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20 Christmas Songs in the Public Domain for Crafters to Use

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I spend a lot of time on Cutting for Business telling crafters what they can’t make due to trademark and copyright issues.

Today, I’m spending a few minutes telling you want you can use in your crafts for sale. Specifically, let’s talk about public domain Christmas songs.

When copyrights expire, they enter the public domain. This means that you do not need permission from anyone to use public domain materials and you can freely use public domain materials in your craft business.

When do copyrights expire on music? In general, for 2022, songs that were published (either written down or recorded) before 1926 are now public domain.

List of 20 public domain Christmas songs - A must read resource for Silhouette, Glowforge, and Cricut crafters - by cuttingforbusiness.com.

20 Public Domain Christmas Songs

Deck the Halls
Silent Night
Joy to the World
Jingle Bells
Go Tell it on the Mountain
Hark, the Herald Angels Sing
The First Noel
Away in the Manger
Auld Lang Syne
It Came Upon the Midnight Clear
O Little Town of Bethlehem
I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
We Three Kings
We Wish You a Merry Christmas
O Christmas Tree
O Come All Ye Faithful
Jolly Old St. Nicholas
Toyland
Up on the Housetop
What Child is This?

Popular Christmas Songs Not in the Public Domain

Unfortunately, these songs are not in the public domain and cannot be freely used.

Feliz Navidad
Jingle Bell Rock
The Little Drummer Boy
Silver Bells
All I Want for Christmas is my Two Front Teeth
Frosty the Snowman
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Here Comes Santa Claus
Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!
Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree
Winter Wonderland
Do You Hear What I Hear
Holly Jolly Christmas
I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
Rudolph, The Red Nosed Reindeer
White Christmas
All I Want for Christmas is You
Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer

Now, get out there and start using the Christmas songs that are in the public domain. Many of the lyrics are would look great on shirts, signs, cards, and more.

Cindy Williams

Tuesday 21st of November 2017

Thank you for these lists. There are more in Public Domain than I thought. I have bought, however, two files of the not PD use list from larger reputable companies. I assume they had permission to sell or they would not have offered them with commercial use license?

Christine

Sunday 26th of November 2017

Hello Cindy! You'd' have to check with the company you bought them from. I cannot speak on behalf of other companies.

Judy Tomblin

Tuesday 21st of November 2017

Thank you for all your post! Happy Thanksgiving & Merry Christmas I enjoy this one very much!

Christine

Sunday 26th of November 2017

Happy holidays, Judy!

Cindy Crotty

Tuesday 21st of November 2017

Thanks for sharing all the great information. You are truly AWESOME! My daughter Kelly & I had so much fun meeting you at the ATS conference a few weeks ago! Hope your holidays are just perfect!!

Christine

Sunday 26th of November 2017

Hi Cindy! Happy holidays to you and yours! I hope to see you at a future conference!