Christmas carols are among the most beloved parts of Christmas. Silent Night, Away in a Manger, and many other carols teach Christian truths and amplify the Advent spirit. Past generations learned carols in their families, but present generations do not. Music ministers sometimes add carols to Sunday morning worship. One venue where you can learn carols is Christmas Caroling. This article describes how churches can add caroling to their Christmas calendar.
By Mark D. Harris
Webster defines caroling as “to go about outdoors in a group singing Christmas carols”.[1] Caroling is a wonderful tradition in the Christian faith, though it seems to be declining in recent years. Growing up in Southern California, we never had a white Christmas, but we caroled. Now in West Virginia, we have many white Christmases, and we still carol. Annual caroling has become an important and consistent part of our holiday season.
History
Many of the origins of Christmas caroling lie in pagan singing and dancing around the winter solstice, usually December 21, the day with the least daylight in the year. However, as Christianity grew in Europe, followers of Christ kept many heathen traditions but transformed their meanings. For example, songs and dances to the Roman god Jupiter or the Norse god Odin become songs and dances to the real God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Simultaneously, early Christians modified and deployed ancient Hebrew songs, such as those found in the Bible book of Psalms, for Christmas use. The most famous example is Handel’s Messiah, a Christmastime favorite that borrows liberally from the works of David. In another example, the lesser-known carol Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silent is based on Habakkuk 2:20.
Original songs written in Latin celebrating the birth of Christ such as Gloria in Excelsis Deo developed. Saint Francis of Assisi (1181-1226) introduced Nativity plays, including Jesus, Joseph, Mary, shepherds, magi, and animals into Christmastime festivities.[2] He included songs written in the vernacular to allow common people to understand. Many of these songs used folk tunes with Christian Christmas lyrics. People began to sing these songs in their own tongue rather than only hearing them sung by Latin-speaking priests. Traveling and local musicians sang carols in town squares and other local gatherings at Christmastime. While expressive traditions like singing and dancing declined somewhat during the Protestant Reformation (16th and 17th centuries), they returned in the 18th and 19th centuries. Joy to the World and God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen entered Christmas songbooks in this period. Christmas caroling reached its heyday in the late 19th century.
Church Christmas Caroling
Whatever the weather, the following list contains a few tips on how to make your church’s Christmas caroling successful.
- Day and time – Groups can carol one of the Sunday afternoons of Advent. People may want to change clothes after church and return to the church for caroling at two or three pm. Voices will often get tired, singers may get cold, and light can decline after two to three hours of singing outdoors in winter so stopping at five or six pm is reasonable
- Location – The carolers can go to the homes of church members who are shut-ins (church members and affiliated people who are medically unable to attend services). Alternatively, the group can carol to people in the neighborhood of the church, whether churched or not. Some carolers go to nursing homes and others hold festivals in local parks.
- Group size – each group of carolers should be comprised of at least five people. If fifteen people (or more) show up, and there are too many recipients for the carolers to hit every house in two to three hours, the carolers can break into two or more groups.
- Source of the music – Song sheets made by the church are handy, but hymnals are more available. Hymnals also have more songs so that carolers can take a wider variety of requests. When we go by car, we ask the people in each vehicle to pick at least two songs, one to start and one in case the recipient does not have a request. People in each vehicle pick more if needed.
- Navigating to the homes – Many groups walk or drive to the farthest caroling sites (like the homes of one or more shut-ins), carol, go to the next house, and work their way back to the church. A leader of the caroling team should list all addresses to which the team will go and provide the list to every driver. Each driver can use GPS or follow the others to find their way.
- Transportation – Churches can use their van or bus, and volunteers can drive themselves. Make sure that whoever drives the van is covered under the church’s insurance.
- Warmth – Leaders should bring extra blankets or jackets to help people to stay warm. At least one person in every caroler group I have ever seen is dressed poorly for cold weather. Also, shut-ins will open their front door and sometimes step outside to listen to the music or even sing along. Such people may need a temporary covering while the team is singing.
- To do at each house – The carolers should begin singing once everyone is present. People should move as close to the caroling recipient as possible. The group leader will knock on the front door or ring the doorbell. When the person opens the door, he will announce the goal of the carolers (Christmas cheer, glory to God, etc.). He will begin singing the first carol and other carolers will join in. After the first carol, the leader will ask if the recipient has any requests. If so, and the carolers know the song, they will sing it. If not, the leader will ask the recipient to pick another. If the recipient does not have another song, the leader will begin singing the second song that the carolers chose. Carolers usually sing two verses or one verse twice. Once both songs are done, carolers sing We Wish You a Merry Christmas as they depart. Total time at each house is about 7-10 minutes.
- After caroling – Carolers are often cold and tired when they return to the church. The leader should have snacks and refreshments, such as cookies, hot apple cider, hot coffee, and hot chocolate at the church. People can discuss how they experienced caroling.
Conclusion
Christmas caroling is a rich tradition in the Church. Many people, young and old, love it. Singing strengthens the body and lifts the spirit. There are few other venues in which groups of people can sing together in public. Carolers are blessed. Shut-in recipients are blessed since they enjoy the songs and get tangible proof that their church has not forgotten them. Recipients in the community get the unmistakable message that the local church cares for them. More important, they hear the story of Christ.
Churches should try to make caroling available every year. Lay leaders should take responsibility. I hope this article provides a useful way to minimize the work of caroling and improve communication between those involved. God will be glorified. Merry Christmas!
[1] https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carolling.
[2] https://www.christianity.com/wiki/holidays/what-is-the-history-and-significance-of-christmas-caroling.html#google_vignette.
