The Spirit of Christmas were a twenty-five year running series of compilation albums of both traditional and modern Christmas carols performed by Australian artists and musicians which was released every Christmas between 1993 until its discontinuation in 2018 with proceeds going to The Salvation Army in Australia as part of their "Red Shield Appeal" which supports at-risk children and youth throughout Australia. The albums were sponsored by Myer and produced by Emerald City records, a division of Polydor Records and later produced by Sony BMG. There was a brief intermission because of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales in 1997, and a tribute album featuring British and other international artists, was dedicated to her memory instead, titled .
This initiative started when Myer wished to continue their philanthropic support in the community "whilst at the same time providing something special for everyone to enjoy."[1] Since the release of the first edition of The Spirit of Christmas CD in 1993, over $5.5 million have been raised for the Salvation Army[1] while funds raised from the 1996 and 1998 editions went to the Starlight Children's Foundation. Session and touring musician, Lindsay Field was the executive producer and compiler.[2] Each year Field contacted various fellow Australian musicians – including those he had worked with personally – to donate a track for the compilation, most commonly a new rendition of a standard Christmas carol.[2] In 1995 he reflected, "People get to hear top Aussie artists singing previously unrecorded tracks, and through buying a copy they can support the valuable work of The Salvation Army."[2] In that year they raised over $240,000 for homeless youth programs.[3] The albums were produced in collaboration with former musician and later talent manager Glenn Wheatley (ex-the Masters Apprentices, Little River Band, John Farnham).