Now that the calendar has officially flipped to December, I’m finding a flurry of free holiday music. At this rate, there should be enough tunes for at least two O Christmas Free playlists, though my goal is to spotlight quality over quantity from here on out.

iTunes’ Single of the Week is Melissa Etheridge’s “Christmas In America.” It’s one of five original songs that appear alongside seasonal favorites on A New Thought For Christmas, her first holiday album.

I haven’t yet sprung for New Thought, as 1993’s Your Little Secret was the last Etheridge album added to my collection, unless her 2005 greatest-hits comp counts. (Come to think of it, “Christmas In America” had its commercial premiere on that set. Bonk!) The newly civil disobedient singer continues to be a quite engaging live performer, and with HDNet exclusively airing her “A New Thought For Christmas” concert, there’s one way to sample the wares before buying (view the schedule here).

Download Melissa Etheridge’s “Christmas In America” for free via iTunes. This week’s free Discovery Download is “Slower Than Christmas” by the Boxsters, featuring actor Billy Bob Thornton.

Amazon MP3 is getting into the giveaway game with its “25 Days of Free.” From now until Christmas, there’s a daily posting of a holiday tune that’s yours for the taking.

Rosie Thomas’ “Why Can’t It Be Christmastime All Year?” was yesterday’s pick, taken from her album, A Very Rosie Christmas. I’d never heard of Thomas, but some surface Googling says she pals around with fellow indie musicians Sufjan Stevens and Damien Jurardo. As such associations suggest, A Very Rosie Christmas is a pretty contemplative affair, but “Why Can’t It Be Christmastime All Year?” stands out as a fun uptempo keeper that sounds like a lost classic from the Motown songbook.

Add Rosie Thomas’ “Why Can’t It Be Christmastime All Year?” to your O Christmas Free collection via Amazon MP3. Yesterday’s free download link remains up, though the new “25 Days of Free” selection is the Barenaked Ladies’ “Elf’s Lament.” (It pains me to even mention that to you.)