Is it Too Early To Listen To Christmas Music in November?, Canada Reviews

As the last leaves of autumn fall from their branches, a festive tug-of-war begins. While some burst into carols with the urgency of a caffeine-fuelled elf, others clutch their pumpkin spice lattes in horror. You know what we’re talking about: it’s nearly December. It’s Christmas time. 

And one thing about nearing December? The Christmas songs are coming, whether you like it or not. So, whether you’re a festive fanatic or a humbug hiding under the couch, let’s get into the big question: when is it too early to indulge in the magic of Christmas music? Grab your eggnog, and let’s get into it. 

When should you start listening to Christmas tunes?

First up, let’s ask the staff team.

 ‘As soon as Halloween is over, it’s Christmas in my heart,’ says Ella Doyle, ’s Guides Editor. ‘November the 1st, November the 2nd, it’s on. It’s never too early for a Christmas banger.’ 

‘The only acceptable day for a Christmas carol is December 25,’ argues UK Editor Joe Mackertich. 

Finally, ‘A Christmas song can be enjoyed all year round,’ claims Staff Writer India Lawrence. ‘But only if it’s Mariah Carey.’  

What are the stats?

Let’s crunch some numbers. A recent survey of 2,000 festive aficionados found that 85 percent of us start cranking the Christmas tunes in early December, according to Consultancy UK. In fact, according to the Sun, over half of the under-30s bracket start the jingles as early as November – unlike 16 per cent of Boomers, and even less of the over-50s. 

Oh, and it differs across the world, by the way. According to a report by Spotify, most nations actually begin their holiday listening around November 1 (or November 13 for the United States and Canada). But the Philippines stands out by starting well in advance, kicking off the season as early as September.  

But not everyone gets into the spirit that quickly. Over in Argentina and Uruguay? They hold off until Christmas Day itself to dive into the festivities. Once they do, Mariah Carey’s classic ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’ quickly dominates their playlists. 

What are the most played Christmas songs of all time?

You’ve probably guessed it. Yep, Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You’ reigns supreme, showing up in a whopping 43.2 percent of Spotify playlists. Right on her sleigh tail is Wham!’s ‘Last Christmas,’ on 45.6 percent of playlists. In third place is The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl’s ‘Fairytale of New York,’ (obviously). 

But it’s not all about the classics – Andy Williams’ ‘It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year’ jingles in at 27.8 percent, and Michael Bublé takes the fifth and sixth spot with ‘It’s Beginning to Look a Lot like Christmas’ (26.1 percent) and “Holly Jolly Christmas” (16.7 percent). Ariana Grande’s ‘Santa Tell Me’ comes seventh.  

So, there you have it, folks! Let’s deck the halls, crank up the carols, and get this holiday party started – because if there’s one thing we can agree on, it’s that you can’t avoid them anyway. Happy (early) Holidays!

And now go and check out our absolutely indisputable list of the best Christmas songs ever made!