For generations, Christmas songs have swirled their way into the lives of many, making the holidays truly feel like home. However, as the years go on, social norms and traditions change. The holiday songs we all know and love seem to hold a different meaning now for some.

A new issue has arisen, putting the focus on many of our beloved Christmas songs, and the desired change may not be for the best. “Baby It’s Cold Outside”, “Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer”, and many other catchy Christmas songs have hit a wall in the music world as many find them to be offensive.

“Baby, It’s Cold Outside” is a classic Christmas song that has caused much controversy due to its lyrics. According to CBS News, “Penned by Guys and Dolls writer Frank Loesser in 1944, the song’s lyrics describe a woman trying extricate herself from a date and saying ‘no, no, no,’ while a man insists that she stays as he moves in closer, pours her more alcohol, and warns about the weather outside.” Critics of the song believe that the song is to triggering to some audiences.

The song contains many innuendos that lead individuals to believe that the song means something opposite of what people believe it meant when it was written. The line from the song, “Say what’s in this drink?” leads individuals to believe that her drink was being drugged. However, during the 1960s, women weren’t socially allowed to stay over with a man and drink if they weren’t married. If a woman stayed over at a man’s house she would just simply claim that she was drunk, not that the drink was drugged.

Back when the song was written, the 1960s was a time where women were starting to enter the work world, and break away from watching their kids 24/7. C. Antony states, “In addition, demographic data showed that post-marriage employment increases were accompanied by increases in postponing children.” These issues led women to break away from marriage and focus more on work, yet still meet the needs of marriage and childbearing at the same time.

It’s apparent to how different times are now, compared to when these songs were written during that time period. In other words, artists need to be more considerate of the feelings of those who went through those experiences.