'I can't hear Mariah Carey for the 1,000th time!' Professional Santas on their most loved – and hated – Christmas hits

Christmas Songs: The Great Divide Between Love and Madness

From Eartha Kitt's sultry "Santa Baby" to Keith Leech's grudging acceptance of Jingle Bells, our festive friends reveal their most cherished – and despised – Christmas tunes. While some can't get enough of Mariah Carey, others are desperate to hear something different.

Paul Fessi, aka Green Santa, confesses that his favourite Christmas song is "Do They Know It's Christmas?", a Band Aid classic that highlights the plight of global inequality. He'd rather not be subjected to Spike Jones' over-the-top "All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth", which he finds "just so cheesy".

In contrast, Cleve Freckleton, aka Rasta Claus, swears by "Winter Wonderland" and "When a Child Is Born". His unorthodox approach to Christmas – wearing dreadlocks and playing reggae tunes – has earned him a loyal following among kids with special needs. They adore his inclusive vibe, which sets him apart from more traditional Santas.

But not everyone is as jolly. Keith Leech, the man behind the beard, confesses that "Christmas Wrapping" by The Waitresses drives him bananas due to its earworm chorus. His experience of playing Father Christmas has left him with a warren of embarrassing anecdotes – including being virtually rugby-tackled by a grateful mother.

Nigel Harvey, aka Santa Himself, cites Jona Lewie's poignant "Stop the Cavalry", which speaks to his own experiences as a performer and his emotional connection to the role. He shares a harrowing story about meeting a child who'd been in a coma for six months – only to speak after meeting him.

Simon Anthony, donning a Santa hat and wearing braces, laughs at how everyone grins and bears Donny Osmond's Christmas tunes out of affection rather than love. His own love for classical music leads him to Prokofiev's "Sleigh Ride", which he finds magical.

The world of Christmas songs is a vast, messy divide – one that can drive people mad with its repetition or bring them together in a shared moment of festive joy. As our interviewees demonstrate, there's no one-size-fits-all answer to the question: what makes the perfect Christmas tune?

I'm not sure about these new-age Santas ... I mean, Cleve Freckleton's reggae vibes might be cool for kids with special needs, but is it really necessary for the whole family to get into it? And don't even get me started on Donny Osmond's Christmas tunes . Can't we just stick to some good old-fashioned Bing Crosby or Ella Fitzgerald instead of this...this... festive chaos? I'm still not convinced about these "inclusive" Santas either, all dressed up in their dreadlocks and whatnot. Give me a break!

Think about it, having so many different opinions on what constitutes 'perfect' Christmas tunes is kinda like life itself, right? We all have our own tastes, preferences & experiences that shape who we are. It's totally fine if someone else hates your fave Christmas song or vice versa – it's not about winning an argument but about staying true to yourself. The world isn't gonna change just 'cause we don't agree on a particular tune

omg I cant even w/ how many diff ppl have diff fave christmas tunes lol its like 1 min u r listening 2 mariah carey & thn nxt u r blasting spike jones but for real tho, I think its great that there r ppl like cleve freckleton who are all about spreading love & inclusivity thru their music "winter wonderland" is def a solid choice for me too

I'm literally singing "Do They Know It's Christmas?" in my head right now it's such an important song that highlights how Christmas can be about more than just gift-giving. I mean, who needs cheesy songs like "All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth" when you have classics like this?

I'm so over Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You" it's like the ultimate earworm and everyone's just faking it

I think it's fascinating how our collective psyche is divided when it comes to Christmas songs . While some people are head over heels in love with Mariah Carey-esque festive anthems, others can't stand them due to their earworm choruses or perceived cheesiness . It's also interesting to see the various reasons why some individuals have strong emotional connections to certain songs - from Paul Fessi's affinity for "Do They Know It's Christmas?" to Simon Anthony's classical music roots .

The world of Christmas music is indeed a complex one, with different people experiencing a wide range of emotions when it comes to their favorite (or least favorite) tunes . I'd argue that the perfect Christmas tune is subjective and can vary greatly from person to person - which is what makes the holiday season so special .

I'm low-key surprised by how much I vibe with Cleve Freckleton aka Rasta Claus - his inclusive approach to Christmas is everything! His reggae vibes and dreadlocks as Santa? Genius, mate. And can we talk about the other Santas who have some wild stories like Keith Leech and Nigel Harvey? It's all about finding that one song that gets you in the holiday mood, you know? I mean, "Do They Know It's Christmas?" is a banger, but it's not for everyone. More power to the person who loves Donny Osmond's tunes - we can't all be haters when it comes to festive music!

I don’t usually comment but I think it’s so cool how everyone has their own unique take on Christmas songs . Like, who wouldn't love Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas Is You"? But at the same time, I get why some people might not be into that kind of thing - like me, actually! I mean, don’t get me wrong, it’s catchy and all, but sometimes I just want to hear something a bit more mellow. Like Prokofiev's "Sleigh Ride" for example... it gives me chills every time .

I love how some people are like, super traditional and into the whole Santa vibe, while others are more into their own special brand of Christmas magic . And honestly? I think that’s what makes Christmas songs so great - there's something for everyone! So, to all my fellow music lovers out there... let's keep the festive tunes going this holiday season !

Christmas is such a magical time , but honestly, who needs cheesy jingle bells when you can vibe out to some classic band aid tunes like "Do They Know It's Christmas?" . I mean, Paul Fessi's fave song is fire ! And I love how Cleve Freckleton's inclusive style is giving me all the feels ️. Meanwhile, Keith Leech's earworm issues are real - can't we all just get along and enjoy our festive tunes in peace?

I think it's so cool how everyone has their own unique relationship with Christmas songs! For me, it's all about that nostalgic feeling - like when I'm singing along to "All I Want for Christmas Is You" by Mariah Carey , it takes me straight back to my childhood. But at the same time, I love discovering new tunes like Prokofiev's "Sleigh Ride" (Simon Anthony's fave!) that give a whole new spin on the holiday vibes . What about you? What's your go-to Christmas jam?

I'm over the whole "classic" Christmas song vibe - Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas Is You" is like nails on a chalkboard, but my fave is actually some weirdo indie band's acoustic cover of it

I think it's so cool how everyone has their own fave Christmas songs . I mean like Cleve Freckleton's got his reggae vibes going on and that's awesome . And Paul Fessi with "Do They Know It's Christmas?" is like super relatable . Me? I'm all about "All I Want For Christmas Is You" by Mariah Carey , it's just so festive! But at the same time, I can get why Keith Leech would hate "Christmas Wrapping"... earworms are the worst, right?

I think it's fascinating how Christmas songs can evoke such strong emotions and divide opinions among people . It seems like a lot of it comes down to personal taste, but also to the deeper meanings and connections we make with certain melodies and lyrics. The stories behind these songs, like Nigel Harvey's experience with "Stop the Cavalry", add an extra layer of depth to the music. Some people might find them cheesy or over-the-top (I mean, who hasn't had a bad encounter with a grumpy Father Christmas? ), while others appreciate their uniqueness and message. Ultimately, it's all about what resonates with us as individuals during this time of year. I'd love to explore more of the psychological aspects behind our preferences for certain Christmas tunes...

I'm all for embracing the weird and wonderful when it comes to Christmas tunes ️. I mean, who doesn't love a good ol' fashioned earworm like "Christmas Wrapping" by The Waitresses? But at the same time, can we just acknowledge that some of these songs are super cheesy? Like, I get it, they're festive and fun, but sometimes less is more, right?

I do love how some people, like Cleve Freckleton (Rasta Claus), are taking a more inclusive approach to Christmas music. Wearing dreadlocks and playing reggae tunes at the mall? That's some cool stuff right there! And I'm with Paul Fessi on "Do They Know It's Christmas?" - it's such an important song that highlights global inequality.

But, gotta say, Keith Leech's (the man behind the beard) story about being rugby-tackled by a grateful mom has me dying laughing . And Nigel Harvey's (Santa Himself) harrowing story about meeting a child who'd been in a coma... wow, that's some emotional depth right there.

Anyway, I think what it comes down to is that Christmas music is all about personal preference and finding what brings you joy . So, if "Sleigh Ride" by Prokofiev is your jam, more power to you!

I'm so done with all these Christmas songs being played on repeat I mean, I get it, some people love Mariah Carey's whistle register and others can't stand "Jingle Bell Rock" (ugh). But what really gets me is how everyone has an opinion about the best (or worst) Christmas song. Like, can we just have one song that everyone likes? I'm all for some festive tunes, but not when it's like they're trying to drive me mad with "All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth"

I'm so over all these new Christmas songs . Everyone and their grandma is singing "All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth" right now. Like, can't we just go back to Bing Crosby's smooth voice instead? I mean, what happened to the classics like "White Christmas" or "Silent Night"? Those are some real Christmas jams

I think it's fascinating how our collective perception of Christmas tunes is deeply personal and often tied to emotional experiences . For instance, Paul Fessi's affinity for "Do They Know It's Christmas?" highlights the importance of using art as a means of raising awareness about global issues . Meanwhile, Cleve Freckleton's unconventional approach to Christmas has created a sense of community and belonging among kids with special needs . The contrast between his festive tunes and those that elicit eye-rolling from others is quite striking .

What's also intriguing is the role that nostalgia plays in shaping our preferences for certain Christmas songs . Simon Anthony's affection for Prokofiev's "Sleigh Ride" suggests that music can be a powerful trigger for memories and emotions . The fact that Donny Osmond's tunes elicit both love and eye-rolling from people says something about the complexities of human taste in music, don't you think?

Ugh, I'm so over how every single platform is blasting the same lame Christmas playlists . Can't they just offer some decent alternatives for once? Like, I love Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas Is You" but it's played on repeat like 100 times a day. And don't even get me started on Donny Osmond's tunes . It's like the world has forgotten about Prokofiev's "Sleigh Ride", which is actually beautiful. And what's up with everyone wearing Santa hats and pretending to be jolly? Like, can't we just have some real music for once?!