carolling kids

Tweet

If you're from the Philippines, you're familiar with the scene - a minimum of two children (all usually complete strangers to you) go gate-to-gate, door-to-door, singing their now standard opening song "sa maybahay ang aming bati, meri krismas na maluwalhati... ang sanhi po ng pagparito humihingi po ng aginaldo" (translation: greeting the homeowner Merry Christmas, we come asking for gifts). Tune, tone and lyrics usually all off. Sometimes they have a makeshift drum for accompaniment - a tin can and a stick - struck unrhythmically. Then they leave singing "tenk yu, tenk you, ang babait/babarat ninyo" (thank you, you are so good/you're a cheapskate) as applicable. Whenever a group comes to our door, I stop them as soon as possible, asking them to come back on December 23, not earlier and not later. If I start giving them anything now, the same kids will be coming to my door every night and some even will come back the same night. I'm thinking I'll be giving out food, mostly sweets and candies then. I'm longing to hear some really good, well-practiced carollers. Are there any in your neighborhood? How goes it in your neighborhood? Any carolling there and how do they fare? Do you hand out something to these carolling kids every time they come, do you pay attention to them at all?