Like peppermint and snowfall, Mariah Carey has become an iconic Christmas symbol.
Each year, the singer releases a video marking the end of Halloween signaling the start of Christmas and welcoming her hit song “All I Want for Christmas is You” back to the radio and music charts. From 2019 to 2024, Carey has kicked off the holiday season in creative and festive ways.
Here are Carey’s best holiday videos, ranked.
6. 2020 video
Although it’s inventive, Carey’s 2020 video comes in last place. The video depicts a Halloween creature opening on a door and being greeted by Carey in Christmas pajamas checking her watch and declaring that it is time.
This video was effective in its message but is lackluster compared to Carey’s other videos. Ultimately, Carey could have done more.
5. 2019 video
Carey released her first Christmas video in 2019. The video begins at 11:59 p.m. Oct. 31, Halloween night. Carey goes to bed in her Halloween costume, but as the clock strikes midnight, “All I Want for Christmas is You” begins to play as Carey gets a phone call from Santa Claus. It’s then that Carey sings “It’s time,” which has become a featured point in her subsequent videos.
This video achieves its purpose of ringing in the Christmas season but lacks the flair and drama the other videos on this list utilize. Although it places low on this list, the video started the Christmas video tradition for Carey and is fun to look back on.
4. 2022 video
Carey’s 2022 video features a fun transition from Halloween to Christmas. First, Carey is riding on an exercise bicycle before she is transported onto a reindeer in a snowy, winter wonderland.
This video is simple but gets the job done. The transition is quick but captivating enough. However, it still leaves much to be desired and is outdone by several other “It’s time” teasers.
3. 2021 video
The point of Carey’s Christmas videos is to end Halloween and welcome the Christmas season, and the 2021 video achieves that.
Carey physically puts an end to Halloween by smashing pumpkins carved that said, “It’s not time,” declaring it is in fact time. There is a message at the end of the video that said, “It’s time to smash that pumpkin and treat it as a pie … cause we still gotta get through Thanksgiving,” ensuring no holiday is forgotten on the road to Christmas.
This video was strong in its messaging and included so many fun details within the Halloween and Christmas decorations. It plays heavily on Carey’s “It’s time,” catchphrase and sets the tone for the Christmas season.
2. 2024 video
Carey’s newest Christmas video comes in 2nd place overall. This video is quite dramatic and features a longer Halloween scene than prior videos. Carey is first seen dancing in a dark vampire-esque castle, before opening a cabinet and revealing her Santa outfit. The Christmas scene is extravagant with diamonds, crystals and a dancing snowman.
This video perfectly rings in the Christmas season and is the festive extravaganza people have come to know and love. Each year Carey’s videos get bigger and better.
1. 2023 video
In 2023, Carey defrosted. Frozen in time, waiting for the signal, Carey shatters free from the ice encasing by belting her catchphrase “It’s time,” and releases joy and Christmas magic. Snow cascades down and people dance as Carey belts her signature tune.
Everything about this video is perfect. It’s dramatic, it’s spirited and it captures the essence of Carey’s Christmas videos. This one will forever be hard to top.
