The Surprising Transformation of 'My Favorite Things' into a Holiday Favorite

In the 1965 film The Sound of Music, a sudden thunderstorm frightens the von Trapp children, leading them to seek comfort in the room of their governess, Fräulein Maria (Julie Andrews). She soothes them by singing about her cherished favorites. While the storm hints at summer, the vibrant greenery and summer attire in the scenes further emphasize the season.

Yet, during the festive season, 'My Favorite Things' plays alongside timeless holiday tunes like 'White Christmas' and 'Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town.'

What turned this summer melody into a beloved Christmas anthem?

“Simply Toss in Sleigh Bells”

The Sound of Music, inspired by a true story, originated as a Broadway musical featuring music and lyrics by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, with a script by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. It debuted on stage in 1959 (with Mary Martin as Maria) and secured several Tony Awards, including a shared win with Fiorello! for Best Musical.

During the golden era of film musicals, it was inevitable that The Sound of Music would make its way to the big screen. By its theatrical release in April 1965, many viewers unfamiliar with the stage production would still have known “My Favorite Things,” partly because it had been used as a promotional tool.

As Lou Simon, SiriusXM programming director, recounted, a song promoter for Rodgers and Hammerstein’s publishers approached music producer Mickey Kapp in 1964, requesting an artist to record a track from the film. “The promoter expressed concerns about the film’s high budget and believed a hit song would boost ticket sales,” Simon recalled, as reported by Billboard. “They aimed for something as impactful as ‘Maria’ from West Side Story.”

When Kapp noted that Jack Jones was preparing a Christmas album, the promoter suggested “My Favorite Things” as a perfect addition. Kapp initially disagreed, pointing out it wasn’t a holiday song. “Just add sleigh bells,” the promoter insisted. Jones later told Billboard that he and Kapp discussed it and “concluded it could work as a Christmas track.” 

A Glimpse into My Box Office Success

Released in autumn 1964, The Jack Jones Christmas Album featured “My Favorite Things” as its fourth track—a jazzy rendition complete with jingle bells and rich instrumental layers. The album climbed to 15th on Billboard’s holiday chart, and Jones showcased a medley of “My Favorite Things” and “The Christmas Waltz” on The Ed Sullivan Show in late December.

Jones didn’t exactly unveil an unknown tune to the public. The original Broadway cast recording of The Sound of Music, released in 1959, had dominated Billboard’s charts for 16 weeks and remained in the top 10 for nearly two additional years. Even four and a half years post-release, the album still held a spot on Billboard’s top 200. Additionally, John Coltrane’s iconic 14-minute jazz interpretation of “My Favorite Things,” from his March 1961 album of the same name, had already cemented the song’s popularity.

Jones wasn’t the pioneer of a Christmas-themed version either. Ironically, Julie Andrews had performed it on a 1961 holiday episode of The Garry Moore Show, backed by a chorus of tuxedo-clad singers.

While Jones benefited from timing—the film’s release followed his album by just a few months—it’s unclear if this significantly boosted The Sound of Music’s box office performance in April. Though the song has since become a holiday staple (with ABC airing the film annually during Christmas), its impact on the film’s initial success remains speculative.

By giving “My Favorite Things” a holiday twist, Kapp and Jones ensured the song would fade from public attention long before The Sound of Music hit theaters. Additionally, they never released Jones’s version as a single, denying it the airplay and promotional boost that singles typically enjoy. (The Billboard Hot 100 didn’t start including non-singles until 1998.) Even if Jones’s rendition drove some ticket sales, The Sound of Music didn’t need the push—it dethroned Gone With the Wind as the highest-grossing film ever and stayed in theaters for nearly four years. 

Jack Jones’s true contribution was demonstrating how naturally “My Favorite Things” fit into Christmas albums. By the 1965 holiday season, it appeared on the Supremes’ Merry Christmas, Andy Williams’s Merry Christmas, and Eddie Fisher’s Mary Christmas. It also featured on Barbra Streisand’s 1967 A Christmas Album—one of Billboard’s top holiday albums of all time—and finally entered the Billboard Hot 100 in 1968 via Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass’s instrumental version.

This raises the question: Why does “My Favorite Things” resonate so strongly with Christmas?

The Answer Lies in the Crisp Apple Strudel

To explore this, we’ve categorized Maria’s “favorite things” into three groups: 

1. Items clearly tied to winter or holiday themes
2. Items with no connection to winter or holiday themes
3. Items that might have a seasonal or festive link

Here’s the breakdown of the analysis.

When comparing these two categories, the result is nearly even. Winter-themed items hold a slight edge, though one could argue for a tie by separating “that melt into springs” from “silver-white winters” and reassigning it. However, the next group tips the scales in winter’s favor.

In the film’s context, these elements don’t inherently evoke Christmas—and one could argue against their winter association. For instance, girls in white dresses with blue sashes might seem more suited to a spring celebration than a holiday gathering. Yet, when the song is embellished with sleigh bells and played alongside tracks like “Sleigh Ride,” it’s hard to imagine a cream-colored pony trotting anywhere but through a snowy landscape.