The song was first performed by Eddie Cantor on his radio show, instantly making the song a huge success. Kidding aside, the song was written in 1932 by John Frederick Coots and Haven Gillespies. On the other hand, you better watch out, you better not cry, you better not pout I’m telling you why: “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” is under copyright and you might get sued! NOT Public Domain – Santa Claus is Coming to Town However, it’s long-since fallen out of copyright and is available to be freely copied and performed. It was originally intended to be for a Thanksgiving event at a church in Savannah, GA but was so popular it was played at Christmas and grew to become one of the most popular Christmas carols of all time. “Jingle Bells”, which was originally titled “One Horse Open Sleigh” was the work of author James Lord Pierpont in 1857. They succeeded and “Frosty the Snowman” remains one of the most popular and most-licensed holiday songs year after year. “Frosty the Snowman” dates back to only 1950 and was the creation of songwriters Jack Nelson and Steve Rollins who, seeing the success of Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer a year earlier (spoiler alert, Rudolf isn’t public domain either) and decided to take a stab at creating their own Christmas Carol. The lyrics, as they are sung today, are actually American in origin and date back to the 19th century.Īll in all, this song has been in the public domain for hundreds of years. The meolody belongs Welsch composer Nos Galan. “Deck the Halls” is a secular holiday song that originates from the 1800s. So, without any further ado, here’s the list of some of the surprises when it comes to Christmas copyright.

Please bear in mind that this only pertains to the composition of the work and that various performances of it may still be protected. To illustrate that point, here are five tracks that are currently in the public domain and five songs that, as of right now, are not. From timeless Christmas classics to the more modern adaptations, music has always been a big part of the holidays and will be for a long time to come.īut how much of that near-ubiquitous Christmas music is in the public domain and how much is still earning their authors (or their estates) money? It’s a surprisingly tough question as much of the Christmas music we listen to is actually not anywhere near as old as we think. It’s a time where people get together to meet, talk, laugh and generally celebrate the season.Ī bit part of that celebration comes from the music we listen to. It's as unique and special as a snowflake.'-Amazon.The holiday season is a time for family, friends and loved ones. According to Horn Book magazine, The Snowy Day was 'the very first full-color picture book to feature a small black hero'-yet another reason to add this classic to your shelves. 'The book is notable not only for its lovely artwork and tone, but also for its importance as a trailblazer. 'Ezra Jack Keats's classic The Snowy Day, winner of the 1963 Caldecott Medal, pays homage to the wonder and pure pleasure a child experiences when the world is blanketed in snow.'- Publisher's Weekly 'Keats's sparse collage illustrations capture the wonder and beauty a snowy day can bring to a small child.'- Barnes & Noble The adventures of a little boy in the city on a very snowy day. Universal in its appeal, the story has become a favorite of millions, as it reveals a child's wonder at a new world, and the hope of capturing and keeping that wonder forever. No book has captured the magic and sense of possibility of the first snowfall better than The Snowy Day.

Publisher of the song let it snow