Every Christmas season, Josie Ward and her family bundle up in warm clothing and visit the neighbors. After knocking on the door, they burst into song. Every Christmas season, Josie Ward and her family bundle up in warm clothing and visit the neighbors. After knocking on the door, they burst into song.
Ward loves caroling: "I think it's a wonderful tradition. It's our way to spread Christmas cheer."
But the Farmington woman sometimes wonders if she and her family members are oddballs.
"Why doesn't anybody else do it?" she asks.
Actually, there are still a few folks who enjoy caroling, but it does seem to be a dying tradition.
"I think there are (fewer) carolers than there used to be," said Jerry Harrop of Ogden. "We don't have people coming around the neighborhood, at least not as many as may have done years ago."
Modern life and technology may be to blame for the decline.
Mark Henderson, director of choral studies at Weber State University, has some theories about why fewer people go caroling. One theory has to do with the invention of recorded music.
"Since then, very slowly, people began to feel less and less inclined to perform in public," he said. People no longer need to make their own music, and have become more comfortable being in an audience.
"Everything we hear on the radio and television is by the best performers available," he said. "I think people started to compare what used to be just a fun activity to professional performances, and that makes people less inclined to try. If they go caroling, they feel like they're going to be judged for the quality of it."
Harrop, who organizes the annual Christmas Carol Sing-In at the Ogden Tabernacle, blames other modern inventions.
"I think a lot of people are entertained by what happens in the home on the computer and TV," he said.
In addition, the cultural pace has increased, Henderson said.
"I think most people agree that they like the holiday season, but it's become extremely stressful," he said. "We try to cram more and more into it, and get less and less out of it."
Forgoing caroling may be one way folks save time.
"Maybe," Henderson joked, "we should just text carols to each other and not bother going in person."
Part of the charm and value of old traditions is doing things in person, and slowing down to enjoy time with family and friends, he said.
"I've thought quite a bit about holidays, and
when we make them more efficient, when we try to boil them down to the essence or do just a token, something is really lost," he said.
A friendly visit
Harrop wonders if Christmas caroling might be more of a tradition in smaller communities, "where people know their neighbors a lot better."
But Mary Holst of Farmington says that's one of the reasons she and her family go caroling.
"We get to meet neighbors -- usually we just wave as we go by when they're raking leaves," she said.
Mary's husband, Shane Holst, says caroling is also a gift from the family.
"One of the things we try to do is know about people in our neighborhood who may be struggling one way or another, and do our best to make sure they're included," he said. "It makes us feel great and keeps us warm, and it doesn't take anything but a couple of minutes and a heartfelt expression of love and season's greetings. Everybody comes out, I think, the better for it."
Caroling etiquette
When caroling started, it was common to drop in on neighbors unannounced -- there weren't any phones.
"I think it's become against our cultural rules to just drop in," said Henderson. "You have to warn somebody before you visit their house, and if you warn somebody you're going to come caroling, it sort of takes the wind out of your sails."
Because of this "rule," and lack of experience with carolers, some people don't know how to react.
Henderson says carolers don't generally expect to be invited inside.
"I think it's OK to invite us in if it's snowing or particularly cold, but I wouldn't say we need to be invited to sit down or stay," he said. "We're really there to carol briefly, exchange greetings and pleasantries, and move on."
Those being visited should feel free to participate. "Don't be afraid to join in and sing along," said Ward.
Carolers should keep it short, because folks are busy, Henderson said, but more often than not, carolers are a welcome interruption.
"We hardly ever have anybody who isn't pretty delighted to have us come to the door," said Henderson.
Sometimes, the visit's like a Christmas miracle.
"One of our neighbors ... had little kids dressed as wise men, a baby in a manger and three kings coming, so they brought us in to be the angels on high," said Shane Holst. "We got there at just the right time."
KEEP TRADITION ALIVE
Experienced carolers have plenty of tips to offer first-timers:
-- There's strength in numbers. "Try to get enough people so you feel comfortable; if you have four or five or more, it dilutes the fear of the quality of it," said Mark Henderson, director of choral studies at Weber State University.
-- Don't worry. "The ability to sing is not a requirement," said Farmington caroler Mary Holst. "We did it before our kids learned to sing."
Henderson agrees. "It's not about the quality of performance in the first place," he said. "It's about visiting somebody in a surprising way, and bringing them a few moments of pleasure."
-- Wear a costume. Making it more theatrical, with scarves and Santa or Dickens-style hats, can make it more comfortable for some people, Henderson said.
-- Take a small gift. Carolers in old England expected food or drink after singing, but the Henderson family has reversed that.
"We have a small, inexpensive gift or cookies we can give to people we carol to. That way it makes it an easier ritual because there's more to the exchange besides just singing."
-- Know your carols. You don't have to know a lot of songs, just two or three to repeat at different houses. Some folks take written music, but others choose simple songs that even little kids know, such as "Jingle Bells," "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and "Silent Night." Stick to one well-remembered verse, advises Farmington caroler Josie Ward.
-- Know your audience. "Start with friends, and families with young children who are going to be dazzled by it," said Holst.
-- Have a plan. "We just ring the doorbell and start singing before the door is open," said Holst.
Ward added: "Instead of just awkward silence after we finish, we end by singing 'We Wish You a Merry Christmas.' We just say 'Merry Christmas,' and start singing and leave."
KEEP TRADITION ALIVE
Experienced carolers have plenty of tips to offer first-timers:
l There's strength in numbers. "Try to get enough people so you feel comfortable; if you have four or five or more, it dilutes the fear of the quality of it," said Mark Henderson, director of choral studies at Weber State University.
l Don't worry. "The ability to sing is not a requirement," said Farmington caroler Mary Holst. "We did it before our kids learned to sing."
Henderson agrees. "It's not about the quality of performance in the first place," he said. "It's about visiting somebody in a surprising way, and bringing them a few moments of pleasure."
l Wear a costume. Making it more theatrical, with scarves and Santa or Dickens-style hats, can make it more comfortable for some people, Henderson said.
l Take a small gift. Carolers in old England expected food or drink after singing, but the Henderson family has reversed that.
"We have a small, inexpensive gift or cookies we can give to people we carol to. That way it makes it an easier ritual because there's more to the exchange besides just singing."
l Know your carols. You don't have to know a lot of songs, just two or three to repeat at different houses. Some folks take written music, but others choose simple songs that even little kids know, such as "Jingle Bells," "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and "Silent Night." Stick to one well-remembered verse, advises Farmington caroler Josie Ward.
l Know your audience. "Start with friends, and families with young children who are going to be dazzled by it," said Holst.
l Have a plan. "We just ring the doorbell and start singing before the door is open," said Holst.
Ward added: "Instead of just awkward silence after we finish, we end by singing 'We Wish You a Merry Christmas.' We just say 'Merry Christmas,' and start singing and leave."