Ooh, Christmas Music is one of my favourite things! I'm not very good at making a comprehensive list of all my favourites, but I'll answer the questions.

a.) Do you prefer the classics, the newer, or a mix of both?
A mix of both! I really love the classic carols - O Come, O Come Emmanuel; O Come Let Us Adore Him; We Three Kings; Hark The Herald; O Little Town of Bethlehem (I don't mind either version as they're both nice, but I like the one used in the U.K. best.); Away in a Manger (the British version by Kirkpatrick), to just name a few. I love The Christmas Song, Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, The Christmas Waltz (!!). Mary's Boy Child is a favourite. It's so cheery and wonderful. I like Mary, Did You Know? too.
I'm really am fond of Silver Bells. I like Here Comes Santa Clause. (there's one version that's my favourite... I think it's Elvis' version? That'll sound foolish if it isn't... Well, anyways, I think it is!) And, of course, The Chipmunk Song. The Carol of the Bells, too. And orchestral Sleigh Ride! Silent Night. I'm a big fan of Vince Guaraldi's Christmas album for A Charlie Brown Christmas. O Holy Night (I particularly like Josh Groban's cover of this song. I had never heard his songs until hearing this one on the radio, and I liked it instantly.) Those are a few that come to mind.
b.) Do you listen to multiple versions of one song? Yes, a couple. I tend to like original versions of songs, but I'm sure there are covers that I like as well.
c.) Do you listen to Christian artists Christmas albums, or do you prefer secular? I don't really make a difference. I can't think of any modern Christian artist who has recorded a Christmas album that really stuck out to me. It seems like all artists know what traditional Christmas songs are and sing them. I like good Christmas music, period.
d.) What songs mean “Christmas-time” to you? Ooh, good queston! Silver Bells, the Orchestral Version of Sleigh Ride (I just love this one. So perfectly Christmas and heartwarming!), Away in a Manger, O Holy Night, Silent Night (this one always ), and The Christmas Song. Vince Guaraldi's "Christmas Time Is Here" is a new favourite.

Thanks for opening this topic, AslansChild!!

a.) Do you prefer the classics, the newer, or a mix of both?
-Both
b.) Do you listen to multiple versions of one song?
-Yes, but I do have favorites
c.) Do you listen to Christian artists Christmas albums, or do you prefer secular? um... both
d.) What songs mean “Christmas-time” to you?
-Lots! But some of my favorites are Silver Bells, the Little Drummer Boy, Christmas Shoes, and Do You Hear What I Hear

a.) Do you prefer the classics, the newer, or a mix of both?Definitely both! Especially since Jeremy Camp's and Francesca Battistelli's Christmas CDs came out a couple months ago.

b.) Do you listen to multiple versions of one song? Yes! We have like a 6 versions of each of these songs: O Holy Night, Angels We Have Heard On High, Joy To The World, and more.

c.) Do you listen to Christian artists Christmas albums, or do you prefer secular? Most definitely Christian, but there are a couple of secular Christmas albums that I really enjoy.

d.) What songs mean “Christmas-time” to you? Mmmm, What Child Is This?, Jingle Bell Rock, O Holy Night, Manger Throne, Joy To The World, Born In Bethlehem, and lots more.

We have lots of Christmas music at our house. There is 14.9 hours of Christmas music on this computer and we have quite a bit more that not on here.

We have gotten 5 new Christmas CD this year: Christmas: God With Us by Jeremy Camp, Christmas by Francesca Battistelli, Christmas Stories: Repeat the Sounding Joy by Jason Gray, The Heart of Christmas by Matthew West, and Positively Christmas - Various Artists. Of the five, my favorites are the first three! Jeremy Camp's Christmas: God With Us is amazing, almost as good as Third Day's Christmas Offerings, which is my favorite Christmas CD ever!

Merry Christmas!

SnowAngel

Nice opening post!

Christmas brings some of my favorite music.

a. classics or modern?
b. multiple versions of the same song?

Yes!
For example, several of my favorite collections of Chrismas music are relatively recent releases, such as Celtic Woman's A Christmas Celebration (given the choice, I recommend the DVD as it includes a video of the concert along with several additional songs not on the CD).

I tend to prefer songs that focus on the real meaning of the holiday the most, but there are exceptions (for example, Celtic Woman's Christmas Pipes) that I quite enjoy but don't focus much on the spiritual aspects of the day.

Another favorite collection is Kathy Mattea's Good News, which is nice because it's not just a collection of familiar songs but has some excellent lesser-known songs that still focus on the meaning of the day. It includes one of my favorite versions of Mary, Did You Know?

I encountered a local group, Greenwood Tree, at a local festival. I like their "An Olde English Christmas" collection, which features instrumental covers of familiar songs performed with medieval instruments like hammered dulcimer and bowed psaltery

c. Christian or secular artists?
Both!

d,e: Some favorites:

Silent Night, O Holy Night (for some reason these 2 songs make me think of walking along a rural tree-lined path, stars shining overhead, the only sound the snow crunching underfoot)

Joy to the World
O Little Town of Bethlehem
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
Hark the Herald Angels Sing
O Come All Ye Faithful

A relatively new favorite for me is Trans-Siberian Orchestra's Christmas Canon, set to Pachelbel's familiar "Canon in D."

And many others!

And weird as it sounds, in contrast to 'religious' songs or hymns of the season, I also like a lot of parody ('silly') versions of secular holiday music (think 'Weird Al' Yankovic), like "Rusty Chevrolet" by Da Yoopers or "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas." And "The Twelve Days of Christmas" has been fodder for dozens of parodies.

I still like to watch this video clip of Christmas lights choreographed to Trans-Siberian Orchestra's "Wizards in Winter."

a.) Do you prefer the classics, the newer, or a mix of both?
-I'd have to go with the majority of those who have posted and say both . Although I might lean ever so slightly towards the former.

b.) Do you listen to multiple versions of one song?
-Absolutely . Although I don't think I could list my favorite rendition of each Christmas song here!

c.) Do you listen to Christian artists Christmas albums, or do you prefer secular?
-Both for sure! .

d.) What songs mean “Christmas-time” to you?
-*Copies Wolf's list, adds Jolly Old St. Nicholas, Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, and the song form The Snowman

e.) What Christmas song(s) are your favorite(s)?
-Well, I have many favorites . Many of which I've already listed in my previous answer . I know I'll forget some, but I'd Probably say that Rudolph and The Little Drummer Boy head the list. And Stargazer, that reminds me... my favorite funny/parody song: Christmas at Ground Zero!

Which cracks me up time after time .

There are many more songs I should mention here... will have to think of which ones I missed...

In Britain, in just about every shop, pub and restaurant from about the beginning of September onwards, you can hear a CD of Christmas hits, mostly from the '70s and '80s. Some I like because they're really good songs ("Lonely This Christmas" by Mud, "Wombling Merry Christmas" by The Wombles); some I quite like because they remind me of Christmases when I was a kid in the Seventies ("Merry Christmas Everybody" by Slade, "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day" by Wizzard, "Merry Christmas, War Is Over" by John Lennon) and some ("Wonderful Christmas Time" by Paul McCartney, "Last Christmas" by Wham) are just irritating.

For me, just about the most enjoyable part of Christmas these days is singing traditional Christmas music, especially in the singing group I'm a member of.

As for my favourite contemporary Christian Christmas song, I feel compelled to vote for - ahem - myself... If I knew where/how to upload a MP3 file, I'd give you a blast...

a.) Do you prefer the classics, the newer, or a mix of both?
a good mix of both is best for me I am a fan of the classics, but I like it to be mixed and flavored with newer stuff. I especially love Third Day's Christmas album,
b.) Do you listen to multiple versions of one song?
Oh yes, it's a habit of mine to get as many versions of one song as possible, listen to them all and compare them
c.) Do you listen to Christian artists Christmas albums, or do you prefer secular?
Generally I like Christian artists more, because they really are able to get the meaning of Christmas through, that being said, it doesn't mean I don't listen to secular Christmas albums, for example, I just love Josh Groban's album 'Noel' and listen to it all the time, but then, I'm addicted to his voice it just depends on what I like and don't like
d.) What songs mean “Christmas-time” to you?
oh dear, generally old songs like 'O Come all Ye Faithful' 'The First Noel' 'Silent Night' and the like, I listened to them when I was a little girl and they really bring the Christmas spirit back to me, remind me of my childhood and all that
I also REALLY love Russian Christmas songs, in my opinion they are filled with a some kind of magic and something in them just brings Christmas to life to me. Here's my absolute favorite
(I've also taken the liberty of providing a translation below )

(translation, it's kinda rough, sorry about that )
Sing, all ye Christians, on this glorious day
In Bethelhem's poor stable God is laying on the hay

Following the shephered, to bow before God's son
Came following the stars, kings with gifts

Do you prefer the classics, the new, or a mix of both?
Both!

Do you listen to multiple versions of one song?
Yes

Do you listen to Christian albums and songs, or do you prefer secular?
Both

What songs mean Christmas time to you?
A lot of them!:
Joy to the World
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Oh Holy Night
What Child is this?
Peppermint Winter (Owl City)
We wish you a Merry Christmas
Deck the Halls
Last Christmas
Do they know it's Christmas?
Jingle Bell Rock
It's the most wonderful Time of the Year

My favorite Christmas song? It's hard to decide. For now I like Oh Holy Night, Peppermint Winter by Owl City, and We wish You a Merry Christmas. I really like several songs though. My favorite songs change every year. Last year I liked Rocking around the Christmas Tree

e.) What Christmas song(s) are your favorite(s)? Wrong question to ask me! My brother once try to get me to make a Top 25 Christian songs and a Top 10 Hymns, it didn't stop there!

What Child Is This?
O Holy Night
Joy To The World
Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus
Jingle Bell Rock
Marshmallow World
Deck The Halls
Mary, Did You Know?
Let It Snow
Do You Hear What I Hear?
Born In Bethlehem by Third Day
Jesus, Light of the World by Third Day
Manger Throne by Third Day
God With Us by Jeremy Camp
Christ Is Come by Jeremy Camp
God Has Come To Earth by Aaron Shust
When Love Comes Down by Point of Grace
We were the Reason by Avalon
Jesus, Born on this Day by Avalon
Beautiful by Kutless
Heaven Everywhere by Francesca Battistelli
You're Here by Francesca Battistelli
Christmas Dreams by Francesca Battistelli
Christmas is Coming by Jason Gray
Children Again by Jason Gray

SnowAngel

a.) Do you prefer the classics, the newer, or a mix of both? Definalty a mix of both, but I'm more in the classics side. I like mostly classics with some very good newer ones

b.) Do you listen to multiple versions of one song? Oh absolutly!! And most of the time I'll listen to the same song like 5 or 6 times in a row

c.) Do you listen to Christian artists Christmas albums, or do you prefer secular? Only Christian, the secular ones don't really pass on the right feel. The only secular album I listen to is Celine Dion's Christmas album These are the Special Times

d.) What songs mean “Christmas-time” to you? Deck the Halls!!! It's usually the first Chistmas song I start the season with. And The First Noel

e.) What Christmas song(s) are your favorite(s)? pfffffffffft...too many. But my absolute favorites are The First Noel, Silent Night, What Child is This, Joy (Selah), Merry Christmas (Third Day),

I have to say that Thirs Days Christmas album is awesome! I just love it!

a.) Do you prefer the classics, the newer, or a mix of both? Mostly classics, but I do like a few newer ones.
b.) Do you listen to multiple versions of one song? Depends on the songs, but normally I'll listen to loads of versions; whatever's on the radio.
c.) Do you listen to Christian artists Christmas albums, or do you prefer secular? Mostly Christian songs, but I like the other Christmas songs too, like Sleigh Ride.
d.) What songs mean “Christmas-time” to you? Sleigh Ride, White Christmas, Christmas Shoes... okay basically Bing Crosby and Johnny Mathis' Christmas albums.

For favorite songs we'll just go with all of the ones listed above, I really like almost all Christmas music... I also like Relient K's Christmas album.

Merry early Christmas, everyone!

SnowAngel

Merry Christmas NarnaiWeb! (wow, that's a snowy font color all right )

A couple other essentials that crossed my mind...

Required Chrismas viewing .

And for something totally different...

Really like this one...

In Britain, in just about every shop, pub and restaurant from about the beginning of September onwards, you can hear a CD of Christmas hits, mostly from the '70s and '80s. (For example) "Merry Christmas, War Is Over" by John Lennon)

Odd you should say that for two reasons:

1. I was in Britain from 24 August to 15 September but I didn't hear a Christmas carol, even once, despite the weather.

2. On the other hand, we did hear John Lennon's Christmas song about the War being over on one of the two Christmas Carol broadcasts this Christmas. This was the Sydney one. We had too many things to do on Christmas Eve to listen to all the Melbourne broadcast, much as it would have been nice. But the background music was appropriate.

a.) Do you prefer the classics, the newer, or a mix of both?

It depends on what you mean by classics, the newer or a mix. I really like the classic Christmas carols, such as Oh Come all ye faithful, Hark the Herald Angels sing, etc. But I also like carols, if you call them classical, that aren't in our church hymnal nor always played at shopping centres etc. These include "O Holy Night" and the usual Australian carol inclusion of "The Holy City", and the few Australian Christmas carols we have developed ourselves. They include The three drovers, Silver Stars are in the sky, and the Carol of the birds. Though I don't necessarily agree with everything said on the reproductions of these carols I linked to.

b.) Do you listen to multiple versions of one song?

Preferably not. I don't like anything too fancy by solo artists. Though I like it when choirs do descants, counterpoint etc

c.) Do you listen to Christian artists Christmas albums, or do you prefer secular? Whether we like it or not we get to listen to the lot at Christmas, wherever we go, except the ones I have mentioned already. Unless, with luck, they get on the aforesaid Sydney or Melbourne Carol singalongs.

d.) What songs mean “Christmas-time” to you?

Oh Come all ye faithful

Angels we have heard on Hight

Hark the Herald Angels sing - Charles Wesley wrote the lyrics

Oh little town of Bethlehem - Phillips Brooke

Joy to the World - Isaac Watts

The first Nowell - complete with descants.

While Shepherds watched

We three klngs of Orient are. Better still if three different soloists sing the middle 3 verses.

Once in Royal David's City

It came upon a Midnight clear

This is just a sample.

e) What's my favourite Christmas carol?

All the ones listed above plus The Holy City and the Australian ones, for local relevance. I'm afraid I've parodied a few secular favourites, especially White Christmas.

Merry Christmas and all the best for your holidays. Our Christmas is midway through Tuesday arvo.