The Eden Christmas Playlist 2016

Our decorations are up, the tree stands proud and tinsel is flowing down the stairs in shimmering waves.

That can only mean one thing...

Yes, here at the Eden office Christmas arrived all at once, and so here is a some of our favourite Christmas Songs that will be playing on repeat from now until Boxing Day, and sometimes, beyond!

Laura: Nothing feels more Christmassy than getting all bundled up and standing in a candlelit church singing along to some rousing carols. For me, no Christmas playlist is complete without Maria. I would have to say her version of O Holy Night. There's a really beautiful version on The Best Carols Ever CD.

This year I'm really excited for Matt Redman's Glory To You In The Highest (O Come Let Us Adore) feat. Tasha Cobbs. O Come Let Us Adore him makes me emotional every year.

Nia: O Holy Night because my mum used to sing it at Christmas concerts back in the day, then sing it again on the way home in a silly voice.

Jo: O Come, O Come Emmanuel - The lyrics, the growing sense of expectation, I love the version on Peace on Earth by Casting Crowns and once I hear it I feel that Christmas is well and truly on the way.

Anna: I love 'O Holy Night', a beautiful track gives me goosebumps whenever I hear it.

Third Day's version on Christmas Offerings is a cheerful rendition which still retains it's awe-inspiring lyrics.

Aaron: Joyful, Joyful Lord We Adore Thee (sometimes called The Hymn of Joy)

It’s the triumphant familiarity of the central theme of Joyful Joyful, Lord We Adore Thee that always catches and stays with me. The moment where the words rise up with the building notes of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony (Ode to Joy) create something beyond the sum of it’s parts: a piece of music both melodic and meaningful. It’s a truly beautiful piece of music and explores the great scope of Christmas with a whisper and a silken tune which weaves with poignant rise and falls a joyful song to last the ages.

Rend Collective’s homely rendition on Campfire Christmas brings a refreshingly sincere approach to the song, filling the song with heart and intimacy, their softly-spoken version does what all good covers do, make an old song welcomingly new.

We are always on the lookout for new Christmas Songs to listen to, so if you think that there is a song out there to make us even more Chirstmassy (if that’s possible!) than get in touch and leave a comment of what we should add to the Eden Christmas Playlist...