Christmas Songs by Bridge Trivia Quiz

Answer: Christmas Time Is Here

Vince Guaraldi and Lee Mendelson wrote "Christmas Time Is Here" for the beloved television special "A Charlie Brown Christmas" that debuted on December 9, 1965.

Answer: I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm

Irving Berlin's "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm" was introduced in the 1937 Twentieth Century Fox film "On the Avenue", where it was sung by Dick Powell and Alice Faye. My favorite version is by Tony Bennett.

Answer: A Marshmallow World

"A Marshmallow World" was written in 1949 by composer Peter DeRose and lyricist Carl Sigman. Among the first to record it in 1950 were Vaughn Monroe, Bing Crosby and Johnny Desmond. It has subsequently been covered by artists as diverse as Dean Martin, Darlene Love and Oscar Peterson. My favorite version was recorded by Johnny Mathis in 1963.

Answer: It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

Meredith Willson, of "The Music Man" fame, wrote "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" in 1951. Both Bing Crosby and Perry Como and The Fontaine Sisters made popular recordings of the song, as did Johnny Mathis. It is also sometimes paired with "Pinecones and Holly Berries" in a medley and sung in counterpoint. I particularly like this medley by The Living Voices.

Answer: A Holly Jolly Christmas

"A Holly Jolly Christmas" is one of the songs Johnny Marks wrote for the beloved television special "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer", which first aired on December 6, 1964. Like the program's title song, "A Holly Jolly Christmas" has become a seasonal standard.

Answer: Yes

"It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" is a 1963 song written by Edward Pola and George Wyle. The song is perhaps best known in the 1965 recording by Andy Williams.

Answer: Jingle Bell Rock

First recorded in 1957 by Bobby Helms, "Jingle Bell Rock" is attributed to Joseph Carleton Beal and James Ross Boothe, though this authorship has been disputed. Both Helms and session guitarist Hank Garland maintained the Beal/Boothe song they were given, called "Jingle Bell Hop", was of such low quality they were disinclined to record it.

They totally rewrote it, including adding the bridge and changing the title. This claim has never been substantiated; and neither Helms nor Garland ever received writing credits or royalties. If the claim is true, then the actual writers of one of the most popular Christmas songs of all time suffered a grave injustice.

Answer: Rockin' around the Christmas Tree

Johnny Marks wrote "Rockin' around the Christmas Tree" in 1958. It is most closely identified with Brenda Lee, who recorded the song that year.

Answer: The Bell That Couldn't Jingle

Larry Kusik and Burt Bacharach wrote this charming Christmas song in 1962. Perhaps not as well known as other songs in this quiz, it was recorded in the 1960s by Herb Alpert as well as by The Anita Kerr Singers. I'm partial to the latter version.

Answer: Snowbound for Christmas

"Snowbound for Christmas" was written in 1955 by Al Chorney, Sid Shrager, and Hal Shrager. It was recorded that year by The De Castro Sisters. My favorite rendition was laid down by Dickie Valentine in 1957.

Answer: Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

"Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!" was written by Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne in 1945. From Vaughn Monroe that year to Neil Sedaka in 2008, countless fine recordings of this song have been produced. My favorites are by Andy Williams and Robert Goulet.

Answer: The Christmas Song

Mel Tormé and Bob Wells wrote "The Christmas Song" to try and keep themselves cool in the hot summer of 1945. It seems everyone who is anyone has recorded this classic tune. Besides Nat "King" Cole's iconic recording, my favorites are by Engelbert Humperdinck and Andy Williams.

Answer: Mistletoe and Holly

"Mistletoe and Holly" was written in 1957 by Dok Stanford, Hank Sanicola and Frank Sinatra. The song is so closely associated with Sinatra that relatively few other artists have recorded it. Among those who have are Jack Jones and Charlie Byrd.

Answer: Merry Christmas Darling

Frank Pooler wrote the lyrics to "Merry Christmas Darling" in 1944, and Richard Carpenter wrote the melody in 1966. Since The Carpenters first recorded the song in 1970, it has been a seasonal favorite. Johnny Mathis covered it on his 2013 album "Sending You a Little Christmas".

Answer: Happy Happy New Year Baby

Neil Sedaka and Howard Greenfield wrote "Happy Happy New Year Baby", which Neil recorded for release in 1966. He rerecorded it for his 2008 album "The Miracle of Christmas".