Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas facts for kids

"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" is a very popular Christmas song. You probably hear it every year during the holiday season! The words were written by Ralph Blane, and the music was created by Hugh Martin in 1943. This beloved song was first sung by the famous actress and singer Judy Garland in her 1944 movie, Meet Me In St. Louis.

The Song's Beginning

The song "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" was specially written for the movie Meet Me In St. Louis. In the film, Judy Garland's character, Esther Smith, sings it to her younger sister, Tootie. She sings it to cheer Tootie up when their family is sad about moving away from their home in St. Louis. The original version of the song was a bit sad, matching the movie scene.

Frank Sinatra's Famous Change

Years later, in 1957, the legendary singer Frank Sinatra recorded his own version of the song for his album, A Jolly Christmas. Sinatra felt that the original words were a little too sad for a Christmas song. So, he asked Hugh Martin, one of the original writers, to change some of the lyrics to make them more hopeful and cheerful. For example, the line "It may be your last" was changed to "Let your heart be light." This new, happier version became very popular.

Other Famous Singers

Many other famous artists have recorded "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" over the years. Some of these include Christina Aguilera, Demi Lovato, Sam Smith, and the band the Pretenders. Each singer brings their own unique style to the song, making it loved by many different generations.

A Holiday Favorite

This song is truly a holiday classic. In 2007, a group called ASCAP, which tracks how often songs are played, listed "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" as the third most played holiday song. This shows just how much people love to hear it during the Christmas season!

Images for kids

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  A friendly robot, ready for the holidays!