Dan's Papers - December 7, 2007 - Here We Come A-Caroling

While many of us in the jaded 21st century tend to scoff at seasonal cheer and shudder at gaudy Christmas décor, there are certain aspects of the holiday season that are so pure, so essentially joyful, that they must not be cast aside for the greedy consumption that also infuses this time of year. The first snowfall, tree lighting ceremonies and giving for the sake of giving are all on this lovely list. But one of the chart-toppers for me is something that spins that air in circles, something that stops deadlines in its tracks, something that epitomizes that shared spirit of Christmas - caroling.

I know, there have been too many hilarious "Saturday Night Live" sketches where somebody's slammed the door on a group of carolers, and viewers have concurred that they too have had the desire to shut out the holiday cheer. But when was the last time a group of carolers knocked on your door? Just for the love of singing, and the love of sharing that gift, they bundle up in warm clothes and wander the streets, brightening the evenings of all who hear them.

I am not the kind of person who loads up on mini-Santas at Hallmark every season. I don't put tinsel all over my living room, and rarely will you find a little Christmas wreath pinned to the collar of my shirt. But when Christmas carolers come to the door, I fling it wide open and soak in the sound of their voices.

Christmas carols are among the oldest musical compositions that are still sung today. The practice of caroling can be traced back as far as the 13th century. Back then, though, caroling was no more than collective singing that happened at any celebration, unlike today, when caroling is specifically related to Christmas or Christian worship. "Angels from the Realms of Glory," a popular carol still sung today, dates back to the Middle Ages. The first time many popular carols were seen in print was in 1833, when William B. Sandys published a compilation of carols including "God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen," "The First Noel," "I Saw Three Ships Come Sailing In" and "Hark the Herald Angels Sing."

My favorite Christmas carol is "Carol of the Bells." This song, originally a Ukrainian folk song by Mykola Dmytrovych Leontovych, was written as a winter well-wishing song. The Ukrainian National Chorus sang it in over a thousand concerts as it toured around Europe and America in the 1920s, which was when it first came to American audiences. In 1921, the chorus sang it at Carnegie Hall. The English version was written in 1936 by Peter Wilhousky, who worked for NBC Radio. Now, "Carol of the Bells" is one of the most popular pieces sung by choirs and a cappella groups at this time of year. "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" dates back to 16th century England, and it's one of the most telltale signs of the season. With classic harmonies, it's also a favorite of carolers and a cappella groups at this time of year. Of course, it has meant that carolers stand on front lawns demanding "figgy pudding" year after year. As a child, I remember being perplexed as to what exactly "figgy pudding" was, and I'd say that this song is the only thing that has kept the term in the parlance of our times.

"My Lady Greensleeves" is a song that you'll hear again and again throughout this season. While it does date back hundreds of years, it isn't really a carol because it's more frequently performed as a solo piece than with a chorus. In addition, the tale of Lady Greensleeves has nothing to do with Christmas or winter. It's widely believed that the song was composed by King Henry VIII in England and dedicated to Anne Boleyn. However, this is unlikely since the style was not common in England at that time. However, the song probably was written about a promiscuous woman, as green was then the color associated with prostitution. The instrumental version of this beautiful ballad is played through the winter season. It probably became associated with Christmas simply because it had the word "green" in the title, but now it is a staple.

The holiday season is one of the few times that choirs and a cappella groups get to revel in the joys of public singing, which used to be much more commonplace. So this year, if a group knocks on your door or you see a few bundled singers performing on Main Street, pause for a moment to soak up their sound. It's one simple way to enjoy the holiday spirit. Happy Holidays!