''Songs for Christmas'' (stylized as ''Sufjan Stevens Presents Songs for Christmas'' on the cover) is a box set of five separate EPs of

Christmas Christmas is an annual festival commemorating Nativity of Jesus, the birth of Jesus, Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people Observance of Christmas by country, around t ...

-related songs and

carols A carol is a festive song, generally religious but not necessarily connected with Christian church worship, and sometimes accompanied by a dance. A caroller (or caroler) is someone who sings carols, and is said to be carolling (or caroling). T ...

recorded by independent musician

Sufjan Stevens Sufjan Stevens ( ; born July 1, 1975) is an American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. He has released nine solo studio albums and multiple collaborative albums with other artists. Stevens has received Grammy and Academy Award nomi ...

between 2001 and 2006. The EPs had been given as gifts to friends and family of Stevens over the past six years, except for 2004 when he was too busy recording the ''

Illinois Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolita ...

'' album. Though the first three EPs had already been available on Sufjan Stevens-related fansites for several years, ''Songs for Christmas'' is the first official release of these EPs. Most of the tracks are versions of traditional Christmas songs, with a number of original compositions such as "Sister Winter" and "Star of Wonder". Sufjan Stevens has developed a reputation for being a devoted Christian and many of the songs he chose for inclusion on ''Songs for Christmas'' are religious in nature, including his original compositions. The box set includes a poster of Sufjan Stevens, an animated short for "Put the Lights on the Tree" by Tom Eaton, an essay by

Rick Moody Hiram Frederick Moody III (born October 18, 1961) is an American novelist and short story writer best known for the 1994 novel ''The Ice Storm'', a chronicle of the dissolution of two suburban Connecticut families over Thanksgiving weekend in 19 ...

, two original short stories by Stevens, stickers, comics and a sing-a-long book for all five discs. During Stevens' international tour in the later half of 2006, he regularly performed the original song "That Was the Worst Christmas Ever!" while releasing inflatable Santas into the audience for fun. ''Songs for Christmas'' was generally well received by music critics. Stevens released a follow-up, '' Silver and Gold: Songs for Christmas, Vols. 6-10'', in November 2012, which contains a further 58 original and traditional songs.

Track listing

;Noel: Songs for Christmas, Vol. I :Recorded December 2001 #"

Silent Night "Silent Night" (german: "Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht", links=no, italic=no) is a popular Christmas carol, composed in 1818 by Franz Xaver Gruber to lyrics by Joseph Mohr in the small town of Oberndorf bei Salzburg, Austria. It was declared an ...

" – 0:47 (music by

Franz X. Gruber Franz Xaver Gruber (25 November 1787 – 7 June 1863) was an Austrian primary school teacher, church organist and composer in the village of Arnsdorf, who is best known for composing the music to "Stille Nacht" ("Silent Night"). Life Gruber wa ...

) #" O Come, O Come Emmanuel" – 3:59 (words: Traditional, translated from Latin to English by John M. Neale; music: "Veni Emmanuel") #"We're Goin' to the Country!" – 2:19 (words & music by Sufjan Stevens) #" Lo! How a Rose E'er Blooming" – 3:25 (words: 15th Century German carol translated by Theodore Baker; music: Anonymous, originally arranged by Michael Praetorius) #"It's Christmas! Let's Be Glad!" – 1:58 (words & music by Sufjan Stevens) #" Holy Holy, etc." – 0:39 (music: John B. Dyke, arranged here by Matt Morgan) #"

Amazing Grace "Amazing Grace" is a Christian hymn published in 1779 with words written in 1772 by English Anglican clergyman and poet John Newton (1725–1807). It is an immensely popular hymn, particularly in the United States, where it is used for both ...

" – 4:00 (words: John Newton; music: Traditional) ;Hark!: Songs for Christmas, Vol. II :Recorded December 2002 #"

Angels We Have Heard on High "Angels We Have Heard on High" is a Christmas carol to the hymn tune "Gloria" from a traditional French song of unknown origin called "", with paraphrased English lyrics by James Chadwick. The song's subject is the birth of Jesus Christ as nar ...

" – 0:47 (music by Edward S. Barnes) #"Put The Lights On The Tree" – 1:50 (words & music by Sufjan Stevens) #"

Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" is a Christian hymn written by the pastor and hymnodist Robert Robinson, who penned the words in the year 1758 at the age of 22. Tunes In the United States, the hymn is usually set to an American folk tun ...

" – 4:45 (words: Robert Robinson; music: Traditional merican Melody #"

I Saw Three Ships "I Saw Three Ships (Come Sailing In)" is an English Christmas carol, listed as number 700 in the Roud Folk Song Index. The earliest printed version of "I Saw Three Ships" is from the 17th century, possibly Derbyshire, and was also published by ...

" – 2:36 (words: Traditional; music: Richard W. Adams) #"Only at Christmas Time" – 2:18 (words & music by Sufjan Stevens) #"

Once in Royal David's City Once in Royal David's City is a Christmas carol originally written as a poem by Cecil Frances Alexander. The carol was first published in 1848 in her hymnbook ''Hymns for Little Children''. A year later, the English organist Henry Gauntlett dis ...

" – 3:45 (words: Cecil Alexander; music; Henry Gauntlett) #"

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing! "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" is an English Christmas carol that first appeared in 1739 in the collection ''Hymns and Sacred Poems''. The carol, based on , tells of an angelic chorus singing praises to God. As it is known in the modern era, it f ...

" – 0:49 (words: Charles Wesley; music: Mendelssohn) #"

What Child Is This "What Child Is This?" is a Christmas carol with lyrics written by William Chatterton Dix in 1865 and set to the tune of "Greensleeves", a traditional English folk song, in 1871. Although written in Great Britain, the carol today is more popular ...

Anyway?" – 6:51 (words: William C. Dix; music: "

Greensleeves "Greensleeves" is a traditional English folk song. A broadside ballad by the name "A Newe Northen Dittye of ye Ladye Greene Sleves" was registered by Richard Jones at the London Stationer's Company in September 1580,Frank Kidson, ''English Fol ...

") #"

Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella "Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella" (french: Un flambeau, Jeannette, Isabelle) is a Christmas carol which originated from the Provence region of France in the 17th century. The song is usually notated in 3/8 time. The carol was first published in ...

" – 1:32 (Traditional French Carol) ;Ding! Dong!: Songs for Christmas, Vol. III :Recorded December 2003 #" O Come, O Come Emmanuel" – 1:03 (Traditional) #"Come On! Let's Boogey to the Elf Dance!" – 3:50 (words & music by Sufjan Stevens) #"

We Three Kings "We Three Kings", original title "Three Kings of Orient", also known as "We Three Kings of Orient Are" or "The Quest of the Magi", is a Christmas carol that was written by John Henry Hopkins Jr. in 1857. At the time of composing the carol, Hopki ...

" – 3:05 (words & music by John Henry Hopkins) #"

O Holy Night "O Holy Night" (original title: ) is a well-known sacred song for Christmas performance. Originally based on a French-language poem by poet Placide Cappeau, written in 1843, with the first line (Midnight, Christian, is the solemn hour) that co ...

" – 3:34 (words: Placide Cappeau; music: Adolph Charles Adam) #"That Was the Worst Christmas Ever!" – 2:52 (words & music by Sufjan Stevens) #"Ding! Dong!" – 0:56 (music by Sufjan Stevens) #"All the King's Horns" – 2:59 (words & music by Sufjan Stevens) #"

The Friendly Beasts "The Friendly Beasts" is a traditional Christmas song about the gifts that a donkey, cow, sheep, camel, and dove give to Jesus at the Nativity. The song seems to have originated in 12th-century France, set to the melody of the Latin song "Orientis ...

" – 3:41 (Traditional French Carol) ;Joy: Songs for Christmas, Vol. IV :Recorded December 2005 #"

The Little Drummer Boy "The Little Drummer Boy" (originally known as "Carol of the Drum") is a popular Christmas song written by American composer Katherine Kennicott Davis in 1941. First recorded in 1951 by the Trapp Family, the song was further popularized by a 19 ...

" – 3:44 (words & music by Katherine K. Davis, Henry Onorati and Harry Simeone) #"

Away in a Manger "Away in a Manger" is a Christmas carol first published in the late nineteenth century and used widely throughout the English-speaking world. In Britain, it is one of the most popular carols; a 1996 Gallup Poll ranked it joint second. Although i ...

" – 2:54 (words: verses 1 & 2, Anonymous, verse 3 by John T. McFarland; music: "Mueller" by James R. Murray) #"Hey Guys! It's Christmas Time!" – 4:41 (words & music by Sufjan Stevens) #"

The First Noel "The First Nowell", also known as "The First Noel (or Noël)", is a traditional English Christmas carol with Cornish origins, most likely from the early modern period, although possibly earlier.Joy to the World "Joy to the World" is an English Christmas carol. The carol was written in 1719 by the English minister and hymnwriter Isaac Watts, and its lyrics are an interpretation of Psalm 98 celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. Today, the carol is usua ...

" – 4:21 (words: Isaac Watts; music: Lowell Mason) ;Peace: Songs for Christmas, Vol. V :Recorded June 2006 #"

" – 2:01 (music by Henry Gauntlett) #"Get Behind Me, Santa!" – 3:49 (words & music by Sufjan Stevens) #"

Jingle Bells "Jingle Bells" is one of the best-known and most commonly sung American songs in the world. It was written by James Lord Pierpont (1822–1893) and published under the title "The One Horse Open Sleigh" in September 1857. It has been claimed th ...

" – 0:36 (music James Pierpont) #"Christmas in July" – 3:17 (words & music by Sufjan Stevens) #" Lo! How a Rose E'er Blooming" – 1:46 (Anonymous) #"Jupiter Winter" – 3:51 (words & music by Sufjan Stevens) #"Sister Winter" – 5:05 (words & music by Sufjan Stevens) #" O Come, O Come Emmanuel" – 1:06 (Traditional) #"Star of Wonder" – 7:08 (words & music by Sufjan Stevens) #"

Holy, Holy, Holy "Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty!" is a Christian hymn written by the Anglican bishop Reginald Heber (1783–1826). It is sung to the tune "Nicaea", by John Bacchus Dykes. Written during the author's time as vicar in Hodnet, Shropshire, En ...

" – 3:50 (words by Reginald Heber; music by John B. Dykes) #"The Winter Solstice" – 3:23 (music by Sufjan Stevens)

Sales chart history

References

External links

Songs For Christmas
at

Asthmatic Kitty Records Asthma is a long-term inflammatory disease of the airways of the lungs. It is characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and easily triggered bronchospasms. Symptoms include episodes of wheezing, coug ...

{{Authority control 2006 Christmas albums 2006 compilation albums Christmas compilation albums Albums produced by Sufjan Stevens Asthmatic Kitty compilation albums Christmas albums by American artists Sufjan Stevens compilation albums Folk Christmas albums