Sigh. Winter Winderland is NOT a Christmas song and never was. It is love song with a winter setting. It never mentions Christmas.
When I was growing up the radio stations would play “Winter Wonderland”, “Let it Snow”, “Sleigh Ride”, etc. *all winter long*. Then about 20 years ago or so, the powers that be decided that any song that mentioned snow must be a Christmas song too, and now Christmas is the only time you hear them. But they are really love songs with a winter setting. It’s just plain nuts.
The “Circus clown” lyrics go back deades too!
I call songs like those “seasonal secular music,” while others, such as “Silent Night,” or “Adeste Fideles” are true Christmas songs.