Songs for the Christmas season (inc Thanksgiving)

F-I

First friends

Five fat turkeys

Five little Christmas trees

Five little jingle bells

Five little reindeer / Santa’s reindeer

Foolish question

Give me holly

Gloucestershire wassail

Hello, Mr. Turkey, how are you?

Here we go round the Christmas tree

Here comes Santa’s sleigh / Santa’s on his way!

Holly berries

Huron Indian carol

Hurrah for old Santa

I have a turkey in my garden

I heard Mr. Turkey say

I heard the bells on Christmas day

I saw three ships

It’s a magical time

It’s almost day

Jingle bells

Jolly old Saint Nicholas

Also: Mister Turkey and Mister Duck

Christmas songs: A-E 📦 🔔 O-S 🔔 T-Z 🎅

Last updated: 12/19/2022 10:14 AM

The songs below are part of ‘Away we go’ compiled, adapted and illustrated by Dany Rosevear

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First friends 🔊

Giving to those in need. The Christmas story is one where we think of those who desperately need a place to rest. A poem by Enid Blyton.

New music by Dany Rosevear.

The steady beat of jingle bells would add a festive note to the music.

The ox gave up his manger,

The cow gave up her hay.

To bed the little stranger,

Born on Christmas Day.

The little dove above him,

Looked down with ruby eyes.

They could not help but love him,

So little and so wise.

The ass stood near and pondered,

How such a thing could be.

Whilst simple shepherds wondered,

Such a child to see.

Five fat turkeys are we O

Explore ways of expressing the same words by singing in different tones: quietly in case the cook hears, loudly as if crowing how clever they are, wearily as if tired, angrily – how dare the cook try to cook them! Alternatively use as a hand play as below.

1. Put up five fingers. 2. Put closed hands to cheek. 3-4. Put hand to forehead in seeking mode. 5. Point to self.

Five fat turkeys are we,

We slept all night in a tree,

When the cook came around,

We couldn’t be found,

And that's why we're here, you see!

Oh, five fat turkeys are we,

We slept all night in a tree.

It sure does pay,

On Thanksgiving Day,

To sleep in the tallest tree!

Five little Christmas trees O

Use fingers, hands and arms to mime the actions in this song.

Five little Christmas trees

Standing straight and tall;

Stretch out their branches

As the snow begins to fall.

Along comes a woodcutter,

He’s on his way to town.

Chip chop! Chip chop!

A tree falls down.

Four little Christmas trees...

Three little Christmas trees...

Two little Christmas trees...

One little Christmas tree

Standing straight and tall;

Stretches out its branches

As the snow begins to fall.

Along comes a woodcutter,

He’s on his way to town.

Chip chop! Chip chop!

The tree falls down.

No little Christmas trees

Standing straight and tall;

Where have they gone

As the snow softly falls?

Each one is in a cosy house

Decked with Christmas cheer.

They wish you Merry Christmas

And a Happy New Year!

Five little jingle bells 🔊

This Christmas song was written by Virginia Pavelko and published 1962 in ‘Singing Fun’ as ‘Ten little jingle bells’. Older children might indeed prefer to start at ten. Music arranged by Dany Rosevear.

The steady beat of jingle bells would add a festive note to the music.

Even better, let children trot in lines of five weaving in and out of others groups each child shaking a jingle bell. On the second verse the child at the end of the line puts bell in hand so the sound is dulled. Each subsequent child does the same until there are no bells ringing. On the last verse trot slowly but then speed up for the chorus as all the bells appear and are rung joyfully.

Five little jingle bells hung in a row,

Five little jingle bells helped the horse go.

Merrily, merrily over the snow,

Merrily, merrily sleighing we go.

One little jingle bell fell in the snow,

Four little jingle bells helped the horse go.

Merrily, merrily over the snow,

Merrily, merrily sleighing we go.

One little jingle bell… Three... Merrily…

One little jingle bell… Two… Merrily…

One little jingle bell… One… Merrily…

One little jingle bell fell in the snow,

No little jingle bell helped the horse go.

Slowly, so slowly our bells are all gone,

Let’s get some new ones and put them back on!

Merrily, merrily …

Five little reindeer / Santa’s reindeer 🔊

A Christmas number game. Learn the number bonds that make eight.

Music by Dany Rosevear.

Line 1. Point to each finger one at a time then hands to head like antlers. 2. Point upwards. 3. Put hand to mouth. 4. Point to wrist. 5. As before. 6. Put hand to ear, listening, jingle bells. 7. Hold up three fingers. 8. Ask children to say how many reindeer it will take to make 8 - Hold up eight fingers.

Change the number of reindeer waiting each time: ‘1,2, 3, little reindeer...’ and ‘Wait for five…’.

One, two, three, four, five little reindeer,

Stood by the North Pole gate.

"Hurry, Santa," called the reindeer,

Or we’ll soon be late."

One, two, three, four, five little reindeer,

Santa said, "Please wait!"

"Wait for just three more little reindeer,

Then we will have eight."

Foolish question 🔊

Think before you ask Some consideration for the turkey is needed here!

Words by Louise B. Scott, music by Lucille F. Wood.

A seasonal song from one of my favourite collections for young children, ‘Singing Fun’ published in 1962.

I met a Turkey Gobbler

When I went out to play,

Oh, Mr. Turkey Gobbler,

How are you today?

Gobble, Gobble, Gobble,

That I cannot say,

Don’t ask me such a question,

On Thanksgiving Day.

Give me holly 🔊

This can be sung as a round.

Words by Christina Rosetti, music by Pamela Kenway.

How we love to see its festive dark, shining, prickly greenery at Christmas time contrasting so cheerfully with its bright red berries.

Encourage children to carefully handle its spiky leaves.

Give me holly, bold and jolly,

Honest, friendly, shining holly;

Bring me holly, leaf and berry;

Let the day be merry.

Gloucestershire wassail 🔊

This simple version of the Gloucestershire wassail comes from BBC radio’s ‘Time and tune’ Autumn 1960. During the Christmas period groups of people went from door to door singing this wassail. Find out more about the song and wassailing customs at: http://www.gloschristmas.com/wassail/gloucestershire-wassail-3/

Wassail! Wassail all over the town!

Our toast it is white and our ale it is brown.

Our bowl it is made of the white maple tree;

With the wassailing-bowl, we'll drink to thee!

So here is to Cherry and to his right cheek,

Pray God send our master a good piece of beef.

And a good piece of beef that may we all see;

With the wassailing-bowl, we'll drink to thee!

And here is to Dobbin and to his right eye;

Pray God send our mistress a good Christmas pie,

And a good Christmas pie that we may all see;

With our wassailing-bowl, we'll drink to thee!

And here is to Fillpail and to her left ear;

Pray God send our master a Happy New Year,

And a happy New Year as e'er he did see;

With our wassailing-bowl, we'll drink to thee!

Then here's to the maid in the lily-white smock,

Who tripped to the door and slipped back the lock!

Who tripped to the door and pulled back the pin,

For to let those jolly wassailers in.

Hello, Mr. Turkey, how are you? 🔊

A cheerful Thanksgiving song for the youngest.

Verse 1. Flap elbow wings. Clap twice. Repeat. Walk round on the spot flapping wings and waddling from side to side. Repeat first actions. 2. As before but run on the spot instead of clapping. 3. As before but rub tummy instead of clapping.

Hello, Mr. Turkey, how are you? Clap! Clap!

With a gobble, gobble, gobble,

And a wibble, wobble, wobble,

Hello, Mr. Turkey, how are you? Clap! Clap!

Hello, Mr. Turkey, how are you? Run! Run!...

Hello, Mr. Turkey, how are you? Yum! Yum!...

Santa's on his way! 🔊

(Here comes Santa’s sleigh)

A magical Christmas journey.

Words and music by Dany Rosevear.

Through the dark sky, past the steeples, Santa’s on his way,

The snow is falling, the children calling,

Faster than a swift in flight, riding through the starry night,

Dash away, dash away, dash away all,

“Ho, ho, ho!” Santa cries “Christmas Eve is here!

“Ho, ho, ho!” Santa cries “Christmas Eve is here!”

Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen,

Their speed surprising, the moon is rising,

Santa Claus he drives them on, through the night winds, through the storms,

Dash away, dash away, dash away all,

“Ho, ho, ho!” Santa cries “Christmas Night is here!

Ho, ho, ho!” Santa cries “Christmas Night is here!”

Here we go round the Christmas tree 🔊

A cheerful Christmas song for the youngest.

Dance in a circle holding hands. Stop to act out each activity.

Here we go round the Christmas tree, the Christmas tree, the Christmas tree,

Here we go round the Christmas tree,

On a happy Christmas morning.

This is the way we jump out of bed, jump out of bed, jump out of bed,

This is the way we jump out of bed,

On a happy Christmas morning

This is the way we open our presents, open our presents, open our presents

This is the way we open our presents,

On a happy Christmas morning.

This is the way we eat our mince pies, eat our mince pies, eat our mince pies,

This is the way we eat our mince pies,

On a happy Christmas morning.

This is the way we pull a cracker, pull a cracker, pull a cracker

This is the way we pull a cracker,

On a happy Christmas morning.

Sing and dance round the Christmas tree,

the Christmas tree, the Christmas tree,

Sing and dance round the Christmas tree,

On a happy Christmas morning.

Holly berries 🔊

Appreciate how the Christmas season brightens up the darkest night with light and and good cheer. Learn the Christmas colours.

Why are holly berries red?

And why is snow so white?

Why are spruce and pine so green?

And why are candles bright?

Can't you guess?

It's Christmas time

When everything's aglow,

And loving hearts are full of cheer –

It's Christmas - don't you know?

The Huron carol 🔊

A Canadian Christmas hymn based on a French folk song with original lyrics written by St John de Brebeuf, written probably in 1642. It was also called 'Twas in the Moon of Wintertime, Jesous Ahatonhia, Jesus is Born, and Noël Huron.

It is often considered to be the first Canadian Christmas carol.

Accompany the rhythm with a drum beaten softly.

Twas in the moon of wintertime when all the birds had fled,

That mighty Gitchi Manitou sent angel choirs instead.

Before their light the stars grew dim, and wond'ring hunters heard the hymn:

Chorus: Jesus, your King is born! Jesus is born!

In excelsis gloria!

Within a lodge of broken bark the tender Babe was found

A ragged robe of rabbit skin enwrapped His beauty round

And as the hunter braves drew nigh the angel song rang loud and high: Jesus, your King is born! …

(The earliest moon of wintertime is not so round and fair

As was the ring of glory on the helpless infant there.

The chiefs from far before him knelt with gifts of fox and beaver pelt. Jesus, your King is born! …

Ye children of the forest free, ye sons of Manitou,

The Holy child of earth and heav'n is born today for you.

Come kneel before the radiant Boy who brings you beauty, peace and joy: Jesus, your King is born! …

Hurrah for old Santa 🔊

A handplay for Christmas in anticipation of Santa's arrival.

Immerse children in descriptive words and encourage them to think of other adjectives to describe Father Christmas.

Set to music by Dany Rosevear.

1. Hold up two fingers and point to eyes. 2. Touch nose. 3. Touch cheeks. 4. Use palms to shape Santa. 5. The same but bigger. 6. Punch the air. 7. Thumbs up.

Two merry blue eyes,

A dear little nose,

A long snowy beard,

And cheeks like a rose,

A round chubby man,

A big bulging pack,

Hurrah for Old Santa,

We're glad he's come back!

Hurrah for Old Santa,

We're glad he's come back!

I have a turkey in my garden 🔊

From the delightful collection of nursery rhymes and songs by Laura Corpuz: http://hagonoy-bahay-kubo.blogspot.co.uk/2009/02/nursery-rhymes-and-songs.html

The tune is by Dany Rosevear.

I have a turkey in my garden

And his name is Dan;

The feathers in his tail are brown and tan.

When he walks he wobbles,

When he talks he gobbles,

And he spreads his tail

In a big wide fan.

I heard Mr. Turkey say 🔊

A traditional Thanksgiving song from the U.S.A. but can happily be used for Christmas elsewhere.

The second verse is not so well known and might be omitted for younger children!!

Fan out fingers of one hand put forefinger of other hand in front – make a waddle movement and wiggle finger. Put hands behind back.

I heard Mr Turkey say,

“Gobble, gobble, gobble!”

Soon it will be Christmas Day

“Gobble, gobble, gobble!”

People say it’s so much fun

But I think that I should run

And hide before the day is done,

“Gobble, gobble, gobble!”

Mr. Turkey tucked his head,

“Gobble, gobble, gobble!”

'Neath his feathers rich and red.

“Gobble, gobble, gobble!”

But they caught him by the wall,

Stuffed and ate him wings and all.

No more will Mr. Turkey call,

“Gobble, gobble, gobble!”

I heard the bells on Christmas day 🔊

There are many lovely versions in song of this poem by Longfellow. The one here is a simple version based on the delightful one by John Gorka.

I heard the bells on Christmas day

Their old familiar carols play,

Wild and sweet the words repeat

“Peace on earth, good will to men,