12 Days of Traditions...Day 3

Caroling has been a welcome part of my December for as long as I can remember. When I was a little girl, I remember a big group of us trudging through the snowy streets of my little village, caroling for elderly friends and neighbors. I remember seeing the look of joy on their faces as they stood inside their door looking out at all of us. Sometimes I'd see their lips moving a little bit, trying to sing along. Sometimes I'd see a tear in their eye. To this day, I still love that old song by Sandi Patty, "Merry Christmas with Love." It reminds me so much of the dear ones we used to carol for in my childhood.

Caroling is still one of my favorite parts of December. My husband comes from a very large, musical family. For several years, we met at nursing homes to carol for the residents prior to Christmas. I'm one that is lucky if I'm able to sing the melody. I just stick to what I know. But various members of my husband's family sing harmony, and when you put us all together, we make a rather angelic sound. One of my most poignant memories of our family caroling parties was 6 years ago when my husband's grandma was very ill with cancer. She was homebound and likely recognizing that it was her last Christmas on earth. We stopped at her home to carol. There was no way that all of us would fit in her little room, so we assembled in the livingroom and the hallway. We sang songs in celebration of our newborn King. And we each took turns going in to visit with Grandma. She went "Home" for Christmas just a couple weeks later. How I treasure those sweet times...

In my mind, it's always tradition (an unspoken "rule," if you will) that the closing song for every group of carolers is "We Wish You a Merry Christmas." I don't know where I got that idea...likely 'cause that's the way it was when I was a little girl. But however you do it, I love caroling for the simple reason that it unites hearts...young and old. It seems to bring generations together.