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[For Seniors] Christmas Songs That Touch the Heart: A Collection of Popular Classics and Nursery Rhymes
Christmas, the big event at the end of the year.
As Christmas approaches, many of us can’t help but feel a little restless and excited.
Spending time during the Christmas season accompanied by heartwarming singing becomes a wonderful memory that transcends generations.
From nostalgic children’s songs to Christmas tunes everyone knows, enjoy connecting through music together with older adults.
As you sing along to gentle melodies and share memories, conversation will naturally flow and smiles will abound, making for a delightful time.
Why not fill this Christmas season with warm, heartfelt singing?
[For Seniors] Christmas Songs That Touch the Heart: A Collection of Popular Classics and Nursery Rhymes (1–10)
We Wish You A Merry Christmas
This song, sung in western England in the 16th century, is said to have originally been performed when visiting wealthy households to receive treats.
The lyrics carry wishes for New Year and Christmas happiness, along with a humorous line about not going home until they get plum (fig) pudding.
Combined with its bright, festive melody, its familiarity is part of its charm.
The piece spread around the world and has since been passed down by many singers.
It makes great background music for enjoying Christmas with family and friends, and because its well-known melody is easy for older adults to sing, why not all join in together and liven things up?
Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star
A nursery rhyme about the twinkling stars in the night sky that everyone hummed as a child.
Reconstructed by rutekia in August 2025 as a contemporary instrumental piece, this work uses electro-classical techniques to express the sparkle of stars in sound.
The original melody traces back to an 18th-century French chanson, with Mozart himself composing variations on it.
Delicate timbres of synthesizer and piano evoke the expanse of the night sky, making it perfect for quiet listening on Christmas night.
How about spending a moment gazing at the stars with older loved ones, reminiscing about memories of the beloved nursery rhyme?
Pechka (a type of Russian masonry stove)dōyō
This nursery rhyme depicts moments of feeling warmth in the cold.
Set against the harsh winters of Manchuria, it sings of hearts being warmed through time spent with family and friends.
Published in 1924, the song pairs a poem by Hakushu Kitahara with music by Kosaku Yamada.
For older listeners, it may be a tune that brings back fond memories.
Its relaxed tempo makes it easy to sing along, so it’s nice for everyone to hum together.
During the Christmas season, how about gathering around the glow of a tree instead of a pechka and spending a cozy time together?
LAST CHRISTMASWham!
Since its release in 1984, Wham!’s “Last Christmas” has been one of the most beloved Western Christmas songs.
In Japan, it has been reissued three times, and upon its 1988 release it held the No.
1 spot on the Western music singles chart for 30 consecutive weeks.
Many Japanese artists, including Seiko Matsuda and EXILE, have covered the song.
Its simple, catchy melody is easy to remember and even older adults can hum along.
Rudolph the Red-Nosed ReindeerLyrics and Composition: Johnny Max
I’d always assumed this song was “a kind of nursery rhyme that’s been around forever,” but it was actually released on record in 1949 as a Christmas song! These days it’s a holiday staple, and once the Christmas season arrives, you’ll hear it wafting in from all over.
The lyrics about “the reindeer’s red nose serving as a light and being so helpful on Christmas night” are delightful! A song with a reindeer as the main character also feels pretty rare.
It’s a truly recommended track that makes you happy just by listening.
All I Want for Christmas Is YouMariah Carey
Mariah Carey’s 1994 hit “All I Want for Christmas Is You” evokes an excited, heartwarming Christmas mood.
In Japan, it was used as the theme song for the drama “Christmas at 29,” and has been covered by artists like May J.
and Yuna Ito.
The lyrics express a passionate love, saying that more than presents, what she wants for Christmas is the person she loves.
Give it a listen to reminisce about those youthful days when your heart was full of someone special, and if you’re confident in your English, try singing it yourself!
Christmas EveYamashita Tatsuro
Do you remember JR Central’s “Christmas Express” commercials that became a hot topic when they ran as a series in the late 1980s? Ryo Makise and Eri Fukatsu, among others, appeared in these ads, which were staged like mini-dramas about stories unfolding at train stations on Christmas night.
The song playing in them is Tatsuro Yamashita’s “Christmas Eve.” Its lyrics—portraying the feelings of a young man who thinks, “Even if you don’t come, Christmas will arrive as usual”—are moving no matter when you hear them.
The moment you hear it, you’ll probably think, “Oh, it’s that song!” Be sure to give it a listen.