The Door to Door Christmas Caroling tradition has become a thing of the past, but not for our extended family.
For over a decade, we gather, put together plates of Christmas goodies, and visit our neighbors. Now, remember, we are country folk, so caroling to our neighbors means jumping in my brother’s fifteen passenger “White Shark,” our “Hunk o’ Junk” mini van, and gallivanting down our country road. Some of these “neighbors” we only converse with once a year during our annual caroling trek, but others, we see often. Either way, it gives us an opportunity to express our gratitude to them and share some Christmas cheer.
We’ve have so many funny stories from throughout the years, even so far as to visit people that let it be known they like dogs more than people, yet it’s been a true outreach that has created a memorable tradition embedded on our family’s heart.
Once a sweet elderly couple even called us to make sure they knew when we were coming. Since we’re kind of night owl folk, I admit, we’ve gone a few times past their bed time. 🙂
Right now, we’re trying to get our calendar in sync. Sometimes it’s easy to let the important things slide by the way side of what seems like the “urgent” things. As I view the pictures from last year, I realize this is one of the important things. 🙂
If you haven’t considered visiting your neighbors in this old fashioned Christmas Carol tradition, I highly recommend it. There’s nothing like sharing joy through music and hospitality.
All of my neighbors are retired. I am very blessed; the ones on each side of me & directly across the street keep an eye on the house when I’m gone, and even help with snow removal & leaf blowing. This year I am going to make them each a dish of lasagna rolls as a thank you/Merry Christmas gift. It will be one less meal that they have to cook, and healthier than cookies/sweets!
I totally agree with you. We LOVE caroling. We went recently and one of our dear 91 yr. old neighbor ladies was brought to tears because it blessed her so much.
I think your amazing! I just can’t carry a tune in a bucket! LOL My neighbors are very good to me all year long! The one behind me always leaves me veggies from her garden, on my back patio. The neighbor beside me brings me homeade desserts alot. My other neighbor is my best friend! I think they would just rather have my cookies for Christmas! LOL Keep singing girlfriend!
I absolutely LOVE that you do this! I grew up in a “caroling community”, be it church groups, school choir, Scouts of both genders, or community bands. It was joyful&fun&the recipients loved it,too! And tho I am in a non-caroling city neighborhood, I still bake homemade bread for neighbors’ Cmas dinners, take whole meals to the bereaved, and make sure they know they are loved. Several have said “where did you come from?” and i just say “the country”. 😉 the older folks that had country childhoods just nod, smile & say “yep”. I am blessed by their help&watchful eye, and it seems like such a little thing to do. And I LOL’d about the elderly couple-that was Mom&Dad when they were home! Now the youth group, Scouts & MarineCorpsLeague go to their nursing home and it *still* makes their season! Thanks fpr posting&keeping the tradition alive! -s-
For years my family went caroling every Christmas Eve. And since our family ALWAYS gets sick over the holidays, some of our best caroling memories involve members of the family puking in the bushes while everyone else is trying to carry on with “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.” Good times.
Heartwarming.
You never know who’s heart will be cheered or reassured at just the right time – God dispenses love sometimes through a carol.
And LOL funny comment Joanna.
Merry Christmas
We go caroling every year with our church. LOVE IT! We went just last night and although I wasn’t really feeling it at first, after the first house I was ready to go….just the look on the faces of the people…priceless. 🙂
We too are a family of 7 and our 2nd daughters birthday is Dec. 22. We started the tradition of caroling on her birthday as her “party”. Our family and our neighbors across the street bundle up, goodies in tow, and lanterns carried by the dads and off we go, caroling in our subdivision. We end the evening back at our house for hot chocolate, cake and ice cream. Most people that have birthdays so close to Christmas feel slited in a lot of ways. Anaston loves that she has such a special birthday tradition that she gets to share with so many people. Just found your blog, I think we might be “soul sisters” 🙂 REALLY enjoying it. Thanks!
What a wonderful idea for your daughter’s party. She will look back with such amazing memories from that tradition. 🙂 So glad you found me.
JUST NEW TO TORONTO. WOULED VERY MUCH APPRECIATE SOME INFORMATION AND POSSIBLY DIRECTION! OUR HOUSE IS JUST OFF LAKESHORE BLVD. IT IS OUR FIRST CHRISTMAS TOGETHER. MY HUSBAND HAS NEVER BEEN CAROLING AND I KNOW HE WILL LOVE IT! ANY INFORMATION WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!