the buzz log

Rudolph, it would appear, just got stomped.

The tale (well, ok, the advertising gimmick) of the red-nosed outsider usually leads the annual Buzz Log holiday playlist. This year, though, searches for "The 12 Days of Christmas" have doubled those on Santa's favorite ungulate.

Has an especially troubling year increased yearnings for the classics (classic as in, 16th century carol versus a 1940s Montgomery Ward coloring book character)? Maybe: Some lookups may have been piqued by the annual "Christmas Price Index" report that Twelvetides' worth of gifts would cost $86,609, another sign o' the economic times.

While many can tell you the 12 days actually start on Dec. 25, why specifically partridges, pipers, maids, et al? Few are in agreement, but one theory claims the numbers could've actually operated as code for Catholics who, forbidden to celebrate their religion in England, wanted to pass their religion to kids on the sly. For instance, the partridge in the tree is Jesus Christ, four calling birds represent the four gospels, and 10 lords sub for the commandments. Other sources point out lots of holiday traditions, including the 12 days, actually predate Christmas itself, but the code theory at least has the makings of another conspiratorial Dan Brown yarn.

Don't let historical controversials get in the way of a good ditty: Christmas tunes make up most of the top "lyrics" searches in the past 30 days. Here are 20 of the most-searched, but feel free to weigh in on your favorite tune with a comment below.

Top Christmas Tunes on Yahoo!, Past 30 Days

1. 12 Days of Christmas (1700s)
2. Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1949)
3. This Christmas (2007)
4. Jingle Bells (1857)
5. Silent Night (1816)
6. All I Want for Christmas Is You (1994)
7. Frosty the Snowman (1950)
8. Winter Wonderland (1934)
9. O Holy Night (1847)
10. Jingle Bell Rock (1957)
11. Santa Baby (1953)
12. White Christmas (1940)
13. Christmas Shoes (2000)
14. Ave Maria (1825)
15. Santa Claus Is Coming to Town (1934)
16. Last Christmas (1984)
17. Mary, Did You Know (1984)
18. Joy to the World (1900s)
19. Carol of the Bells (1916)
20. I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas (1953)