Christmas Traditions: Caroling

11/27/2018

In Denmark, they have a tradition of holding hands and dancing around the Christmas tree while they sing Christmas carols on Christmas Eve.

What are carols?

Well, the English word "carol" comes from the Greek word "choros" translated "dancing in a circle" and the French word "carole" translated "a song to accompany dancing."

Christmas carols are songs about Jesus and the time of his birth. Sometimes they are sung while dancing or walking.

In England, carolers would go from house to house singing carols to neighbors and friends. Some carolers sang on the street corners.

In the Curtis house, we have a tradition of caroling each December some time the week before Christmas. We carol through our neighborhood, singing one or two songs at each house. Sometimes we carol alone and sometimes friends join us. It is a special time each year.

Afterward, we come home and eat cookies and drink hot chocolate. Occasionally, we invite neighbors to come back and join us.

Would you like to try caroling in your house?

Tips to Make Caroling Easy & Fun

Here are some tips to make caroling easy and fun!

Choose songs you will sing beforehand and sing them through a couple of times the night before so that everyone knows the melody.

Have one song leader in the group who can sing on key. He, or she, should start the song and everyone one should follow his, or her lead.

Bring song sheets so you can sing more than the first verse. We have songbooks that we bring along when we carol.

Bundle up so that no one is chilly and grumpy.

Don't forget flashlights or cell phones to see the words on the lyric sheets or songbooks.

If people are not interested or turn off the lights and hide, go to the next song.

If folks ask for more songs, sing a few extra. We find that older people love to hear more songs and will request that we stay and sing some more.

Smile in greeting and wish every household a Merry Christmas when you leave.

I hope I've inspire you to try caroling as a family. This Christmas tradition has added depth to our Christmas celebrations and blessed our neighbors, too.

Merry Christmas!
Meredith Curtis