There’s something about Christmas in the 90s that still tugs at us like a mittened little hand. The era of mall Santas, Bath & Body Works sampler sets, TV specials with the grainy glow of tube televisions, and the sacred ritual of carefully sliding a brand-new CD into your boom box so the shiny disc wouldn’t get scratched. If you grew up then, you probably still remember the exact smell of a holiday candle from The Body Shop and the exact joy of ripping open a stereo you hoped might finally record crisp mixtapes off the radio.

Those were the winters when life felt simpler. Softer. The glow on the tree was brighter. Our hopes felt a little louder. And every December, the soundtrack that filled the house came from a mash-up of boy bands, diva vocals, and earnest acoustic gems that felt like the warm musical hug of the season.

So, for the women who miss that brand of magic—this playlist is for you. A curated, full-heart, retro-sparkling 90s Christmas playlist to help you wrap gifts, decorate the house, bake cookies with your kids, or simply sit in the soft quiet of the evening remembering what it felt like to be young, hopeful, and dancing around your childhood bedroom in fuzzy socks.

Light your tree. Hit play. And welcome home.

1. Mariah Carey – “All I Want For Christmas Is You” (1994)

Of course she’s first. She’s the queen. She’s the moment. There is no 90s Christmas without Mariah belting her way through those opening notes like she’s personally ushering in December.

If this song doesn’t make you want to shimmy while you’re wrapping presents, check your pulse.

Pair with: turning on your Christmas lights for the first time this season.

2. NSYNC – “Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays” (1998)

This song is pure sugar-cookie joy. It was holiday magic in music video form: Justin’s curls, JC’s vocals, those silver puffer jackets that absolutely belonged at every winter school dance.

It’s impossible to listen without smiling—mostly because it reminds you of a time when holiday crushes were the biggest thing on your mind and Justin Timberlake’s ramen hair was still acceptable.

Pair with: decorating the tree with your kids while you silently wonder how Christmas got this loud.

3. Whitney Houston – “Do You Hear What I Hear?” (1996)

Let’s be honest: 90s Christmas music peaked with voices like Whitney’s. Soulful, elegant, chills-down-your-arms kinds of vocals. Her version turns the classic carol into something that feels like warm candlelight.

Pair with: a quiet December evening after the house settles and the kids are finally asleep.

4. Hanson – “Snowed In” (Album, 1997)

Yes, the entire album. No, I will not be taking questions. “Snowed In” is the unsung hero of 90s Christmas music. Hanson’s harmonies were chef’s kiss, and the album is nostalgic in a way that sneaks up on you—suddenly you’re 12 again, wearing butterfly clips, eating holiday Oreos, and feeling all the Christmas feels.

Must-play tracks: “Merry Christmas Baby,” “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” and “What Christmas Means to Me.”

Pair with: baking cookies and licking the beaters like you did before you knew anything about salmonella.

5. Boyz II Men – “Let It Snow” (1993)

Sensual Christmas energy? Absolutely.

This is the song that played right after your mom went to bed and MTV turned into its “after-dark slow jams” lineup. Smooth, warm, and lush—perfect for grown-up December nights.

Pair with: a fireplace, a glass of wine, and a partner who actually helps wrap gifts.

6. Amy Grant – “Grown-Up Christmas List” (1992)

The 90s were full of earnest songs that wore their hearts proudly on denim sleeves. Amy Grant delivered a ballad that hits harder the older you get. Listening as an adult—especially as a mom—turns this one into a full-on emotional event.

Pair with: sitting at the kitchen table with soft lights, writing holiday cards, and trying not to get misty.

7. TLC – “Sleigh Ride” (1993)

Fun, funky, fabulously 90s. TLC made every holiday party cooler. Their version of “Sleigh Ride” is a bop—cheery, upbeat, and wrapped in pure R&B nostalgia.

Pair with: dancing around while cleaning before your in-laws arrive.

8. Jewel – “Face of Love / Silent Night” (Live, 1999)

Jewel was the soundtrack to every girlhood diary and every moment we sat by frosted windows feeling dramatic. Her holiday songs are tender and haunting—perfect for when you want a quiet, reflective moment in a season that can get…very loud.

Pair with: an early morning before anyone else wakes up.

9. Celine Dion – “O Holy Night” (1998)

No one—and I mean no one—does a power ballad like Celine. Her voice makes this carol feel like a full-body spiritual experience. If you’re not belting along in your car like you’re performing on a snowy mountaintop, you’re doing December wrong.

Pair with: a solo Target run with hot coffee in the cup holder.

10. Britney Spears – “My Only Wish (This Year)” (2000 but close enough to count)

Is it technically 2000? Yes. Do we care? No. This is peak teen-pop holiday joy—full of bubblegum energy and that early-Britney sweetness we all remember.

Pair with: wrapping your kids’ gifts late at night and giggling at the irony.

11. Shania Twain – “God Bless the Child” (1995)

Shania’s voice is warm as a knit scarf, and this song feels like standing in a snowy field at dusk. A quieter track, but so nostalgic it practically jingles.

Pair with: stepping outside to breathe in the crisp evening air between holiday chaos.

12. 98 Degrees – “This Gift” (1999)

The song that single-handedly convinced us that love might just arrive in the form of four harmonizing men in matching turtlenecks. “This Gift” is peak 90s boy-band romance — sentimental, swoony, unapologetically earnest. You can practically see the soft-focus camera lens and fake snow falling behind them.

Pair with: wrapping a gift for someone you adore — or, let’s be real, wrapping your own gift because sometimes self-love looks like buying yourself something pretty at Target.

13. Sarah McLachlan – “Song for a Winter’s Night” (1996)

Beautiful. Melancholy. Winter in song form. Sarah McLachlan was the queen of emotional reflection, and this track is the quiet sigh of December.

Pair with: staring at your Christmas tree in a dark room, thinking tender thoughts.

14. Brian McKnight – “Love’s Holiday” (1998)

Smooth. Cozy. Warm as hot cocoa. A grown-woman addition to your playlist—romantic, velvety, and full of that late-90s R&B charm.

Pair with: date night in pajamas after the kids crash.

15. Christina Aguilera – “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” (2000-ish)

Again, close enough. Christina’s vocals? Legendary. This version feels glittery and dramatic and retro-glam in a way only early-2000s divas could deliver.

Pair with: getting ready for a holiday party, even if the party is just you and some gingerbread.

So Why a 90s Playlist?

Because Christmas today is loud. Busy. Fast. But Christmas in the 90s? It was slow magic.

We didn’t have Amazon Prime or Pinterest-perfect decorating. We had newspaper sales flyers, the thrill of a mall food court, and the hope that maybe—just maybe—the County Seat sweatshirt we circled in the catalog would show up under the tree.

A 90s Christmas playlist takes us back to:

• Late-night gift wrapping with your mom’s old tape dispenser.
• Twinkling lights on your bedroom wall.
• VHS movies and hot cocoa that was always too hot to drink.
• The first time music felt like yours—when you put your Discman headphones on and escaped into a world that felt huge and glittering and possible.

Listening now isn’t just fun—it’s restorative. It’s grounding. It brings back a softer version of the world…and maybe a softer version of us, too.

How to Use This Playlist Now (as a grown woman with a full life)

1. While Decorating

Blast NSYNC, Britney, and Hanson. Let your kids see you dance like you’re still wearing platform sandals.

2. While Baking or Cooking

Play Mariah, TLC, and Celine—songs with enough energy to keep the holiday spirit alive even when you’re cleaning flour off your cabinets.

3. During Quiet Evenings

Whitney, Jewel, Sarah McLachlan. Soft. Luminous. Perfect for reflecting on the year you’ve lived and the woman you’ve become.

4. During Holiday Errands

Fill your car with Amy Grant, Shania, and 98 Degrees. Instant mood boost.

5. After the House is Finally Quiet

That’s when Boyz II Men and Brian McKnight work their magic.

Where Nostalgia Meets Now

You’re allowed to miss the world you grew up in. You’re allowed to crave the softness, the slowness, the sparkle of those Decembers.

And you’re allowed to recreate it—right now, in your own home, with your own people, with a playlist that feels like flipping through an old scrapbook. Turn it up. Sing along. Make your own 90s-style magic.

Merry (vintage) Christmas, friend.