As you start to think about your Christmas celebration, consider what parts of the season have meaning to you. For some of us, one of the most meaningful parts of the holiday season is its music. Christmas carols have been making people stop, think, and celebrate for hundreds of years.
The History of the Carol
The history of the Christmas carol is both long and relatively short. People have always sung songs of praise for the seasons and celebrations. The first carol created specifically for the Christmas season was crafted in 1410. It was a story about Mary and Jesus and their travels through Bethlehem. Carols were often created in the home or by travelers as well. In Puritan times, Christmas carols went underground, but as long as people have gathered to celebrate, there have been songs to guide us in the celebration. Why sing? It’s fun, and it brings people together.
Gather Friends and Neighbours
Create an invitation for an informal get-together, or add singing to an existing gathering. Create a comfortable environment. Start with snacks, drinks, and games, then move on to the singing. Invite people of all ages to participate. Children are notoriously unconcerned about how they sound and how loud they are, and this is wonderfully liberating and entertaining.
Finding Carols and Music
Go to your local library to find books with Christmas carols and their lyrics. Libraries are also great storehouses of CDs that have everything from orchestral versions of carols to simple, solo performances. There are many online sources for the words and music to carols.
Breaking the Ice
Many people feel very self-conscious about singing, yet they sing to their children, their radio, and their shower. Appoint a group leader – someone with a sense of pitch, even with a guitar, piano or xylophone to help people hit the right notes. Give people the words to the music. If you have a group of tentative singers, consider some background music – carol Karaoke. If children are involved, give them jingle bells, xylophones, and maracas to add to the song.
Hitting the Right Notes
Although songs are often sung in a particular key, feel free to choose a key that works for your group. Those who are new singers may be more comfortable in moderate pitches that don’t force people to sing a lot higher than they are comfortable. Find a xylophone, recorder, or a guitar player who can start the group on a note and perhaps even accompany the group.
Move from Fast Songs to Slow Carols
For starters, try a song everyone knows, like Jingle Bells. Something fast builds energy and gets people enthusiastic. As time moves on, bring the event to a close with quieter songs like The First Noel or Silent Night.
Try a Round
If you feel ambitious, try singing a round. Divide the room into one or more groups and appoint a leader for each group. Decide when each group will enter the song. The groups repeat the song a specific number of times. This creates some glorious harmonies, particularly if you choose songs that are rather repetitive in structure.
Bring people together in song this holiday, and build a Christmas where music is a centerpiece of the season.
Sources:
Why Christmas: Christmas Carols
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