Achieving the right mood for a solo night of drinking hot cocoa, baking cookies with family or imbibing with friends starts with music. And just like food, there are seasons for music. Winter, no matter what climate you reside in, invites a slower pace. The coats and scarves emerge from their closet slumber; the sun says goodnight sooner. The following playlist isn’t your typical baker’s dozen batch of Christmas songs. It’s ambitious to think a single playlist could fit the bill for any gathering — an attempt to please all pleases none. So, make yourself happy. First, a good music playlist adheres to reasonable time limits. Like a good guest, a playlist should never overstay its welcome. Whether you’re listening to our collection or creating your own, keep it capped at an hour.

A few other loose rules to consider:

• Don’t pass the aux. This is your playlist. Decline Sally and Steve’s suggestion to “check out this mashup I found on Soundcloud.” Tell them to play it in the car on the way home (bah-humbug, sure).
• Get nostalgic! You’ll notice this playlist has a healthy habit of nostalgia. They may not be the top hits, but they mean something to you. Lean into it. Feel the feelings this holiday season.
• Map out the bangers. Winter music isn’t all slow hymns. Pepper in the upbeat, the poppy, or if you’re feeling randy, the face-melting metal. Note this playlist doesn’t satisfy the last portion of the previous sentence. Stretch into it; this isn’t a sprint.
• Make it a revolving door of songs. Swap in, swap out. You are the director and this is your ensemble. Feel free to crank the volume when the conversation becomes a bit too loud to hear your cast. Also don’t be afraid to skip a song if you’re not feeling it.