When the chill air starts biting at your skin and a fresh snowfall paints the ground white, you know it’s time for winter to roll around. As the temperature gets colder and we near the holidays, what better way to get into the spirit than music? Melodies and beats are always a gateway to pleasant memories and passionate feelings. Tracks like these force you to recall all the loved ones, friends and family alike, that you can share these chilly months with.

Want to get into that cold season spirit? Have a listen to this playlist while kicking back and drinking some hot chocolate!

When you think winter, the snowy imagery of a fresh blanket of the good stuff coating the ground comes to mind. “Winter Wonderland” by Frank Bernard and Richard Smith was written in 1934. Over the years, more than 200 artists have covered the song, and every rendition is beautifully sung with the perfect vibes for the cold time of the year.

A lovely little song that brings a warm feeling in your heart and always gets me smiling whenever I hear it is “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” by Frank Loesser, written in 1944. This age old classic was written by Frank to sing as a duet with his wife, and has inspired many covers that all bring that same light and warm atmosphere to fight that cold weather.

When winter rolls around, we all start to bundle up and hide away from those sharp winds under layers of comfy sweaters and jackets. For those who love the alternative genre, “Sweater Weather” by The Neighbourhood was the band’s lead single on their “I Love You” (2013) album. Despite it not exactly being a song themed around winter, it’s romantic more than anything; even so, my mind drifts to the winter vibes, especially when the chorus rolls around and you get this sense of shelter from the cold, right in the holes of your sweater.

Normally, only people with specific tastes like ballerinas and the music they twirl about to; however, most people can’t resist “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” composed by Tchaikovsky. And oldie (seriously) but a goldie, this song always brings about that winter vibe. Since it was used in the ballet The Nutcracker, it’s hard not to associate it with the snowy months with little toy soldiers and nutcracker dancing along! One cover that’s more modern and really sticks out to me is one by Pentatonix. Their amazing vocals singing a completely instrument-based song using acapella is a stunning listen for anyone ready to dance with those sugar plum fairies.

Lastly, one of my personal favorite winter time songs that always bring my mind to a scene of a fireplace with fire cracking, a steaming cup of hot cocoa in hand, and piles of blankets curled up around you. “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!” by Jule Styne, written in 1945, will always be my go-to winter jam. The whole song revolves around the bitter cold of a snowstorm, and what a delight it is to be back inside in the warmth with those you care about.