Do you remember having Christmas carolers?
By Marie Coyle
@MarieCoyle (38591)
December 8, 2024 8:12pm CST
I always thought it was so nice, carolers going around in little groups and singing a song or two of Christmas, often ending with ''Silent Night'' although not always. In some smaller towns, it seemed the carolers often concentrated on singing for elderly, or shut-ins, or people who were sick. Whatever the reason, people loved to have carolers come. I went with groups several times back in the day, to go caroling, My kids loved to go, too.
I did a bit of research to see just what happened to this custom that seems to have mostly faded away. The reasons were many--people didn't feel safe walking around in the dark anymore, it was too cold, church attendance has gone way down over the years so many don't have enough people to go caroling, I do know the assisted living place not terribly far from where I live has a group or two of carolers every year, and the residents truly love it when they come. They serve them hot chocolate and cookies, etc.
It would be nice to see caroling revived, but in many places I can see why people wouldn't feel safe doing it anymore. What a shame.
Have you ever had Christmas carolers? Or been one?
20 people like this
20 responses
@snowy22315 (182000)
• United States
9 Dec
We never had any come to the house anywhere I lived...but Ihave caroled in nursing homes with various groups I was involved with.
3 people like this
@MarieCoyle (38591)
•
9 Dec
The nursing home residents always seemed to really enjoy the carolers.
2 people like this
@FourWalls (68918)
• United States
9 Dec
Yes, I went Christmas caroling with my mom, I think in 1990.
3 people like this
@MarieCoyle (38591)
•
9 Dec
I went with a group from my old church, but that was years ago where I used to live. Then I was a Girl Scout leader for several years and took the girls caroling, and the mom’s went along as well. They loved it and seemed to really enjoy it.
2 people like this
@celticeagle (168171)
• Boise, Idaho
9 Dec
I remember caroling with my two cousins when I was young. It does seem to have gotten to where people just don't feel safe anymore. It is really sad.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (168171)
• Boise, Idaho
10 Dec
@MarieCoyle ........Things have certainly changed.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (38591)
•
10 Dec
It really is sad. So many things our children and grandchildren will never enjoy, because it isn't safe.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (38591)
•
11 Dec
@celticeagle
And some changes have been made to try to keep people safe...but honestly, no place is truly safe.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (472004)
• Switzerland
10 Dec
@MarieCoyle In Spain they have carolers, known as “zambombas”, they gather in streets and sing Christmas tunes.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (472004)
• Switzerland
11 Dec
@MarieCoyle In Italy we do not have carolers, but the shepherds who came down from the hills at Christmas, they walk in the streets playing an ancient pastoral instrument called zampogna, it's a sort of bagpipe.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (38591)
•
10 Dec
@LadyDuck
That would be nice to go out to the streets and hear them, too.
1 person likes this
@rakski (125882)
• Philippines
9 Dec
@MarieCoyle oh okay. The tradition here is to give them money.
But what is not good is that some abuse it making it like a business
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (38591)
•
9 Dec
@rakski
Oh, no...none of the carolers ever expected money. Often we had treats for them like Christmas cookies with a hot drink, but that was all. I would have been flabbergasted if any of them wanted or asked for money.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (38591)
•
9 Dec
I haven’t had carolers in many years. Back in the day, we used to offer hot chocolate or hot tea to them.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (38591)
•
9 Dec
They do that in a little town not far from me, and we have gone there before to hear them. The carolers dress up, etc. and are very good.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (38591)
•
10 Dec
I think in many places it isn't done much if at all, for safety reasons. At least, it seems that way.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (137597)
• India
10 Dec
@MarieCoyle They visit us every year and give them some money
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (38591)
•
10 Dec
@allknowing
I am simply astounded that carolers expect money. I have never known anyone to be paid for it.
@kaylachan (71590)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
9 Dec
No. The clsest was on t.v. I know it had to have existed, because movies and t.v. do hold grains of truth and reality in their storytelling. But, I suspect St. AUgustine was just too small and well, Apartments here in Daytona discouraged just about... everything.
1 person likes this
@kaylachan (71590)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
9 Dec
@MarieCoyle Yeah, it would be. And, I totally get it.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (38591)
•
9 Dec
I guess I can understand why the apartments didn’t encourage extra people around outside, more than likely it was a safety/liability concern.
1 person likes this
@toniganzon (72517)
• Philippines
9 Dec
I've never been one but we do get carolers visit our home every single year. But when I was a kid, the carolers were older people complete with musical instruments. They'd sent a letter ahed of time to let us know they would come. My parents would let them in the house. They'd sing and not only that, they dance too. I remember how much I enjoyed it when I was a kid. There would be several groups coming into our home every year when my parents were still alive.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (38591)
•
9 Dec
We were visited by carolers a few times who had some instruments, as well. I remember flutes and a guitar, there were more but my memory doesn't go any further on what all they had. I would have loved it to see the carolers dance, that must have really been neat to see. What a good memory for you, Toni.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (80659)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
9 Dec
Born and raised in NYC I don't remember any carolers except at special places to entertain people,
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (38591)
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10 Dec
I can understand it not being done in NYC, for sure.
1 person likes this
@JESSY3236 (20046)
• United States
10 Dec
We never had any. But my uncle used to go with a signing group to nursing homes. He played with them on a keyboard.
In a town near here, there is a decoration of carolers who "sing".
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (38591)
•
10 Dec
There used to be a lot of caroling going on, but sadly, not anymore.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (341820)
• Rockingham, Australia
9 Dec
A friend and I used to conduct a youth choir and band at our church. She looked after the singers and I arranged the music for guitars and saxophones. On two occasions, we put all the kids on the baack of a truck and played at several places around the nearby streets. It would be against the law now to have them all on a truck. lol
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (38591)
•
10 Dec
You are correct, no one is allowed to ride in the back of a pick up truck now.
1 person likes this
@porwest (92463)
• United States
15 Dec
I have never been one, and personally, I would not want them coming to my door. I have had a few over the years, and it was always EXTREMELY weird and awkward, but I didn't have the heart to pretend like I wasn't home or slam the door in their face. But nowadays if carolers came to my door, I'd likely just ignore the knocks. Just not my thing.
I don't want to ever see it revived. I have always thought it was weird. lol
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (38591)
•
15 Dec
I can remember Carolers out and about even as a little girl in Chicago. I guess I thought everyone enjoyed them. I do know some people really think it’s nice when people come to sing to them. But hey, we’re all different!
1 person likes this
@porwest (92463)
• United States
16 Dec
@MarieCoyle Maybe at one time more people did. I am sure it was more popular, or maybe it was simply popularized. Regardless, they can get off my lawn and stay off my porch and Bah Humbug! 
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (38591)
•
9 Dec
Judy, so did I. Good memories. I do remember one year that we had a huge group going, and there was a big ice storm. We tried to go and people were falling down, so we had to give up!
@LeaPea2417 (37369)
• Toccoa, Georgia
9 Dec
I remember Christmas Carolers coming to my family's door when I was young. I also remember doing it with a group from my Highschool one year.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (38591)
•
10 Dec
I am feeling better knowing I am not the only one who remembers carolers!
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (51485)
• Canada
9 Dec
The choir at our little country church would go out on Christmas Eve caroling, it was their way of warming up their voices for Christmas Eve Mass. They stopped doing it by the time that I would have been old enough to join. They had to have drivers, as we lived in the country.
I remember when we moved into a new home in 1990, we were home, had our baby tucked in for the night and had turned in ourselves, when we heard a huge crowd, it was my husband's 7 siblings and their spouses, all outside of the bedroom window that we shared, singing carols and wishing us well in our new home. It was so sweet.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (38591)
•
9 Dec
That’s a truly nice memory to have, Julia. We were treated to Christmas carolers the winter my youngest was born. It was a surprise and so nice. It’s sort of sad that isn’t really done much anymore.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (38591)
•
9 Dec
Kind of strange...I have, and not just in Illinois, but everywhere I have lived.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (181320)
• United States
9 Dec
I have a vague memory of carolers coming once back in the 50s. Have a good week.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (38591)
•
9 Dec
I think before long that is what carolers will be, a vague memory. Kind of sad.
1 person likes this
@aureategloom (11157)
• Bosnia And Herzegovina
9 Dec
i only saw that in movies, that's not a thing here. at least not in three towns where i lived.
however, there are many Christmas concerts where kids and adults preform Christmas carols 
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (38591)
•
9 Dec
It used to be more common in the US than it is now. I suppose in a few more years, people will not even know what a Christmas caroler even is. Kind of sad.
