December 3, 2025
Look, we all have our holiday traditions. Some people make cookies. Some people put up lights the minute the Thanksgiving leftovers are packed away. Some people need a full hour alone to mentally prepare for extended family time. And then there’s the rest of us, sitting in the car, minding our business, when suddenly the radio betrays us.
That’s right. I’m talking about the moment a terrible holiday song comes on without warning.
Everyone has one. A song so aggressively cheerful or deeply strange that you immediately feel your soul leave your body and hover six feet above you, asking why you didn’t just bring your own playlist.
For me, it’s a dead tie between Dominic the Donkey and Little St Nick by The Beach Boys.
Let’s start with Dominic. I don’t know who decided the world needed a Christmas song about an enthusiastic donkey, but the hee haw hee haw chorus feels like it was designed to slowly unravel the human mind. If you play it long enough, I’m convinced it can open a portal to another dimension. Not a good one.
Then there’s Little St Nick. I love The Beach Boys. I really do. But this song feels like they were pressured into recording it at 4pm on a Tuesday in August, and everyone involved was two steps away from heat stroke. Nothing says holiday magic like summer surf rock with jingle bells taped on top.
These songs also reveal something true about life. Sometimes the thing that irritates you the most is the thing you feel forced to sit through. A song you don’t like. A situation you can’t escape. A season that moves too fast, too loud, too bright. The holidays shine a spotlight on how different we all are. Some people live for Mariah. Some people live for Bing Crosby. Some people secretly love Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer, and honestly, we need to have a talk with those people.
But the good news is this. You’re allowed to have preferences. You’re allowed to say no. You’re allowed to change the station. And sometimes, the simple act of pressing skip is the most honest form of self care you’ll practice all day.
So today’s Question of the Day isn’t just about bad music. It’s about the freedom to admit the things that make you cringe, the things you just can’t force yourself to enjoy, even if the rest of the world loves them.
And let’s be honest. Strong opinions about holiday music are part of the fun.
👉 Read the full blog post where I answer this Question of the Day and share the Thought of the Day
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💬 Your Turn
So… what is your least favorite holiday song?
Share your answer in the comments or on social. Your weird little truth might be someone else’s comfort zone.
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