and point to watch. Fist on fist. Form antlers above head .

Verse 3. Hands to cheek, close eyes. Stretch both arms. Hands to cheeks, fists up.

Footsteps, footsteps, through the house,

Tiptoe, tiptoe, as quiet as a mouse;

A long white beard, a bulging sack,

A coat of red,

Hooray! Hooray! Santa’s back.

Up on the rooftop reindeer wait,

Hurry up Santa, you mustn’t be late!

The climb up the chimney is oh so slow,

Carrots for the reindeer,

Jingle! Jingle! Off we go!

Sleeping, sleeping, eyes shut tight,

Dreaming, dreaming, this very special night.

On Christmas morning we jump out of bed

To find stockings and presents

Hooray! Hooray!And gingerbread!

Santa's on his way! 🔊

(Here comes Santa’s sleigh)

A magical Christmas journey.

Words and music by Dany Rosevear.

Through the dark sky, past the steeples, Santa’s on his way,

The snow is falling, the children calling,

Faster than a swift in flight, riding through the starry night,

Dash away, dash away, dash away all,

“Ho, ho, ho!” Santa cries “Christmas Eve is here!

“Ho, ho, ho!” Santa cries “Christmas Eve is here!”

Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen,

Their speed surprising, the moon is rising,

Santa Claus he drives them on, through the night winds, through the storms,

Dash away, dash away, dash away all,

“Ho, ho, ho!” Santa cries “Christmas Night is here!

Ho, ho, ho!” Santa cries “Christmas Night is here!”

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.

Santa’s reindeer alphabet 🔊

A festive way to learn the names of the letters of the alphabet.

Put antler hands to side of the head, point to self. Place hands on hips and look indignant. Shake finger. Put antler hands to side of the head, place hands on cheek and close eyes.

A, B, C, D, E, F, G,

Santa's reindeer laughed at me.

H, I, J, K, L, M, N,

Santa's reindeer laughed again.

O, P, Q, R, S, T, U,

Haven't they anything better to do?

V, W, X, Y, Z,

Santa's reindeer should be home in bed!

Santa’s spectacles

A dear little hand play for the Christmas season.

1. Circle eyes with fingers. 2. With hands form a pointed shape over head.

3. Place hands in lap.

These are Santa's spectacles,

And this is Santa's hat.

This is the way he folds his hands,

And puts them in his lap!

Santa’s workshop 🔊

A simple hand play for Christmas time.

1. Form a peak with both hands. 2. Hold up thumb. 3. Wiggle fingers. 4. Mime placing toys on hand.

Here is Santa's workshop

And here is Santa Claus,

Here are Santa's little elves,

Putting toys upon the shelves.

Shy Santa

No peeping please on Christmas Eve! A Christmas poem.

Oh, how we would love to meet the real Father Christmas, but that magical fellow only comes at night when all the children are fast asleep.

1. Throw out hands and shrug shoulders. 2. Hide face with hands. 3. Run fingers up arm. 4. Throw out hands. 5. Ring eyes and look around. 6. Shake finger.

7. Hands to cheek.

Isn’t it the strangest thing,

That Santa is so shy?

We can never, ever catch him,

No matter how we try.

It isn’t any use to watch,

Because my parents said,

“Santa Claus will only come

When children are in bed!”

Silent night 🔊

A beautiful Christmas classic that brings a message of peace and love.

As a guitarist I was very taken with the little legend, probably spurious(!), below:

Silent Night was a poem written in 1816 by an Austrian priest, Joseph Mohr who on Christmas Eve in 1818 gave the poem ‘Stille Nacht’ to his friend Franz Xavier Gruber in the small alpine village of Oberndorf. The organ in the church of St. Nicholas was broken so Gruber composed the music with a guitar accompaniament and the simple score was finished in time for Midnight Mass.

Find out more at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silent_Night .

Silent night, holy night,

All is calm, all is bright;

Round yon virgin mother and child,

Holy Infant so tender and mild,

Sleep in heavenly peace,

Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night, holy night,

Shepherds quake at the sight;

Glories stream from heaven afar,

Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!

Christ, the Saviour is born,

Christ, the Saviour is born!

Silent night, holy night,

Son of God, love's pure light;

Radiant beams from thy holy face,

With the dawn of redeeming grace,

Jesus, Lord, at thy birth,

Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.

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!

Sleep of the infant Jesus 🔊

A French carol and lullaby by François-Auguste Gevaert's (1828-1908) ‘Le sommeil de l'enfant Jésus’. The tune, a folk melody, dates from before 1800. You can find the French words below. The loose translation has come from several sources and is adapted here by Dany Rosevear.

Here, midst the ox and ass so mild,

Sleeps, sleeps, sleeps the little child.

Countless cherubim, shining seraphim,

Watching all around the little king of love.

Here in his mother’s arms, the son,

Sleeps, sleeps, darling little one:

Countless cherubim, shining seraphim,

Watching all around the little king of love.

Here where the shepherds kneel in joy,

Sleep, sleep, sleep oh little boy.

Countless cherubim, shining seraphim,

Watching all around the little king of love.

Entre le bœuf et l'âne gris,

Dors, dors, dors le petit fils:

Mille anges divins, mille séraphins,

Volent à l'entour de ce grand Dieu d'amour.

Entre les deux bras de Marie,

Dors, dors, dors le fruit de vie:

Mille anges divins, mille séraphins,

Volent à l'entour de ce grand Dieu d'amour.

Entre les pastoureaux jolis,

Dors, dors, dors le petit fils:

Mille anges divins, mille séraphins,

Volent à l'entour de ce grand Dieu d'amour.

Song of the birds 🔊

There are many Nativity songs of the birds, this one was written by Anne Mendoza to a Polish carol, the adapted words and musical arrangement are by Dany Rosevear.

Mmmm… Mmmm…

All the birds will sweetly sing,

Welcome to the newborn King;

All the birds sing in praise.

“Roo-roo-roo. Roo-roo-roo.”

First the dove with feathers grey

Brings us news of Christmas Day;

“Roo-roo-roo,” sings the dove.

“Quack, quack, quack, Quack, quack, quack,”

Then the duck with yellow beak

Flaps its wings and gladly speaks.

“Quack, quack, quack,” says the duck.

“Caw! caw! caw! Caw! caw! caw!”

Big black crow with voice so bold,

Loudly hear its song unfold,

“Caw! caw! caw!,” says the crow.

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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