About the song
“It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” is a cherished Christmas song that was first written in 1963 by Edward Pola and George Wyle. This festive tune was recorded by pop singer Andy Williams for his debut Christmas album, *The Andy Williams Christmas Album*. Although it was included in the album, it was not initially promoted as a single by his record label, Columbia Records, which chose to highlight Williams’ cover of “White Christmas” instead.
Despite this, “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” has grown in popularity over the decades. In the 2010s and 2020s, it made significant appearances on pop singles charts worldwide, reaching number 5 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 2020 and number 9 on the UK Singles Chart in 2021.
The song is a joyful celebration of Christmas and all the traditions associated with it. It paints a vivid picture of the season, highlighting festive activities like hosting parties, visiting friends and family, sharing ghost stories, and enjoying winter pastimes like sledding and roasting marshmallows. Although telling ghost stories was once a common Victorian Christmas tradition, it has largely faded from practice, yet it persists through adaptations of Charles Dickens’ *A Christmas Carol*.
Andy Williams played a key role in popularizing the song, first introducing it on *The Andy Williams Show* during a 1962 Christmas episode. In a 2005 interview, Williams reflected on how the song, which he performed every Christmas, eventually became a beloved standard over time. He noted that the song’s enduring appeal has established it as one of the top Christmas songs of all time.
The song’s impact extended beyond music charts; it was chosen as the theme for Christmas Seals campaigns in 1968, 1976, 2009, and 2012, further cementing its place in Christmas traditions. Despite Williams recording other versions of the song throughout his life, the original 1963 recording remains the most iconic and well-loved.
Video
Lyrics
It’s the most wonderful time of the year
With the kids jingle belling
And everyone telling you be of good cheer
It’s the most wonderful time of the year
It’s the hap-happiest season of all
With those holiday greetings and gay happy meetings
When friends come to call
It’s the hap-happiest season of all
There’ll be parties for hosting
Marshmallows for toasting
And caroling out in the snow
There’ll be scary ghost stories
And tales of the glories of
Christmases long, long ago
It’s the most wonderful time of the year
There’ll be much mistltoeing
And hearts will be glowing
When loved ones are near
It’s the most wonderful time of the year
There’ll be parties for hosting
Marshmallows for toasting
And caroling out in the snow
There’ll be scary ghost stories
And tales of the glories of
Christmases long, long ago
It’s the most wonderful time of the year
There’ll be much mistltoeing
And hearts will be glowing
When loved ones are near
It’s the most wonderful time
Yes the most wonderful time
Oh the most wonderful time
Of the year