I wonder if there is still value in the Christmas caroling tradition I grew up with. What about you?
Black Friday and Cyber Monday ads are overrunning my email with deals and steals that can be bought now and used later. Holiday movies and Christmas songs are all I see. Christmas lights went up the day after Halloween. It feels like something is missing.
Don’t get me wrong, I love a good deal. Our family is working hard to find the right Christmas traditions to match our eclectic lifestyle. And at least for a little while I cherish Christmas music on the radio. But it almost seems like we’ve lost tradition as a culture that had such value… I’d love to talk about it with you today.
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 old 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. It makes me so sad!
Related: 30 Ideas for a Christ-Centered Family Christmas
Why 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? Caroling shows God’s love to others – especially the elderly this time of year. 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 XThe Local Church
Can I squirrel for just a moment?
I love the heart of service in our Children’s Ministry and the way it fosters service 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 forgive 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 music men from various cultures and denominations. I am surprised by the variety of answers and passions around this topic. Most believe it is an outdated practice that is not longer relevant in today’s church.
I disagree!
Why Do We Hold to Any Traditions?
It seems so many of traditions change through the ages. They lose their real purpose over time. 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, distracted society. Wisdom says we have to set aside time to remember and re-set our priorities.
Do you make that a regular practice?
Related: Christ-Centered Christmas Traditions For Your Family
Has this Christmas caroling tradition lost its value in our modern worship culture? Share on XChrist: The Main Priority of Christians at Christmas
Is Christ the center of your Christmas traditions?
At Christmas, we remember that
- Jesus Christ stepped down from all the 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 Christmastime!
Related Post: 7 Steps to Love God With All Your Heart
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. Then we forget why we were doing most of these Christmas traditions in the first place.
We have to fight back to reclaim our Christmas traditions, friends!
Related: Waiting for Emmanuel
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.
How do Christmas Carols fit into this?
I love modern worship music and modern Christmas songs. They are beautiful and worshipful.
BUT… they are hard to sing acapella or with groups.
Some are working to re-word the older carols into modern language. Yay! The words remain true and the powerful message has yet to lose its value! They will help us preserve the message of faith passed on by those who went before us!
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 re-establish the Christmas caroling tradition?
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)
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)
Take them Christmas Caroling.
How do you go Christmas caroling? Join a group of friends and go to your local senior home. 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)
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. The Neighbors LOVED IT!
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!