Christmas doesn’t have to be a time for sombre hymns or cheesy pop music. So shake off any winter blues, especially if you’re a celebrator of the season who can’t make it home for December 25, with this guitar-based playlist of Christmas songs that leans loudly towards rock (and, we’ll be honest, indie-rock). It spans the decades - from the late 1950s right up to the here and now - and genres ranging from rock ‘n’ roll to punk to hip-hop. We have included some cast-iron classics that everyone who has walked within 150 metres of a Christmas tree will recognise, but among those staples, there are also loads of fabulous festive covers and ditties from artists you might not expect to enter into the spirit of the season – as well as some that you might. This 80-minute collection is rocking enough to even get Saint Nick himself playing air guitar. ______________________ Read more: <strong><a href="https://www.thenational.ae/arts-culture/music/rock-and-sausage-roll-blogger-dad-s-novelty-song-is-uk-christmas-no-1-1.805301">Rock and sausage roll: blogger dad's novelty song is UK Christmas No 1</a></strong> <strong><a href="https://www.thenational.ae/arts-culture/music/top-of-the-pops-has-the-battle-for-christmas-no-1-lost-its-festive-cheer-1.804533">Top of the pops: has the battle for Christmas No 1 lost its festive cheer?</a></strong> <strong><a href="https://www.thenational.ae/arts-culture/music/baby-it-s-cold-outside-gets-played-on-repeat-on-kentucky-radio-station-1.803914">Baby, It's Cold Outside gets played on repeat on Kentucky radio station</a></strong> <strong><a href="https://www.thenational.ae/arts-culture/music/whamageddon-will-the-latest-song-led-craze-last-until-next-christmas-1.803728">Whamageddon: Will the latest song-led craze last until next Christmas?</a></strong>