Most of the songs we enjoy at Christmas today were written in the 40's and 50's. Almost nothing past that timespan seems to have lasted. Starting from the 1880's (Night before Christmas) there were only 8 reindeer in Santa's sleigh but Rudolph became the 9th reindeer after Gene Autry's song in the late 40's. Song writer and singer Mel Torme crafted "the Christmas Song" (chestnuts roasting on an open fire) in the 40's on a hot July day. "White Christmas" first appeared in the movie "Holiday Inn" with Fred Astair and was later the title of a Bing Crosby movie.