So what is it about Christmas music?

Tis the season for Christmas music once again. People know right away whether a song is a Christmas song or not. So, what is it that is different?

Some of the music has jingle bells ringing in the background. That is almost always a give away. But not all of it has jingle bells. Most of the Santa Claus, 'secular'/holiday' music tends to lean that way.

When one hears 'O Holy Night' or 'Silent Night' it is quite obvious that they are Christmas songs just because we have heard them all our lives. Is it because we reserve those songs for this time of year. It isn't just because they are about Christ. Mercy Me has come out with some very moving Christian music that wouldn't qualify as Christmas music...though their music is very stirring.

One would argue that Christmas music must be about the birth of Jesus. But not all religious Christmas music is about His birth.

It just seems that there is something magical about the music.