Every December, we fans of The Chronicles of Narnia rediscover something that C.S. Lewis understood deeply: Christmas is not merely a date on the calendar; rather, it is the breaking-in of hope. That moment when the long Winter finally begins to thaw.
And this year, something extraordinary emerged: a playlist simply titled “Christmas in Narnia.”
At first glance, it may look like a collection of carols, classics, soundtrack treasures, and even a few surprises from The Muppet Christmas Carol. But if you listen closely, in the carefully curated order, the playlist tells a complete story. A journey that to us feels unmistakably Narnian. Jonathon Svendsen and I collaborated on this list over the past couple of months, working hard to get it right.
Below, we explore the story of the playlist and the themes behind it.
Think of this less as “headcanon” and more as an invitation to rediscover the wonder of Narnia through the music that shaped our memories.
Sidenote: We’ve created four playlists. The rest of this story details the first (and second) versions. Enjoy!
- Christmas in Narnia – Perfect for a Christmas Party, with plenty to spark conversation, entertain your family and friends, and it’s sure to be a conversation starter.
- Christmas in Narnia (Serious Business) – This is the same playlist as above, but after you listen to that version, you might opt for this one for Christmas Day.
- All I Want for Christmas is All I want for Christmas is You – Beat the Christmas blues: ascend to a higher plane of festive existence. 120 consecutive spins of this Christmas classic is 🎄 8 hours of pure Mariah, 🎁 one full workday of magical productivity & 🔔 roughly the same effect as 6 cups of coffee & a snow-globe to the face.
- Future of Forestry Christmas – And if you found yourself loving the music of Future of Forestry, we put this list together that is all of their Christmas music back-to-back.
❄️ A Land Frozen in Time
The playlist opens with “In the Bleak Midwinter” — a carol as quiet and fragile as a snowflake. It feels like stepping through the wardrobe into a world locked in perpetual cold. This is Winter as Edmund first encountered it: beautiful, yes, but heavy with longing.
Next comes a spoken Scripture reading of Luke 2:1–20, turning the forest of snow-covered pines into something sacred. The gospel being read aloud in the midst of winter feels like light shining where it has been absent the longest — a theme Lewis loved. And, surprise, it is read by the voice of Aslan himself, Liam Neeson.
And then Father Christmas arrives. Harry Gregson-Williams’ score from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe brings with it the joy of Christmas and the long-awaited turning of the tide.
Winter… gospel… gifts… hope.
⭐ Following the Star
John Williams’ “Star of Bethlehem” enters like a lantern raised high in the trees. Its tender orchestration recalls Lucy following the lamppost into a world none of us quite left behind.
From here, the playlist blends sacred longing with gentle Christmas warmth — Lauren Daigle, Scott Krippayne, and others capturing that Advent feeling Lewis cherished: hope arriving gradually, quietly, faithfully.
It is the musical equivalent of snow softening underfoot.
🎶 The Great Advent Awakening
Next comes a sequence of carols — many performed by Future of Forestry, whose sound is both ancient and modern. Their music feels like it belongs in Narnia: rustic, reverent, windswept. Future of Forestry’s versions of classic Christmas songs breathe new life into them, and we included all of their Christmas music throughout the playlist because the songs deserve to be heard.
In order, these tracks create the effect of Narnia waking up:
- O Come O Come Emmanuel
- What Child Is This
- O Holy Night
- Angels We Have Heard on High
- Still, Still, Still
It’s as if the Talking Animals are emerging from their dens to join a forest-wide choir. Every song feels like a celebration of Aslan’s deeper magic — the kind that works silently until suddenly it transforms everything.
This is how Lewis saw Christmas: not spectacle, but a quiet revolution.
🎻 The Symphonic Coronation
The playlist then swells into majestic Symphonic Live tracks.
These moments feel like the coronation of the Four Thrones — high, noble, triumphant. Aslan walking toward the Stone Table. The sunrise that defeats the shadows.
The music here becomes cinematic.
If Narnia had an official Christmas Eve service, this would be the soundtrack.
🎭 Joy Returns in Unexpected Places
Just when the playlist reaches peak grandeur… it suddenly brings in The Muppet Christmas Carol.
This may seem like an odd detour — yet it fits perfectly. Lewis was a master of “supposal,” and the Muppets reflect that same spirit of truth-wrapped-in-playfulness. For many of us, their songs represent childhood wonder restored.
Tracks like:
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“It Feels Like Christmas”
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“Bless Us All”
-
“Thankful Heart”
…sound exactly like what the Narnians would sing after the Witch’s power broke and the first true Christmas in centuries returned.
Aslan’s joy is rarely solemn. It is warm. Generous. Full of song. The Muppets remind us of that.
🌌 A Quiet Epilogue of Memory and Light
The final stretch of the playlist moves into reflective pieces from Home Alone, Switchfoot, The Snowman & the Snowdog, and Sidewalk Prophets’ radiant “What a Glorious Night.”
These are our “end-of-film” tracks. They feel like walking back through the wardrobe, snow in your hair, hearing Christmas bells fade behind you. They remind us that once Narnia touches your heart, it never fully lets go.
And that is perhaps the most Lewis-like theme of all: the real world glows differently after you’ve glimpsed the one behind the wardrobe door.
✨ Why This Playlist for Christmas?
It isn’t random. It isn’t background music. It’s a journey — from Winter to Hope, from Scripture to Song, from longing to joy.
It mirrors the arc of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. It mirrors the arc of Advent itself.
And perhaps unintentionally, it captures exactly what Lewis believed about Christmas:
That the world is colder and darker than we care to admit… and yet the light that breaks in is stronger, older, and more beautiful than we expect.
🌟 Final Thoughts
If you want to experience Narnia this Christmas, don’t just watch the films or reread the books (though please do those too). Set aside an evening, make a cup of hot chocolate, turn on “Christmas in Narnia,” and listen in order.
You may find yourself traveling — not just through songs — but through a story that begins in the bleak midwinter and ends in a glorious night.
The story of Christmas.
🎶 Here are the Christmas Playlists we made for you:
- Christmas in Narnia – Perfect for a Christmas Party, with plenty to spark conversation, entertain your family and friends, and it’s sure to be a conversation starter.
- Christmas in Narnia (Serious Business) – This is the same playlist as above, but after you listen to that version, you might opt for this one for Christmas Day.
- All I Want for Christmas is All I want for Christmas is You – Beat the Christmas blues: ascend to a higher plane of festive existence. 120 consecutive spins of this Christmas classic is 🎄 8 hours of pure Mariah, 🎁 one full workday of magical productivity & 🔔 roughly the same effect as 6 cups of coffee & a snow-globe to the face.
- Future of Forestry Christmas – And if you found yourself loving the music of Future of Forestry, we put this list together that is all of their Christmas music back-to-back.
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