Ho, ho, ho! ‘Tis the season to play holiday music and Christmas carols. Being a musician, I started wondering just how many times are animals mentioned in seasonal music? Here’s a smattering of what I discovered. I’ve sometimes mentioned my favorite arrangement, and all the music is available at iTunes.
Reindeer was the top contender:
- Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. So many arrangements of this to choose from! My favorites are Jewel’s and Bing Crosby with Ella Fitzgerald.
- The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an open fire). The song asks if reindeer really know how to fly.
- Up On the Housetop. Reindeer pause….
- Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer
- Here Comes Santa Claus. Vixen and Blitzen and all his reindeer are pulling on the reins.
- The Holly & the Ivy. Doesn’t mention reindeer, but the running of the deer
How about a horse?
- Jingle Bells Dashing through the snow On a one-horse open sleigh,
- Jingle Bell Rock. Giddy-up jingle horse, pick up your feet
- Sleigh Ride. Horse is not specifically mentioned, but certainly implied!
Frogs and Bugs?
- Nuttin For Christmas. I hid a frog in sister’s bed;……I made Tommy eat a bug
Sheep are mentioned a lot.
- While Shepherds Watch their Flock by Night
- Little Drummer Boy. The ox and lamb kept time
- The First Noel. …in a field where they lay keeping their sheep
- Do You Hear What I Hear. Said the night wind to the little lamb
Cattle
- Away in a Manger. The cattle are lowing
How about some mice?
- Twas the Night Before Christmas. No creature was stirring not even a mouse
Now for some birds.
- Winter Wonderland. Gone away is the bluebird, here to stay is the new bird
What’s a Christmas song without a hippopotamus?
- I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas. Title says it all!
And the song which includes an entire menagerie…..My favorite, absolute favorite rendition of this is done by The Muppets….of course!
- The Twelve Days of Christmas.
Eight maids a milking, (cows or goats implied),Seven swans a swimming, Six geese a laying,
Four calling birds, Three French Hens, Two turtle doves And a Partridge in a pear tree.
I hope you enjoy these tunes! If you know of any others holiday songs mentioning animals, pass them along, please.
Harmony,
Janet Roper
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