In our modern lives, the Christmas spirit can sometimes be lost in the hustle and bustle, with the fun of the holiday season giving way to stress about buying the perfect gift and attending too many Christmas parties. Christmas caroling is quickly becoming a lost art, especially as concerns rise about the safety of going door to door, uninvited, in today’s world.
In 2007, the city of Manila in the Philippines went so far as to ban Christmas caroling in areas with busy streets out of concern for the safety of children and motorists, after a young caroler was run over. The songs themselves are also under attack, with a New Jersey school district banning traditional, religious Christmas carols from public school events, sparking a debate about freedom of religion and religious expression in public schools.
Controversy aside, Christmas carols are a rich part of Christmas history, dating back to the 13th century. Today’s Christmas carolers often visit nursing homes and hospitals to bring a bit of holiday cheer to those who may be feeling under the weather, but it’s rare to see a group of carolers strolling around the neighborhood, knocking on doors to spread their holiday cheer.
This year, why not revive the time-honored tradition of Christmas caroling by dressing up in your Sunday best, rounding up some friends who can carry a tune, and singing some holiday favorites to friends and neighbors? Stay tuned to this blog for caroling safety tips, links to lyrics and music, and other fun, Christmas-related chit-chat.
Christmas caroling is a little bit different for one California town, the home to the Magical Christmas Caroling Truck. As the brightly lit and colorfully decorated semi truck and trailer parade through North Hollywood and Toluca Lake each year, carolers sing traditional Christmas songs to the crowd that gathers along the street. It’s essentially a mobile station for holiday cheer. Check out this video to see the truck in action: