Have children ever knocked on your door on Christmas Eve and asked to sing a song in exchange for treats? Oh, why am I even asking!! These children used to visit everyone, and of course you yourself, in your childhood, went from house to house begging for sweets in exchange for a carol. But do you know where the history of singing Christmas carols comes from?
The Tradition of Christmas Carols.
The tradition of going door to door singing Christmas carols dates back to Shakespearean times. However, it wasn’t children who did it back then, but rather fairly grown men, mostly from the lower class. They would go from house to house singing until someone paid for their efforts.
By the end of the 18th century, it became more akin to charitable acts. People stopped seeing it as mere begging. Women joined the men, and they sought out windows with lit candles. It meant that the hosts were hospitable. For their efforts, the singers received some money, treats, and were offered a drink of Wassail. This tradition in England was called “Wassailing.”
The history of singing Christmas songs stretches back deeply into the medieval times and has been depicted in literature and movies for many years. However, it was during the Victorian era that this charming tradition reached its peak.
It was a time when Christmas was a real holiday that everyone looked forward to very much and prepared thoroughly. It was enjoyed, and music in homes was a beloved part of it. Singing carols after the Christmas feast was a beloved tradition.
Do you want more of my winter posts? Then click on the links: Winter nostalgia and Where to find the New Year spirit.
Charles Dickens describes this in one of his stories, “The Seven Poor Travellers.” He tells of a group of musicians who put on a performance in the town one winter evening – “As I passed along the High Street, at a distance, I heard the sound of music, and I made towards it. It proceeded from the direction of the old city-gate, at the end of the remarkably quaint row of gabled houses.”
It is believed that the first Christmas service took place at Truro Cathedral, Cornwall, in 1880. It was organized by Edward White Benson, the First Bishop of Truro, who later became the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Today, Christmas carolers can also be found in town squares, markets, hospitals, and nursing homes. They are hoping for monetary donations. However, they wouldn’t mind a handful of candies or a hot glass of mulled wine.
If you feel like making an amazing spiced drink, Glögg, according to a very interesting Scandinavian recipe, to treat carolers or enjoy it with your family, you can find the recipe here.
What carols were popular? Carols could be secular or religious. Many of them are familiar to us today, such as: Deck the Halls, Here We Come a-Wassailing, We Wish you a Merry Christmas, and The Twelve Days of Christmas.
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