《White Christmas》由美國作曲家厄文·柏林（Irving Berlin）創作，1942年由賓·克羅斯比（Bing Crosby）在電影《Holiday Inn》中演唱並發行，一經問世即大受歡迎。該曲旋律優美懷舊，很快成為全球最暢銷的單曲，至今仍保有「史上銷量最高單曲」的紀錄。歌曲創作時正值二戰，柏林以自己思念家鄉聖誕節的情緒為靈感，寫出了這首懷鄉的歌。他自己也曾表示，雖然這是一首在戰爭期間誕生的曲目，但它實際上傳遞的是「和平」與對美好時光的嚮往。歌詞中並未提及耶穌誕生等宗教題材，而是描繪雪景和溫馨情感，使其成為一首包容多元文化、人人皆可共鳴的經典聖誕歌。事實上，至今已有超過500位藝術家翻唱過這首歌，它的流行也帶動了戰後美國聖誕音樂的新潮流，將聖誕節演變得更具家庭和文化共享的意義。
“White Christmas” was composed by the American songwriter Irving Berlin and was first performed and released in 1942 by Bing Crosby in the film Holiday Inn. Upon its release, the song achieved immediate and widespread popularity. With its lyrical, nostalgic melody, it quickly became the best-selling single worldwide and continues to hold the record as the highest-selling single of all time.
The song was written during World War II, with Berlin drawing inspiration from his longing for the Christmases of his homeland. He later stated that although the song was created in a time of war, its true message conveys a yearning for peace and for happier times. Rather than referring to religious themes such as the birth of Jesus, the lyrics focus on snowy imagery and warm, sentimental emotions, allowing the song to transcend cultural and religious boundaries and resonate with a broad audience.
To date, more than 500 artists have recorded cover versions of “White Christmas.” Its enduring popularity also helped shape postwar American Christmas music, contributing to a shift in how Christmas came to be celebrated as a season emphasizing family, shared cultural experience, and universal sentiment.
