These are, in our view, the biggest-selling singles about Christmas and the festive season.
Detailed sales figures have long since ceased to exist (if they ever did) for many of the older titles in this chart. Where unavailable, we have estimated figures. We are indebted to Simon Walters for his detailed record-keeping and input into this chart. The top 7 are million-sellers. The Top 14 sold half a million+. By the time we get to no. 30 sales figures are around the 200,000 mark and tracks in the region of no. 40 have sales of approx 100,000. You should be aware that titles at the lower end of this Top 50 are probably almost 'too close to call.'
It is tough to decide which tracks should be included. Some are obvious. Others are borderline. Being a 'Christmassy' single isn't enough; there has to be an explicit reference to a clear aspect of Christmas / New Year etc in the title or lyric. The line lies somewhere between "Walking In The Air" (included) and Frankie Goes To Hollywood's "Power Of Love" (not included). A good indicator is whether or not the track would sound inappropriate when played outside the festive season.
All-Time Biggest Hits about Christmas and The Festive Season |
1 | Band
Aid | Do They Know It's Christmas? | 1984/1985/2007 |
2 | Boney M | Mary's Boy
Child | 1978 |
3 | Wham! | Last
Christmas | 1984/1985/2007/2008/2009/2010 |
4 | Harry
Belafonte | Mary's Boy Child | 1957 |
5 | Band Aid 20 | Do They Know It's Christmas? | 2004 |
6 | Slade | Merry Xmas
Everybody | 1973/1981/1983/1998/2006/2007/2008/2010 |
7 | Bing Crosby | White
Christmas | 1942/1977/1998 |
8 | East 17 | Stay Another Day | 1994 |
9 | Cliff Richard | The
Millennium Prayer | 1999 |
10 | Johnny Mathis | When
A Child Is Born | 1976 |
11 | John Lennon / Yoko
Ono | Happy Christmas (War Is Over) | 1972/1980/1981/2003/2007 |
12 | Jona Lewie | Stop
The Cavalry | 1980 |
13 | Cliff
Richard | Mistletoe And Wine | 1988 |
14 | Mud | Lonely This
Christmas | 1974 |
15 | Pogues featuring Kirsty
MacColl | Fairytale of New York | 1987/1991/2005/2006/2007/2008/2009/2010 |
16 | Mariah Carey | All I
Want For Christmas Is You | 1994/2007/2008/2009/2010 |
17 | Paul McCartney | Pipes Of Peace | 1983 |
18 | Shakin; Stevens | Merry Christmas Everyone | 1985/2007/2008 |
19 | Wizzard | I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day | 1973/2007/2008 |
20 | Band Aid II | Do
They Know It's Christmas? | 1989 |
21 | Greg Lake | I
Believe In Father Christmas | 1975 |
22 | Wombles | Wombling
Merry Christmas | 1974 |
23 | Shakin'
Stevens | Blue Christmas (Shakin' Stevens EP) | 1982 |
24 | David Bowie & Bing
Crosby | Peace On Earth / Little Drummer Boy | 1982 |
25 | The Darkness | Christmas Time (Don't Let The Bells End) | 2003 |
26 | Jive Bunny | Let's Party | 1989 |
27 | Cliff
Richard | Saviour's Day | 1990 |
28 | Paul
McCartney | Wonderful Christmas Time | 1979 |
29 | David Essex | A
Winter's Tale | 1982 |
30 | Aled Jones | Walking
In The Air | 1985 |
31 | Jason Donovan | When You Come Back To Me | 1989 |
32 | Roy Orbison | Pretty Paper | 1964 |
33 | Dickie
Valentine | Christmas Alphabet | 1955 |
34 | Bros | Silent Night | 1988 |
35 | Kim Wilde & Mel
Smith | Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree | 1987 |
36 | Dina Carroll | The
Perfect Year | 1993 |
37 | Bo Selecta | Proper Crimbo | 2003 |
38 | Childliners | The
Gift Of Christmas | 1995 |
39 | Dana | It's Gonna Be
A Cold Cold Christmas | 1975 |
40 | Mr Hankey | Mr
Hankey The Christmas Poo | 1999 |
41 | Bruce Springsteen | Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town | 1985 |
42 | The Goodies | Father Christmas Do Not Touch Me | 1974 |
43 | Gary
Glitter | Another Rock And Roll Christmas | 1984 |
44 | Queen | A Winter's Tale | 1974 |
45 | Bon Jovi | Please
Come Home For Christmas | 1994 |
46 | Paul Nicholas | Grandma's Party | 1975 |
47 | Mike Oldfield | In Dulce Jubilo | 1975 |
48 | Wizzard | Rock 'N' Roll Winter | 1974 |
49 | The Pretenders | 2000 Miles | 1974 |
50 | Nina &
Frederick | Little Donkey | 1960 |