Texas, Tinsel, and Tunes: The Songs We Love (and Love to Hate) This Christmas

Ah, Christmas songs—those festive little ditties that make your heart grow three sizes or drive you to throw your radio out the window, depending on your mood and how many times you've already heard Mariah Carey today. They’re as much a part of the holiday hustle as Black Friday brawls and mall Santa selfies, and Texas, unsurprisingly, has its own tune-shaped quirks to add to the season's playlist.

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Texas Tastes: Feliz Navidad, Y'all!

It turns out Texas’ favorite Christmas song is Feliz Navidad, the bilingual bop that gives you just enough holiday cheer without fully committing to sleigh bells. With a growing Latino influence and a taste for all things vibrant, Texans clearly want their Christmas carols with a little extra spice. But here’s the kicker: while Texans love their Feliz Navidad, a large chunk of America apparently finds it as grating as a rusty snow shovel. More on that later.

Across the country, Jingle Bells reigns supreme, proving that a song older than the state of Texas (and nearly as ancient as holiday capitalism) still has some serious staying power. Fourteen states, including some of Texas’ neighbors like Georgia and Mississippi, voted for this sleigh-driven classic as their top tune. Maybe Texans are just over it? It’s hard to imagine a cowboy riding a sleigh anyway.

Decking the Halls... of Annoyance

Speaking of songs that overstay their welcome, let’s talk about the auditory fruitcake of the season: All I Want for Christmas Is You. Sure, Mariah Carey’s masterpiece hits the top charts annually, but it also tops the list of songs that people wish would take a long winter’s nap.

Close behind is The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late). Frankly, the fact that this high-pitched chaos still gets airplay anywhere outside a children’s party is mind-boggling. For Texans, though, the real betrayal might be seeing Feliz Navidad round out the top three most annoying songs in the nation. Really, America? We thought you liked a little flair with your festivities.

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Top Christmas Songs in the Country

1. Jingle Bells – Most popular in 14 states, including Texas neighbors Georgia and Mississippi.
2. Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow! – Claimed the top spot in six states, including Alaska and Minnesota.
3. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer – Reigning in Alabama, Kansas, and Louisiana.
4. Last Christmas – A favorite in Arizona, Utah, and Michigan.
5. It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year – Winning hearts in Idaho, Iowa, and South Carolina.
6. Deck the Halls – Top pick for Nebraska, Oregon, and South Dakota.
7. Other notable favorites:
   • Feliz Navidad (Texas and Florida).
   • All I Want for Christmas Is You (New Jersey and Wisconsin).
   • Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree (North Dakota and West Virginia).

Most Annoying Christmas Songs in the Country

1. All I Want for Christmas Is You – The undeniable queen of overplay, beloved and despised in equal measure.
2. The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late) – A high-pitched nightmare for many.
3. Feliz Navidad – Love it or hate it, this bilingual classic wears thin for some after the 20th listen.
4. Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer – Not listed in your data, but always a contender in surveys like this for its divisive humor.
5. Santa Baby – Seductive for some, insufferable for others, this tune often lands on “worst” lists.

A Country of Carols, One Big Chorus of Chaos

Here’s a fun fact to tie your jingle bells with: while Texans embrace their bilingual anthem, Alaska is cozying up with Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow!, and New Jersey is belting All I Want for Christmas Is You with gusto. Meanwhile, California and Florida have Jingle Bells fever, proving that whether you’re in a surfboard state or a snowless swamp, you can still dream of dashing through imaginary snow.

But perhaps the most bizarre standout is Wyoming’s favorite: Sleigh Ride. Do they even need sleigh rides up there, or is it just wishful thinking while bundled up in negative-40-degree winds?

The True Cost of Holiday Cheer

Love them or loathe them, these songs are the soundtrack of holiday shopping sprees, luring you into buying that extra scented candle or the glittering plastic reindeer you absolutely don’t need. Retailers aren’t just jingling bells—they’re jingling your wallets.

So whether you’re cranking up Feliz Navidad in the Texas sun or plugging your ears to avoid Alvin and the Chipmunks, remember this: the season isn’t really about the music. It’s about the joy of giving, the warmth of family, and, if you’re lucky, a pair of noise-canceling headphones.

Happy holidays, and may your playlist stay merry! Check out the full list here!🎄