22 Funny Christmas Songs That Will Make Your Family Laugh
Everyone has an opinion when it comes to Christmas music. Of course, there are plenty of classics that are must listens, and a whole lot of soulful songs that inspire awe and reflection.
And there are also plenty of Christmas songs that are just flat-out funny and that remind us that laughter is a major part of any big holiday. From songs you will hear over and over again ("Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer," anyone?) to songs that you might not have heard in a long time (think "Things I Want" by Tenacious D and Sum 41), there's something for everyone on this list.
Here are 22 funny Christmas songs that will entertain you this holiday season.
Funny Christmas songs
1. "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" by Elmo & Patsy
Much to the chagrin of Christmas-celebrating grandmothers everywhere, when it comes to funny Christmas songs, this one is often at the top of every list. Written by Randy Brooks and performed by the husband-and-wife duo Elmo Shropshire and Patsy Trigg, the tune is a classic that pops up on the radio daily (if not hourly) from Thanksgiving Day all the way to the New Year.
2. "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" by Tyler, the Creator
This song has been performed by a number of artists over the years, but Tyler, the Creator's version for the 2018 animated Grinch film is a real winner. Paired with an orchestra arrangement from Danny Elfman, the updated version is just as funny as the original and also pretty beautiful.
Related: Our Favorite Romantic Holiday Songs of All Time
3. "Hey Sis, It's Christmas" by RuPaul
RuPaul released a Christmas record in 2018 that has a multitude of great songs, but "Hey Sis, It's Christmas" is one of the funniest—and let's just say it's definitely not safe for work.
4. "All I Want for Christmas (Is My Two Front Teeth)"
There are a handful of songs that are inherently associated with Christmas, and "All I Want for Christmas (Is My Two Front Teeth)" is one of them. The song was originally written in 1944 by music teacher Donald Yvette Gardner, who later admitted, "I was amazed at the way that silly little song was picked up by the whole country."
5. "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas" by Gayla Peevey
Ten-year-old Gayla Peevey performed "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas" in 1953 and her version remains one of the silliest (and the most popular) Christmas songs on radio waves each year.
6. "The 12 Pains of Christmas" by Bob Rivers
This song certainly isn't for everyone, but it's hard to deny that it's pretty funny. A spoof of the classic "On the 12th Day of Christmas," the song has lyrics like, "The sixth thing at Christmas that's such a pain to me/Facing my in-laws/Five months of bills/Oh, I hate those Christmas cards/Hangovers/Rigging up these lights/And finding a Christmas tree."
Related: 30+ Best New-ish Christmas Songs You Need to Add to Your Holiday Playlist in 2023
7. "Very First Christmas" by SpongeBob SquarePants
SpongeBob might not spring to mind when you think of Christmas music, but if you're looking for goofy songs that are also family-friendly, "Very First Christmas" fits the bill. The song was introduced in the episode titled "Christmas Who?" and is truly a Bikini Bottom classic.
8. "Give the Jew Girl Toys" by Sarah Silverman
Sarah Silverman might be Jewish, but that doesn't mean she can't get in on the Christmas song fun... right? Silverman makes a plea to Santa Claus for a gift or two, something most of us can relate to.
9. "You're Still Getting Presents Today" by Nick Thune
Comedian Nick Thune came up with a Christmas song that will take all the things that you love about the holiday and ruin them. Listen with caution!
10. "Things I Want" by Tenacious D and Sum 41
Tenacious D and Sum 41 teamed up on a holiday song for the 2001 holiday album Kevin & Bean Present: Swallow My Eggnog, and the results are basically exactly what you'd expect from the two bands.
11. Reggie Watts' Holiday Song
In 2007, Late Late Show band leader Reggie Watts put out a holiday tune that celebrates every holiday that takes place at the end of the year, including the ones that you might not have heard about. Listening will certainly help you have a very merry and bright "Kwanzaahanu-chanukkahramadanchanukwanzaaka!"
12. "Dominick the Donkey (The Italian Christmas Donkey)" by Lou Monte
"Dominick the Donkey" is actually a Christmas song that many sing with great affection, but it gets pretty funny when everyone starts making donkey sounds along with singer Lou Monte.
13. "Christmas at Ground Zero" by Weird Al Yankovic
Released in 1986, "Christmas at Ground Zero" is the last song on the album Polka Party!. Like many of the comedian's work, the song is a little unusual, and is about celebrating Christmas while dealing with the aftermath of a nuclear catastrophe.
14. "Santa Looked a Lot Like Daddy" by Buck Owens and the Buckaroos
This song is more sweet than anything else, but definitely a funny one for kids who are old enough to know the truth about Santa and aren't upset about it anymore.
15. "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" by the Jackson 5
This holiday classic was originally recorded by Jimmy Boyd and has been covered frequently, but the most delightful version is definitely the Jackson 5's rendition from 1970. The lyrics are especially funny for kids who are in the know.
16. "Jingle Bells, Batman Smells"
Is there anyone born after, say, 1985, who didn't learn this song—sung by Bart in the first episode of The Simpsons in 1989—in grade school (and who doesn't sing it every so often as an adult)? Nearly impossible to escape, "Jingle Bells, Batman Smells" is definitely a hit with kids and families everywhere.
17. "Santa Claus is Thumbin' to Town" by Relient K
The pop-punk band Relient K released this song back in 2002. Concerned with what might happen if Santa was forced to hitchhike instead of taking his sleigh, the song definitely taps into the light side of the holiday season.
18. "A Christmas Carol" by Tom Lehrer
This Tom Lehrer Christmas tune is really an anti-commercialism song at its heart. While it's not exactly funny in a laugh-out-loud kind of way, the lyrics are poignant and will certainly have you thinking twice about some of our shared holiday habits.
Related: Religious Christmas Songs
19. "The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)" by Ross Bagdasarian
A song made to sound like chipmunks are singing it?! That in itself gets a chuckle.
20. “Santa’s Lament” by Father Guido Sarducci
"Santa's Lament" is a satirical Christmas song "by" Father Guido Sarducci, a character created by comedian Don Novello. First performed on Saturday Night Live in 1978, the the lyrics imagine a Santa who's burned out by the commercialization of Christmas.
21. "We're Coming to Your House" by the Three Stooges
Leave it to Moe, Larry and Curly to bring the laughs on Christmas. "We're Coming to Your House" was featured on their 1959 comedy album The Three Stooges Sing Six Happy Yuletide Songs.
22. "Sump'n Claus" from Saturday Night Live
Kenan Thompson plays Sump'n Claus, a less punitive Santa-type who brings gifts (specifically cash) to even the naughtiest of the naughty.
Next, 200 Best Christmas Songs of All Time to Get You in the Holiday Spirit
