German Christmas carols like Stille Nacht (Silent Night), O Tannenbaum, or O du fröhliche are renowned across the world. Well over a hundred years old, these holiday classics are translated in many languages and have been performed by countless artists.
Yet I have come to realize that these and other traditional German Christmas songs are often not very interesting for kids. They can be too slow and too solemn, and their religious themes are seldom relatable for young children.
Fortunately, there are so many other songs – both old and new – that are an instant hit with the youngest audience.
These are the German Christmas songs that my children love the most!
Lasst uns froh und munter sein
The song to start the holiday season, “let us be happy and cheerful” is the melody to hum while cleaning your shoes on the eve of St. Nikolaus day, the 6th December.
In der Weihnachtsbäckerei
This is by far the favorite German Christmas song in our house. An irresistible melody and a hilarious story of a Christmas recipe gone missing. This leads to improvisation with disastrous interesting results and a whole lot of mess. The perfect soundtrack to baking Christmas cookies!
Kling, Glöckchen
This fun song about a little bell has been a German Christmas classic since the 19th century.
Schneeflöckchen Weißröckchen
Another German Christmas favorite that is particularly loved by children. “Snowflake, white dress” is a sweet melody about waiting for the snow to fall.
Schlittenfahrt
This tune will be instantly recognized by everyone – the English Jingle Bells have become a “sleigh ride in the snow” in the German version.
Would you like to listen to more German Christmas songs for kids? Check out these playlists and albums on Spotify!
Welcome to our seventh annual Christmas in Different Lands series! Each participating blogger will share about Christmas in another culture or country. For even more glimpses of global Christmas celebrations, see our series from previous years (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018, plus follow our Christmas board on Pinterest!
Follow Multicultural Kid Blogs’s board Christmas Around the World on Pinterest.
Participating Blogs
December 6 Crafty Moms Share on Multicultural Kid Blogs: Christmas Season in Ethiopia
December 9 Crafty Moms Share: Christmas in Hawaii
December 10 the piri-piri lexicon: 10 Children’s Songs in French for Christmas
December 12 Pack-n-Go Girls: Christmas in Australia
December 16 Kids Spanish Book Club: La noche que comenzó la navidad and other recommendations
December 20 Let the Journey Begin
Don’t miss our other posts about Christmas in different lands, plus our printable pack Celebrate Christmas Around the World, on sale now!