top 5 tuesday: favorite christmas songs

As the last Top 5 Tuesday post before Christmas, I thought I'd combine two of my favorite things (Christmas and music) in today's subject. And let me tell you, it was HARD to pick just 5!!! Obviously, these are MY favorites, so you may agree or disagree. I'd love to know what yours may be so leave me a comment with some of your fave songs too!

Here they are, in random order:

1. O Come, O Come Emmanuel. This is probably my most favorite religious Christmas song. It's beautiful, haunting and hopeful all at the same time.
"Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!"

2. White Christmas. I love this movie and this song so much. It's iconic and sentimental and includes wishes for much more than just a white christmas for everyone!
"May your days be merry and bright and may all your Christmases be white."

3. Silent Night. It's so beautiful and calm and sweet. I have two instrumental versions of this song, one by Los Lonely Boys and the other by Mannheim Steamroller and both of them bring tears to my eyes when I hear them.

4. O Holy Night. I think many people like this one as well. It's a beautiful story of how Christ's birth meant hope, love and redemption for mankind. On the night of Jesus' birth, the world was changed forever.
"Long lay the world in sin and error pining, 'til He appeared and the soul felt its worth."

5. Carol of the Bells. I love how this song is stirring and lifting. Even if you don't know the words to the song, the movement of the song itself gets my heart pounding. There is a precious version of this song that I've looked all over for that is barnyard animals singing it and then it ends with a baby crying. If you know who sings it, I'd love to know!