National Go Caroling Day
December 20th
The History of Christmas Caroling
The tradition of Christmas caroling in the United States has roots in ancient European customs. The practice of singing festive songs and carols during the Christmas season can be traced back to medieval times. Groups of singers, often going door to door, would sing to spread holiday cheer. Early European settlers brought these traditions with them to America. This is when Christmas caroling became a cherished part of the holiday festivities.
During the 19th century, Christmas caroling gained popularity in the United States with various communities organizing festive gatherings and processions. The Victorian era saw a resurgence of interest in Christmas traditions. Caroling became an integral part of community celebrations.
The 20th century witnessed both peaks and declines in the popularity of Christmas caroling. In the mid-20th century, caroling experienced a revival. At this time, community and school groups actively joined in participating in this festive tradition. However, in subsequent decades, the practice declined as cultural shifts and changes in social dynamics impacted community activities.
Download our National Go Caroling Day lyric PDF – Christmas Caroling with Harmony Garden 2020
The 21st century has seen a mix of traditional caroling and new forms of musical celebration. While some communities continue the door-to-door caroling tradition, others have embraced caroling events in public spaces, shopping centers, and organized community gatherings. Technology has also played a role, with virtual caroling becoming popular. This was especially seen during the holiday season amid the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
Speaking of 2020, while it presented challenges to traditional caroling practices due to social distancing measures, it also spurred creative adaptations. Virtual and drive-by caroling became prevalent. This allowed people to continue the tradition while adhering to safety guidelines. The pandemic emphasized the resilience of the Christmas caroling tradition, showcasing its ability to adapt to changing circumstances while maintaining the spirit of joy and togetherness during the holiday season.
This is exactly how Harmony Garden started to spread the knowledge of National Go Caroling Day to our community and contract locations. We created a simple sing along video and a downloadable PDF to all of the songs in the video! We weren’t sure how to connect with our community in December 2020, as Covid started to rear its head again, making it more difficult to connect with families. Now, we share this video and PDF for free every year in hopes to help spread more Christmas cheer!
Enjoy!
