As December is finally upon us, Christmas music is back in full swing. To help you create your holiday playlist, we asked some of your favorite artists about their favorite Christmas songs.

"Silent Night" –Jen Ledger 

"My favorite Christmas carol would be 'Silent Night.' It has such a wonderful feel to it that every time I hear it I am drawn to think about that incredible night when Jesus was born. Sends shivers." –Sam Evans, Planetshakers

"Well, my all-time favorite Christmas song may change year to year. I think maybe if I just look at the lyrics, I would say 'Hark The Herald Angels Sing.' I mean, it is so rich and so beautiful. When I had to dig into the lyrics and actually look at them and sing them about 40 times to get a good vocal take, those lyrics sunk in, in a deep way. I got into a new place of wonder about what the whole Christmas season is about, so I'm hoping other people do too." –Phil Wickham
 
"'Winter Wonderland' is a favorite because I added a couple of lines to orient the song in St Paul (Minnesota), which truly is our winter wonderland. Where we live, you have to acknowledge winter–it is the real deal–but once you do, you can enjoy it for what it is. Hibernation, good snow gear, hot drinks, snuggling with your loved ones–these are the gifts of winter." –Sara Groves

"My favorite Christmas song is 'Oh Holy Night.' That song is incredible!" –Aaron Watkins, Random Hero

"I've never written a Christmas song but my favorite that I didn't write has to be 'Mary Did You Know' by Mark Lowry and Buddy Greene. I love that song." –Nathan Sheridan

"I love traditional Christmas songs from my childhood. Every year maybe a different song strikes me. This year I've enjoyed singing 'Angels We Have Heard On High.'" –Ivan Parker

"When I Think of Christmas (Oh Holy Night)." -Matt Maher

Next, we asked them to tell us some of their favorite family Christmas traditions.

"Christmas is an extra special time of year for me as it's usually the only time of year I'm able to hop back to England and spend time with my family! I left at 16 years old and ended up never going back to live in my home country, and so I cherish every second I can be back with my family. Some of our traditions include: Eating LOADS of chocolate ( like pretty much from the time we wake up until we go to bed–we NEVER stop nibbling on sweets!), playing games, (anything from card games, celebrity password to Monopoly.. though surprisingly Monopoly has caused a few fights in the Ledger household! haha), and going to my family's church's Carol service. They do a beautiful service that outreaches to the local community–blending together worship, Christmas carols, and a presentation of the gospel. It's always so refreshing after a hard year of touring!" –Jen Ledger

"In Australia it's always warm at Christmas time so I love that as a family we get to be outdoors in the sun and cook a delicious barbeque. We always have crayfish (lobster) and prawns (shrimp) and eat ourselves into a food coma all outdoors in the sunshine." –Sam Evans, Planetshakers

"We do all the normal stuff. Drinking hot chocolate, Christmas parties. Almost every night, after my kids, you know we have dinner, they take a bath, they get in their PJs, then we hop in the car and drive really slow around our neighborhood and look at all the lights and listen to Christmas music. I think that when I think of Christmas with my kids, those are the warmest memories–of us all huddled together in the car, listening to Christmas music, looking at lights. So fun." –Phil Wickham

"My mom's tradition to create a new tradition every year! My sisters and I give her a hard time about that, but I do the same thing. I will hear a good idea and then tell the family, "We will do this every year!" I just like to have some kind of Advent rhythm to my December. Sometimes I have been able to include the whole family in that, and some years I have just been on my own, but there are a lot of great Advent resources, short readings, artwork, poetry, scriptures, etc. I grew up Pentecostal and we didn't really observe the church calendar, but as an adult, I have been drawn to that. I like the tradition and liturgy and how the weeks build to the incarnation. Another is for many years we exchanged names and had a 'Stocking Person.' You would buy small gifts for this person all year, and then open them Christmas morning. The gifts were mostly really kitschy–if you went on a trip, you would get your stocking person a gift from the gift shop, for example–so you were thinking about them all year." –Sara Groves
 
"My favorite Christmas tradition is decorating the house and the Christmas tree. My wife makes a fondue with all sorts of meat and cheeses, and we listen to Christmas music. It's one of the favorite things I look forward to doing my family each year!" –Aaron Watkins, Random Hero

"Going to my grandparents' house and having dinner and opening presents. It never gets old! I seem to be getting fewer presents every year though. I need to talk to them about that!" –Nathan Sheridan

"We have Christmas traditions that extend throughout the holidays: decorating the tree, decorating outside our home, and buying the presents for the family (and watching someone else wrap them!)--it's all a lot of fun! My favorite thing is to spend Christmas Day at home watching Christmas movies and feeling the peace and joy this season brings. In celebrating the fact that our Savior was born to bring us salvation, Christmas brings us a feeling of love like no other time of the year." –Ivan Parker

"Decorating our tree." -Matt Maher