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Although many debate that November 1st is “way too early,” and “it’s not even Thanksgiving yet,” many of those who celebrate it, kick off November 1st by listening to their favorite Christmas songs. With that special date just passing, many out there may be listening to some of the most popular all-time Christmas songs. Following are some of the highest-rated Christmas songs ever and how they got so popular:

• “All I Want for Christmas is You” by Mariah Carey: Although this hit was only released in 1994, which is fairly recent compared to many other hits on this list, it has become just as popular and representative of the holiday season. Carey released “All I Want for Christmas is You” in her fourth studio album and first-ever holiday album. Many people enjoy this song because of its mix of more modern pop while also incorporating components of more traditional Christmas music hits. Every year, Carey makes approximately 3 million dollars from “All I Want for Christmas is You”!

• “Last Christmas” by Wham!: Released in 1984, “Last Christmas” is one of the most recognizable Christmas tunes, and has been the most popular in the UK for decades. Wham!, the English pop duo that is responsible for the hit consisted of George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley at the time of its release. It’s so popular in fact, that many modern artists have made covers of Wham!’s hit that have done almost as well as the original, including Ariana Grande, Gwen Stefani, Rita Ora, and many more. The original grosses almost $570,000 a year.

• “White Christmas” by Bing Crosby: A more classical Christmas song, “White Christmas” was released in 1941 by Bing Crosby, an American singer and TV personality. The hit first aired during the Kraft Music Hall radio show on Christmas day when it quickly became an American favorite. It is estimated that over 50 million copies of this beautiful song have been sold worldwide!

• “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” by John Lennon & Yoko Ono: A rather unique Christmas tune, “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” is still one of the most popular Christmas songs and it definitely has one of the deepest meanings behind it. The hit was released in 1971 by couple John Lennon and Yoko Ono after more than two years of their peace activism. Lennon was also the first former Beatles member to release an original Christmas song. The single did not immediately reach success, as it had been released late into the holiday season. Yet in the years to come, and even to this day, the song gained mass popularity!

Although there are many aspects to the holiday season, one of the most anticipated is the Christmas music. Along with setting the perfect mood for Christmas morning, these songs can teach us a lot about history and the true meaning of the holiday!