Up on the Housetop facts for kids

Up on the Housetop is a popular Christmas song written by Benjamin Hanby in 1864. It's one of the oldest Christmas songs that focuses on Santa Claus. Many singers have recorded it over the years, including a famous version by Gene Autry in 1953.

The Song's Words

The song tells the story of Santa Claus arriving on a rooftop. He then comes down the chimney to deliver toys. It's a fun and classic Christmas tune!

Modern Lyrics of "Up on the Housetop"

Here are the words you usually hear today:

Sometimes, people snap their fingers instead of saying "click, click, click" when they sing along!

Original Lyrics of the Song

Benjamin Hanby's first version of the song was a little different:

The History of "Up on the Housetop"

This song is very old! It was written in 1864 by Benjamin Hanby. It's thought to be the second oldest Christmas song that isn't about religion. Only "Jingle Bells" is older, written in 1857.

"Up on the Housetop" is also special because it was the first Christmas song to mainly focus on Santa Claus. It was first printed in a magazine called Our Song Birds.

Who Was Benjamin Hanby?

Benjamin Russell Hanby was born in 1833 in Ohio. His father was a minister who helped people escape slavery through the Underground Railroad. Benjamin Hanby wrote about 80 songs in his short life. He passed away in 1867. Besides "Up on the Housetop," his most famous song is "Darling Nelly Gray".

Benjamin Hanby, who wrote this Christmas classic.

Where Did the Idea Come From?

The idea of Santa and his sleigh landing on rooftops probably came from a famous poem. This poem is "A Visit from St. Nicholas" (also known as "The Night Before Christmas"). Clement C. Moore wrote it in 1822.

"Up on the Housetop" on TV

The song has appeared in different TV shows and specials.

Television Special in 1992

In 1992, a special TV show called Up on the Housetop was released. It was made by Perennial Pictures Film Corporation. The story is about a grumpy man named Curtis Calhoun. He wishes Santa Claus didn't exist. But then, on Christmas Eve, someone lands on his roof! Curtis doesn't know if it's Santa or a cat burglar.

Liv and Maddie Performance

In 2013, actresses Dove Cameron and Ella Anderson sang the song. They performed it as their characters in the TV show Liv and Maddie. This happened in an episode called "Fa La La La-A-Rooney."

Popular Versions of the Song

Many artists have recorded their own versions of "Up on the Housetop."

Kimberley Locke's Version

In 2005, singer Kimberley Locke released a new recording of the song. Her version became very popular. It set a record on the Billboard music charts. It jumped from number 32 to number 5 on the Adult Contemporary chart in just one week! It also stayed at number 1 on the holiday chart for four weeks.

Other Famous Recordings

Many other artists have recorded "Up on the Housetop," including:

• Gene Autry (1953)
• Alvin and the Chipmunks (1961)
• The Jackson 5 (1970)
• Jimmy Buffett (1996)
• Reba McEntire (1999)
• George Strait (2006)
• Pentatonix (2016)