Host a Christmas Carolling Party

Hosting a Christmas Carolling Party with your friends can help spread some Christmas joy throughout your neighborhood, it's a fun activity.

It's a wonderful feeling when you are inside your house and all of a sudden you hear a group singing Christmas carols outside your door.
This tradition used to be very popular and is starting to make a come back.
Help spread some cheer and keep the tradition alive.

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Caroling Party Preparations

Make your own Caroling party invitations. with these easy to make ideas.

When you send out the invitations to your friends include the lyrics for 3-4 Christmas carols. Pick one soft carol like Silent Night and one upbeat carol like Jingle Bells per house. You will only sing two per house but mixing them up during your trip will make it more fun for everyone.

You don't need to visit every house on a block, plan on two or three houses on each side of the block to start. After finishing on one side of the block you'll have an idea on how well it's working time wise and can add more for the other side or even go back to a few you skipped.

You could gather everyone together a day or two ahead of time for practice but let's face it the party will be more fun if it's not rehearsed!

Pick a weeknight when people are most likely to be home and set the time for just after dinner.

The Night of the Caroling Party

Have your friends gather at your house about 30 minutes before you plan to head out.

Provide small flashlights or glow sticks for each person.

Hand out sheet music to anyone who needs it.
Your guests have most likely practiced singing the songs before the party so they don't forget the words.

All bundled up and ready to go?

On the way to your first house you announce the first two songs to be sung.

Pick one person to knock on the door. Don't ask for volunteers assign the job!

While the person is walking up to knock on the door everyone else gathers in a group on the lawn not hidden but not close enough for the house owner to recognize everyone. The person knocks and when the door opens you start singing the first song. The person who knocked quickly joins the group for the singing without saying anything.

After the first song, head immediately into the second song. At the end of that song everyone says Merry Christmas or Seasons' Greeting and heads off to the next house.

You want to sing and move on so that it stays mysteriously magical. For that same reason you don't want to hit two houses in a row on the block, spread the magic around.

Once you have completed the house you wanted to visit or used up the allotted time head back to your house for some warm beverages, snacks and a fire roaring in the fireplace. Your spouse or a family member can set these up while you are out carolling.

Your carolling party will be a magical time for those you visit and magical for your guests.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do you do if the person shuts the door on you?
There is always that possibility. To lessen the chance of that happening, pick neighbors that you know or that have Christmas lights or a Christmas tree visible. If they decorated, chances are they'll enjoy the carols.

Should we sing every verse to the song during the Carolling Party?
Two verses are usually plenty per song. Sing the soft song first as it will warm up the recipients, sing the up beat song last. It leaves them cheerful and pumps you up for the next house you visit. Don't forget to shout a greeting as you are running off!

The family invited us in, what do we do?
You hung around too long, the whole idea is to sing and run. Politely decline the invitation and move to the next house on your list, do not accept tips or drinks! Leaving quickly is the magical mystical part of any carolling party, the homeowner should be left wonder who those carolers were!