December 20th is Go Caroling Day #GoCarolingDay. I’ve never had the opportunity to go caroling and even though I can’t carry a tune in a bucket I think it would be a lot of fun to go. Would you like to join me in caroling this year? We can start in my grandmother’s neighborhood and go anywhere else you want to go. I will bring #snacks and #HotChocolate for us.
Once upon a time, Christmas celebrations wouldn’t have been anything without caroling, and this is exactly what is celebrated on Go Caroling Day on December 20th. Go Caroling Day is about nothing else but merrily singing songs from door to door in the spirit of the holiday season.
Christmas carols were very popular decades ago, before there was digital entertainment to distract us. As it became more and more uncommon to sing along to carols, Go Caroling Day revives and preserves this classic tradition.
It is widely believed that caroling on Christmas started in 1223 at the Church of St. Francis of Assisi. He thought that it was merrier to sing songs full of joy and fun during the holidays, instead of solemn hymns. He also started the live nativity scene.
Did you know caroling has been around even longer than Christmas itself, as it was a part of many religious observances and practices centuries ago. Christmas carols are essentially a subset of Christmas music, whereas caroling specifically refers to the act of singing this broad category of Christmas songs.
The Christmas carol is also known as a noel or a song or hymn. These songs have a unique shared characteristic sound, which is based on the musical chord patterns of medieval times. Popular Christmas carols were composed before the 20th Century.
In modern times, new carols have been written. A few popular Christmas carols are the following songs ‘O Little Town of Bethlehem’, ‘Jingle Bells’, and ‘Away in a Manger’, and many modern carols are composed by Alfred Burt.
During the Middle Ages, another popular trend similar to caroling started, known as ‘Wassailing’. It was a reference to the Alcoholic drink called ‘Wassail’, and the songs that were sung were vulgar and rude in nature, and therefore viewed by the Church as irreligious.
Whether it was gathering around the piano in the living room, or the arrival of carolers on doorsteps in the neighborhood, caroling was a heavily practiced tradition in which people enthusiastically participated. I wish we could have joined them. What about you?
Christmas caroling has commonly been referred to in old classics. Whether in the story “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens or the film “It’s a Wonderful Life”, it is guaranteed that, at some point, warmly bedecked carolers will arrive, heralding a critical moment or just singing traditional songs loudly for Christmas.
The idea behind Christmas caroling is to spread the spirit of Christmas by going door-to-door and singing hymns or special carols. If you’ve never went caroling before, here is a small guide:
1. Plan early, before everyone’s calendars quickly fill up. Set a time and date that works for everyone.
2. Build your caroling song list, make sure everyone knows the lyrics!
3. Plan out your caroling route and which neighborhoods to cover.
Did you know the Christian hymn ‘Jesus Refulsit Omnium’ is frequently cited as the earliest Christmas song in the world.
How To Celebrate Go Caroling Day
- Look up lyrics to a new carol which can be a modern composition, or an old classic, l and sing along to it around the house or your neighborhood.
- As the name of the holiday suggests, go caroling and remember to gather your friends and family and get your songbird on. Sing all the Christmas songs you sang growing up or in your school choir. Strangers may even join and ask to participate.
- If you have a musical instrument in your house, like a guitar or a keyboard, host a party at your place and sing along to your favorite carols, just like they used to do in the olden days.
Facts About Christmas Carols
- The first Christmas carols were sung thousands of years ago in Europe and the songs were pagan songs in the winter solstice.
- Carols were originally composed to be sung throughout the seasons, but only the Christmas tradition of singing them has survived.
- Most carols from the Elizabethan period were loosely based around the Christmas story, but were otherwise untrue. Compared to religious songs, they were just meant to be entertaining.
- Before carol singing was a thing, professional carol singers called ‘Waits’ would band together and be conducted by important local leaders of the community.
- Did you know Elvis released his version of ‘White Christmas’ in the year 1957. The song’s composer Irving Berlin tried to ban “Whit Christmas” from being played on the radio.
Why People Love Go Caroling Day
- Getting into the holiday spirit takes a lot of work and we don’t know why the tradition of caroling went out of style because who doesn’t like singing loudly? Not to mention with the intention of spreading cheer and joy? Christmas time is the perfect day to walk arm-in-arm with family and friends and celebrate the most wonderful time of the year.
- Carols aren’t just songs to be sung around Christmas time, Christmas Songs are a testimony to great tales in history. Preserving Christmas songs is like preserving works of art.
- With the holiday season comes winter blues, and people who are alone on Christmas are just waiting to hear from someone at their doors. That friendly old neighbor of yours who lives alone? Head on over to their doorstep and get to singing!
To get us ready for #caroling I thought I would share Suzzie’s favorite Christmas Song #IWantHippotomusforChristmas. Because when you go caroling you don’t have to stick to the classics. Make your event stand out and pick out fun unique songs people wouldn’t think about.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
