Playlists for the season ranging from traditional Christmas music to ambient songs appropriate for Solstice, Hanukkah and midwinter.

For some, the mention of holiday music conjures up memories of ‘Jingle Bells’ and ‘Here Comes Santa Claus.’ Can the sounds of the season be relaxing too? Yes! Does it all have to be about Santa and Christmas trees? No!

The holidays can be one of the most stressful times of the year – forced social gatherings, family feuds, the notion of breaking the bank for an endless list of neighbors and loved ones. For some true holiday spirit, sit down with a cup of apple cider, put your feet up and put on a playlist of peaceful songs.

Songs for Winter and Solstice

Appreciate the wintertime through song! These non-religious tracks speak to nature and a time of year where daylight is scarce and snow hushes the landscape. Solstice is marked as the half year point, usually just a few days before Christmas.

  • “Asleep the Snow Came Flying” – Tim Story, from A Winter Solstice Volume IV, 1993.
  • “Colder Than Winter” – Sarah Brightman, from A Winter Symphony, 2008.
  • “Crystal Palace” – Oystein Sevâg, from A Winter Solstice Volume IV, 1993.
  • “Just Before Dawn” – William Ackerman, from A Winter Solstice Volume IV, 1993.
  • “Seeds of Love” – Loreena McKennitt, from A Midwinter Night’s Dream, 2008.
  • “Snow”– Loreena McKennitt, from A Midwinter Night’s Dream, 2008.
  • “Winter Bourne” – Paul McCandless, from A Winter Solstice Volume IV, 1993.

Traditional Holiday Tunes From Around the World

Cuddle up with these songs and let the imagination transport you to other corners of the map for some time-honored music celebrating the season.

  • “Silent Night” – Sarah Brightman, from A Winter Symphony, 2008.
  • “Ave Maria” – Luciano Pavarotti, from O Holy Night, 2005.

French Traditional Holiday Music:

  • “Un Flambeau, Jeannette, Isabelle” – Loreena McKennitt, from A Midwinter Night’s Dream, 2008.
  • “Noël Nouvelet!” – Loreena McKennitt,” from A Midwinter Night’s Dream, 2008.
  • “Emmanuel” – Loreena McKennitt, from A Midwinter Night’s Dream, 2008.

English Carols:

  • “Good Kind Wenceslas” – Loreena McKennitt, from A Midwinter Night’s Dream, 2008.
  • “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen” – Loreena McKennitt, from A Midwinter Night’s Dream, 2008.
  • “Gloucestershire Wassail” – Loreena McKennitt, from A Midwinter Night’s Dream, 2008.

Instrumental Holiday Music to Relax to

Songs with little or no vocals featuring a variety of musical instruments in traditional or modern compilations.

  • “Breton Carol”– Loreena McKennitt, from A Midwinter Night’s Dream, 2008.
  • “Carol of the Bells” – Windham Hill Artists, from A Winter Solstice Volume IV, 1993.
  • “First Night” – Robin Spielberg, from American Chanukah, 2002.
  • “Silent Night” – Steve Erquiaga, from A Winter Solstice Volume IV, 1993.
  • “Wexford Caro” – Nightnoise, from A Winter Solstice Volume IV, 1993.
  • “Sheep May Safely Graze” – Modern Mandolin Quartet, from A Winter Solstice Volume IV, 1993.

Finding Relaxing Holiday Music Online

On a budget this year? Don’t need more clutter for your green Christmas? No problem! Here are some free websites that have holiday music stations:

  • Hanukkah Radio – Chanukah station on Pandora.com
  • Peaceful Holidays – station on Pandora.com
  • Winterscapes – Live365.com station featuring instrumental and ambient music for winter.
  • Winter Solstice – Music.AOL.com station playing new age winter music.
  • World Holiday – station on Music.AOL.com offering “Yuletidings from around the world.”

Tracks Appropriate for Massage, Spa and Yoga Studios

Many of the songs mentioned in this article will be appropriate to play during the season at the day spa, massage studio or other venues inspiring relaxation. Artists such as Enya and Loreena McKennitt are popular choices for the massage room, meditation corner or waiting room. Consider mixing in a track of holiday music with songs otherwise played year ’round so guests are not exhausted by the constant playing of Christmas tunes.

The author originally published this article on Suite101.com in 2010.