The Christmas season seems to start earlier and earlier every year. Christmas carols start playing in the stores mid-November, endcaps get tinsel, and everything turns red and green before black and orange have a chance to go on clearance.

In an effort to provide space for all holidays to breathe properly, we’ve agreed to a “no Christmas before Thanksgiving” in our house. It's meant to prevent the tree from going up as the Halloween decorations come down. We simply want to be able to give the turkey, that was sacrificed to make our Thanksgiving meal possible, its time in the spotlight. We'd hate for the smell of pine to overpower that wonderful aroma of holiday dinner. 

An area of debate in our household remains the date when it is permissible to break out the traditional Christmas music. For me, it’s closer to Christmas. My wife doesn't agree and I'm sure she thinks I'm part Grinch.

Bottom line: I love Christmas… around Christmas. Even the Bible says, “For everything, there is a season.” 

However, compromise is one of the cornerstones to any good marriage, so I came up with an idea. Here is my eloquently named “Christmas Songs That Don’t Quite Sound Like Christmas Songs” list. It's so "not-Christmas" that this could This could almost be acceptable in July. Almost.

via GIPHY

• "Mary, Did You Know?" by The Katinas
• "Feliz Navidad" by David Crowder Band
• "Deck The Halls" by Tenth Avenue North
• "Go Tell It On the Mountain" by BarlowGirl
• "White Christmas" by Kari Jobe
• "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" by Salvador
• "Santa Claus is Coming To Town" by Point of Grace

• "Hark! (The Herald Angels Sing)" by Planetshakers
• "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" by Ayiesha Woods
• "Silent Night" by KJ-52, Spechouse
• "Sleigh Ride" by Jump5
• "What Child Is This?" by Stacie Orrico

• "O Come Emmanuel" by Neon Feather
• "O Holy Night" by Rebecca St James
• "Merry Christmas, Baby" by Mr Talkbox
• "Angels We Have Heard on High" by Family Force 5
• "O come, All Ye Faithful" by TobyMac
• "Frosty the Snowman" by Joy Electric

• "The First Noel" by Youngheart
• "O Little Town of Bethlehem" by Tim Timmons
• "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" by Francesca Battestelli
• "Let It Snow!" by Chris Rice
• "Christmas Shoes" by FM Static
• "Do You Hear What I Hear" by Anthem Lights
• "The Little Drummer Boy" by for KING & COUNTRY
• "All I Want For Christmas Is You" by Newsboys
• "Holly Jolly Christmas" by Group 1 Crew

• "Carol of the Bells" by August Burns Red
• "Heat Miser" by Thousand Foot Krutch
• "Winter Wonderland" by Stryper

• "Away In A Manger" by Shane & Shane
• "Christmas, Baby Please Come Home" by Anberlin
• "Joy to the World" by Lincoln Brewster
• "12 Days of Christmas" by Relient K
• "Rocking Around the Christmas Tree" by Jaymes Reunion
• "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" by MercyMe
• "Jingle Bell Rock" by Stephanie Smith
• "Jingle Bells" by Colton Dixon