You know it’s Christmas time when you start to see Black Friday and Cyber Monday ads. I don’t know about you, but my email is overrunning with deals and steals that can be bought now and used later. Oh and let’s not forget the list upon lists of holiday movie guides. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good deal, but our family is working hard to find the right Christmas traditions and I wonder if there is still value in the Christmas caroling tradition I grew up with. It almost seems like a lost tradition but I’d love to talk about it with you today.
I wonder if there is still value in the Christmas caroling tradition I grew up with. It almost seems like a lost tradition but I'd love to talk about it with you today. Share on X
Is there still value in the Christmas caroling tradition?
Are Black Friday/Cyber Monday our modern Christmas Traditions? I don’t know if I want that to be what my kids remember when they grow up. What about you? As we develop Christmas traditions that fit our family, I am always anxious to know that they reflect the real meaning of Christmas.
- We decorate the house for Christmas.
- Do our decorations reflect the birth of Christ?
- Our homes are overrun with Christmas presents.
- As we open (and often return) them, do we remember why we give to each other?
- We feast
- Yes, we feast as we reconnect with family and friends over this cold dark month of December. In all that feasting do we spare more than a moment’s thought to the Babe in a Manger?
- But what about the Christmas Caroling Tradition?
Yet, in our comfortable Christianity, we are losing this Christmas caroling tradition through sheer neglect.
If we don’t take notice, our children will grow up in a world without Christmas Carols Y’all. It makes me so sad!
Related: 11 Easy and Meaningful Christ-Centered Christmas Traditions for Toddlers
30 Ideas for a Christ-Centered Family Christmas
What about the Christmas Caroling Tradition? Of all the Traditions we hold, it is the one that is so dangerous to the enemy that it has actually been outlawed in some places! Share on XWhy do people go Christmas caroling?
Honestly, I didn’t realize how close we were to losing the Christmas caroling tradition until a caroling outing this weekend.
Our local church has an amazing AWANA club that fosters scripture memorization and application. The leaders of this club take their job to heart and are always finding ways to get the children serving!
Why do you go Christmas caroling? To show God’s love to others – especially the elderly this time of year and they love American Christmas carols!
Why do you go Christmas caroling? To show God's love to others - especially the elderly this time of year and they love American Christmas carols! Share on XI love the heart of service in our Children’s Ministry and the way they foster that in our student leaders! Y’all, the local church is where it’s at!
Are you part of a local church?
Maybe you’ve been hurt by the church, after all, it is filled with people – and we all fall short. We hurt others in more ways than we realize.
I’d love to share the Pathway I found to truly forgiving the Pain, Abuse, and Betrayal that stole so many years of my life. I was stuck, unwilling to forgive. I had to learn to release people, so I could walk in freedom!
Caroling Groups
Our AWANA club serves by Caroling to our neighboring nursing home each year. It is the most beautiful experience. These precious senior citizens are forgotten most of the year and you can tell when we walk in the door.
Their eyes light up and many are in tears as the children hand them cards and begin to sing. These sweet older children of God are so important. How have we forgotten them? – A topic for another day…
As I chose some of the American Christmas carols I only included the easiest and simplest because the kids didn’t know many of them last year.
I even threw in Rudolph and Jingle Bells to be sure everyone had fun. You can Download it here!
This year as 30 or so children began to sing I was shocked. They really didn’t know the songs. Now don’t get me wrong, they belted out Rudolph, but could only vaguely mumble the chorus of Silent Night.
Even many of the younger adults were struggling to remember the melody.
My heart was breaking on so many levels.
The Importance of Christmas Carols
Has this Christmas caroling tradition lost its value in our modern worship culture?
I’ve asked that question for years to many a music man from various cultures and denominations. I am surprised by the variety of answers and passions around this topic.
Why do we hold to any traditions?
It seems so many of them change through the ages or lose their real purpose… but I believe there is a valid place for many older Christmas traditions.
- Set aside the argument that Christ was not actually born in December.
- Lay down the useless squabbling about pagan traditions and calendars and ancient rulers.
Why do we celebrate Christmas?
I truly believe the question of caroling has to start here.
We live in a fast-paced -easily distracted- society. Wisdom says we have to set aside a time to remember and re-set our priorities.
Related: Christ-Centered Christmas Traditions For Your Family
Has this Christmas caroling tradition lost its value in our modern worship culture? Share on XChrist should be the main priority of any Christian at Christmas
Is Christ the center of your Christmas?
At Christmas, we remember that Jesus Christ stepped down from all His splendor and majesty in the Heavenly Realm. He gave up everything to put on human flesh and blood. Jesus Christ, King of kings and Prince of peace, was born to us as the Savior of the World.
And so we set aside a time to remember- to stand in awe of His Amazing Love. Our traditions point our focus back to Christ at Christmas time!
Related: 12 Ways to Invite Christ into Your Christmas & Waiting for Emmanuel
Yet, we have a very real enemy of our Faith.
That sneaky snake would replace our traditions with convenience. He seeks to further distract us and entertain us into a numb ritualistic Christianity.
We get lost in the desire to conform and forget why we were doing most of these Christmas traditions.
We have to fight back to reclaim our Christmas traditions, friends!
Music makes tradition go heart deep
Music is a form of worship that touches us on a deep level. It crosses centuries and generations and connects us heart to heart.
Don’t get me wrong, I love modern worship music. Even modern Christmas songs are beautiful and worshipful.
BUT… they are hard to sing acapella or with groups. Now, if you want to reword the older carols into modern language – go for it. But the words remain true and the powerful message has yet to lose its value!
There is value in the Christmas caroling tradition! We just need help to keep it going and make it more relevant for our children.
The things we need:
- Christmas Caroling Ideas
- Help to remember Christmas Caroling Songs
- Opportunities for Christmas caroling near me
Christmas Caroling Ideas
How do we ensure that our children know these timeless carols and reestablish the Christmas caroling tradition?
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Sing Christmas caroling songs at home
- We have to teach our kids to value their faith – at home first. Because Y’all, the world is bombarding them with messages that our faith is old fashioned, intolerant and irrelevant to their generation.
“Hear, O Israel! The Lord God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. and You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontls on your forehead. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” (Deuteronomy 6: 4-9 NASB)
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Play a CD with Christmas carols as you clean or cook.
- We learn by example. They know the cartoon songs because we let them watch them while we work. At least I do. I have to stop that and have them alongside me to seize those teachable moments.
“Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.” (Titus 2:3-5 NASB)
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Take them Christmas Caroling
- How do you go Christmas caroling? Join a group of friends and go to your local senior home and give back a gift that will make their year.
- If you don’t know of a group going, Google “Christmas caroling near me” and there will be groups listed. We found one on Facebook and have enjoyed the new friends!
“The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” (2 Timothy 2:2 NASB)
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Host a Night of Carols in your home
- Invite the neighbors over for a night of carols in your home. Serve snacks and hot chocolate and sing together. We did this for a few years with the choir at church and it was amazing. And the Neighbors LOVED IT!
What can you do to pass along the Christmas Caroling Tradition?
Y’all, don’t let this Christmas caroling tradition die. It is too important! What steps can you take today to keep this Christmas tradition alive and pass it along to your kids?
- Sing Christmas carols at home
- Play American Christmas carols at home
- Take them caroling
- Host a night of caroling in your home
I’d love for you to comment and tell me your favorite Christmas carol!
in HIM,
Tiffany of Hope Joy in Christ inspires Christian Women to grow in faith, live out Biblical Marriage Principles and raise Godly Children. Join the Wives Only Facebook Group here or keep up with her through Pinterest.
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I love Christmas carols! Oh holy night, the first Noel, Oh little town of Bethlehem, Joy to the world… Some of my favorites and I listen to them often this time of year. We also sing them at home. But in the Netherlands, were we live, it has never really been a custom to sing them on the streets. I would love to hear that though! I always love it when I see it happening in movies, it gives a very Christmassy atmosphere, and it’s a great way to proclaim the gospel! We need to remind ourselves and the world that Christ came and what He came to do. Thank you for your post!
That is so true Anne! The first Noel is my fav too!
You are so right Tiffany. I really miss Christmas caroling. The songs were so meaningful to me. This topic came up recently about the trendy praise and worship songs popular in nearly all our churches. They are not calling me to worship. They seem more like performances. The hymns of old were valuable, and had so much to say. We do need to grab hold of our past to keep our standard high.
I agree April, I miss the old Hymns… but I love the new choruses… it’s a hard thing to balance.
Beautiful reminder! I am in my mid 40’s, and I remember these moments of caroling and how this time was so magical.
Yes! Love that beauty of blessing others Rachele! thanks for dropping in!