I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas

"I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas" is a novelty Christmas song popularized in 1953 in a recording by 10-year-old Gayla Peevey. The Oklahoma City Zoo used the song as part of a campaign to raise money to purhcase a hippo. A baby hippo named Matilda was purchased as a Christmas present for Peevey, who in turn donated it to the zoo.

Elmo sings "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas" on the album Elmo Saves Christmas: Holiday Favorites.