December is here, and the time has finally come to deck the halls and get into the holiday spirit! Christmas has so many rich traditions that always cast a warm glow over the season, but one of the holiday’s greatest treats is to hear the variety of sounds and instruments are reserved specifically for Christmas time. So grab yourself a cup of hot cocoa, eggnog, or maybe even wassail, and enjoy these 12 instruments of the Christmas season.

The 12 Instruments of Christmas

CARILLON: Composed of 23–72 chromatically tuned brass bells weighing from 20 pounds to 12 tons, this giant instrument is found in a select few belfry towers around the world. Invented sometime during the 14th Century, the carillon is operated with a keyboard of wooden levers and pedals that musicians play with their fists and feet. Although the carillon can play a variety of music, the timbre of the giant bells is especially suited to the sounds of the Christmas season. (Listen to the carillon here.)
CELESTA/CELESTE: Combining key-operated felted hammers with the metal bars of percussion bells, this unique keyboard instrument has an airy timbre that is both delightful and mysterious. This wonderful instrument’s place in Christmas music was solidified by its role in “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” from Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker.
CHIMES (TUBULAR BELLS): Few instruments have the majestic air of the resounding chimes. Comprising tuned brass tubes of varying lengths, this percussion instrument is widely featured in a variety of music, but during the Christmas season, it adds a dramatic flair to traditional Christmas carols, particularly “Carol of the Bells.”
CHOIR: No list of holiday instruments would be complete without the inclusion of the original instrument, the human voice. Although choirs sing repertoire for countless seasons, genres, and styles, nothing says “Christmas” quite like the sound of a choir singing traditional carols.
HANDBELLS: Bells have been used by many cultures and religions throughout the centuries, but the concept of a handbell-playing ensemble didn’t come to the United States until P.T. Barnum introduced it in the late 1840s. These bells (typically made of brass or bronze) each play a single note in the chromatic scale, enabling the ensemble as a whole to play a variety of tunes. So gather 8–12 friends together, and start playing your Christmas favorites!
LUTE: You may not think of this Renaissance relic as a Christmas instrument, but one of its most popular melodies is a Christmas classic. Originally a secular English folk song, the popular lute melody “Greensleeves” was first associated with Christmas in 1642 when set to the poem “Old Year Now Away Has Fled,” and later it became even more of a Christmas staple when William Chatterton Dix used the melody for his hymn “What Child is This?”.
ORGAN: Although the organ is used throughout the year, many of us listen to this beautiful instrument only around Christmas time. With its multitude of different timbres, the organ is a fascinating instrument in its own right, but something about hearing carols on this stately instrument makes it feel as if Christmas is finally here.
PICCOLO TRUMPET: This diminutive version of the standard trumpet is a modern stand-in for the valveless Baroque trumpet. Despite its smaller size, the piccolo trumpet is no less impressive than its larger counterparts as its higher range allows it to soar over the orchestra, ornamenting classic Christmas pieces like “The Trumpet Shall Sound,” and the “Hallelujah Chorus” from Handel’s Messiah.
SCHOENHUT PIANO: Although this tiny piano is marketed as a children’s toy, it is nevertheless an incredibly well-made instrument. Its delightfully light timbre evokes the childlike innocence of Christmas perfectly, leading to its inclusion in Mannheim Steamroller’s gorgeously contemplative arrangement of “Stille Nacht” (Silent Night).
SLAPSTICK (CLAPPER): This a fun instrument is a fan-favorite in the percussion section. Composed of 2 boards attached by a hinge, this simple instrument packs quite the punch (or slap), and has earned itself a place as a staple in Christmas music from its iconic role as the whip in “Sleigh Ride.”
SLEIGH BELLS: No list of Christmas instruments would be complete without the sleigh bells. From “Jingle Bells” to “Sleigh Ride” and every song in between, the sleigh bells may be the most widely used instrument of the season. Thanks to the jingling bells on St. Nick’s eight tiny reindeer, you’ll be hearing sleigh bells until December 25th and beyond.
SNARE DRUM: Although it probably isn’t the first instrument you’d think of when the holidays draw near, the snare drum has retained an honored place in Christmas music since the release of “Little Drummer Boy” in 1941. The beloved carol tells the story of a poor boy who gives the only gift he has (his skill in playing the drum) to honor the newborn baby Jesus. With its charming use of voice and drums in tandem, the piece embodies both the innocence of youth and the value of giving gifts no matter how small.