One of my favorite things about December is that it’s finally socially acceptable to listen to Christmas music. There are a few Christmas albums that I find myself listening to year after year, including Kelly Clarkson’s 2013 album, “Wrapped in Red.” Kelly Clarkson has an impressive voice, and on this album, she does a wonderful job of showing off her versatility. With time-honored classics such as “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” “White Christmas,” and “My Favorite Things,” listeners are immediately transported to the coziness and nostalgia of Christmastime. Like many Christmas albums, Clarkson also includes original songs, including the title song, “Wrapped in Red.” Perhaps the most popular of these originals is her song “Underneath the Tree,” which became a Christmas radio staple. I absolutely love the closing song of this album, “Silent Night,” which she sings with Reba McEntire and Trisha Yearwood. Each singer takes a verse, letting their own flavor of vocal ability shine. On the last verse, the instruments drop out and the trio sings in beautiful harmony, reminiscent of a sacred moment in a church service and reminding us of the true reason for the season.

@pentatonix

If you’re a fan of Christmas music, you probably can’t go through December without listening to Pentatonix. Their song “That’s Christmas to Me” has become special to me over the years, though it’s one of their simpler arrangements. It fondly recognizes the traditions, love, and security that Christmastime brings.

@hanson

Every December, I try to find Christmas songs that I haven’t heard before. This year, my find was “Finally It’s Christmas” by Hanson, which was released back in 2017. The song exudes the joy and energy that will remind you of the party scene at the end of a Christmas movie.