Christmas Caroling

Of all the traditions in my family, my absolute number-one favorite was Christmas caroling. Every Sunday, Monday, and Saturday night (as well as most Fridays) in December was reserved for Christmas caroling.

We would start by bundling up--hats, scarves, mittens, coats. (Living now in Utah County, where it actually does get cold, I laugh at the memory.) We'd begin with our neighbors in our own little cul-de-sac, and then branch out: Ward members. Family. Friends. Teachers. Daddy's clients. (Many to whom we would deliver his annual Christmas gift of a box of oranges. Which is another story altogether--I'll have to remember to write a post about those blessed, blasted oranges.)

Some Decembers we managed more houses, some less. To maximize our time, we had the routine down to a science.

• Get out of the van in order--closest to the door in the first bench seat out first, then the rest of the front bench, then the back bench.
• Quietly hurry up to the door. Don't ring the doorbell until the last person (usually Mema or Daddy) is at the porch.
• Start singing as soon as the doorbell is rung.
• Three songs. No more, no less. And the last song is always the chorus of "We Wish You a Merry Christmas", and it is always followed by "Merry Christmas!"
• Smile, and start back the car. Any invitations (with a few notable suggestions) to enter the house were politely declined by Daddy, with the excuse that we had many other houses to visit.
• Usually any offers of candy were also declined. (Which I always thought was the biggest bummer.)
• Back to the van, and enter in reverse order. No pushing or shoving allowed.
• And onto the next house!

In this way we could visit around 10 different houses in an evening, depending on how far apart they were. We sang to everyone's schoolteacher (as long as said schoolteacher was willing to give his/her address), and sometimes that would take us all over the city. Daddy had particular clients who looked forward to our visits every year, and of course we would sing at Grandma and Grandpa's. Other than that, though, we were pretty flexible. We'd be in a neighborhood for a specific person, and someone would say, "Hey, doesn't so-and-so live over here?" and we would go sing to them, too.
In the car between stops, we'd sing all the Christmas songs we could think up. Sometimes our voices would get tired, and then it would be quiet, with everyone looking outside at the Christmas lights on the houses. When we got home, if it wasn't too late, we'd sometimes have hot chocolate or hot lemonade (don't knock 'till you've tried it), to "warm" us up.

Some of my fondest Christmas memories are Christmas caroling with my family. When we were young, the songs were simple hymns and children's songs. My mother taught us to play steel pipe chimes--she'd stand behind us and tap our heads when it was our turn to play. As we got older, we learned more complex songs, with parts--always short, but pretty and fun to sing.

Well, tonight I got one of my fondest dreams for my little family. We went Christmas caroling to Zee's teacher. She lives right here in Spanish Fork, so it was easy. We've been practicing our songs (Jingle Bells, Christmas Bells are Ringing, and (of course) We Wish You a Merry Christmas), and I was so proud of my two oldest for singing so well. Gee didn't sing, but Hebs led the music in his sweet crazy way. Zee's teacher really enjoyed it, and we had a marvelous time.

I hope we can do this again and again, though the many Decembers until my kids are grown. I want them to have the same types of wonderful memories as I do.

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Advent Day 17: The angel of the Lord told the shepherds not to be afraid, because something wonderful just happened. The Savior of all the world had been born! They could find him in a stable in Bethlehem. Luke 2:10-12 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.