Christmas Music, Part 2

Christmas music, as already mentioned, is one of the most important parts to create a Christmassy mood and I, personally, love Christmas music. In a previous post, I have already listed the best Christmas albums to get, but today is about Christmas songs you might never have heard. 
I don't know when it all started, but I have been responsible for the Christmas music for a couple of years now and I guess it is mainly due to my ability and liking to burn CDs as well as my self-taught abilities to illegally download music (I know it's illegal, but I was a KID back then and didn't know and I haven't done so ever since Spotify has been invented, so cool it). 
Anyway, these wanton abilities combined led to me becoming the compiler and presenter of Christmas music and because I am borderline competitive when it comes to improving my own set of achievements, I strove to come up with an even better and better compilation each year and track down each and every Christmas song, may it hide in the farthest back corner, it's pretty stressful, actually.
But now let's dive into songs you might not have heard before or forgotten about. Enjoy.

Songs you might not have heard before
Santa, teach me to dance
This oldie is perfect for swinging at a party and should definitely be on an oldies compilation 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xPtOo40-4Q 
I want a hippopotamus for Christmas
This song is one this year's gem list because it is so terribly cute. Also accounting for an oldie, it is the perfect song for children and at a party. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49LAPkV9xJg
Jolly Old St. Nicolaus
Originally based on a poem by Emily Huntington Miller, this song is the other Up on the Housetop but equally fun. I really like the version by Chet Atkins and it is also included in my country/oldies playlist. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XP1idNFMVKA
Do you hear what I hear?
I discovered this beautiful song last year when I downloaded (legally) the Glee soundtrack and it has become one of my absolute favourites. It is a song that touches your heart and the written from the perspective of the lamb and the shepherd makes it also very humble and true to the values of Jesus (the king is the last one to learn about the new baby, before him the night wind, the lamb and the poor shepherd boy do). 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uamL3kvgfIo
O come, O come, Emmanuel
This is a very old song, stemming from the 15th century. Emmanuel is generally simply another name for Jesus, being mentioned in the bible three times, once in Matthew and twice in Isaiah. I found this version of Kelly Clarkson and thought is particularly eerie and beautiful; however, Pentatonix also do a version which deserves notion and is slightly more upbeat. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJcy-I6KJKQ
I Saw Three Ships
I Saw Three Ships is a traditional English Christmas song stemming from the 17th century and it is also on Kate Rusby's Christmas album The Frost is All Over under the name Sunny Bank and it is also this version I would recommend, even though you will find another one in the compilation below. 
It’s Christmas Once Again
A slow and somewhat schmaltzy song, It's Christmas Once Again is for cuddling up with a steaming cup of tea and watching the snow fall. The version in the link is sung by Nicole Binion. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAROs5utOZE
Holly and Ivy
In England I assume this traditional song is well-known; however, I doubt many people beyond have heard it before, even though it has been my absolute favourite carol ever since I heard it; however, I fell in love with the folkish version of beloved singer Kate Rusby and the traditional version is not as fantastic as Rusby's, which is why I can only recommend to listen to hers before listening to the traditional one. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETe6jOt6BnI
White Winter Hymnal
White Winter Hymnal is a song by Fleet Foxes and was released in 2008. Despite its young age, it has a very traditional ring to it and even though the version Birdy has on her own album, I prefer the original version by Fleet Foxes. Pentatonix' version is really good too, if you are into more beaty and rhythm-driven music (and A Capella).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrQRS40OKNE

Check out these songs and include into your annual Christmas compilation to spice it up a little and stay tuned for tomorrow's list of Best Christmas Songs Ever and then my compilation of country songs and oldies.