Here we come a-caroling

NICK EICHER, HOST: Next up on The World and Everything in It: The music of Christmas.

Singing is such an integral part of worship, especially at Christmas time. We’ve enjoyed bringing you the songs of Advent. Today, one final installment…the songs of Christmas Day. This time, by an unusual choir.

MARY REICHARD, HOST: Here’s WORLD Correspondent Bonnie Pritchett.

BONNIE PRITCHETT: Worshiping God in song is as old as our faith. Hymn writers reached back to the Old Testament prophets and Psalms for inspiration. Songs celebrating Christ’s birth grew from the fledgling church.

The first Christmas hymn was composed in 129 AD. Two hundred years later, Christians in Rome sang it during Christmas services by order of the bishop.

Christmas hymns, or carols, became a common element of church worship by the 12th century. During the Victorian era, caroling – the practice of singing from house to house – became popular in the streets of England.

That tradition continues.

AUDIO: [Excited yelling]

On the streets of Glen Ellyn, Illinois.

VOICE: Here we come a wassailing…

Carolers too young to read words, or music, are tasked with making one musical contribution – the ringing of the doorbell.

VOICE: Oh! She rang it. We better figure it out…

Sometimes before the carolers are prepared.

VOICES: It’s number 2. Number 2, fast!

VOICE: Don’t start too high. It goes high quick [SINGING] Angels from the realms of glory, wing your flight or’ all the Earth. He who sang creation’s story now proclaim Messiah’s birth. Come and worship. Come and worship. Worship Christ the newborn king…

The dozen musical merrymakers include WORLD Radio’s feature editor Anna Johansen Brown, her family, and friends. Their young bell ringers dodge between strollers and singers.

SINGERS: Worship Christ the newborn king. [SHOUTS] Merry Christmas!

It’s a still December night. No stars shine in the sky. But on the houses, Christmas lights twinkle an invitation to sing.

Caroling is a Brown family tradition. Some carolers sing from memory. Others follow along with the harmony lines in the homemade “Brown Family Carol Books” – a collection of stapled song sheets.

The First Noel. Deck the Halls. Angels from the Realms of Glory. Ding Dong Merrily on High.

SINGING: Ding dong, merrily on high in heaven the bells are ringing. Ding dong merrily the sky is riven with angels singing. Gloriaaaaaaaaa Hosana in Ex celcis…

Neighbors come to their doors, looking surprised. They call for the rest of the family—kids, spouses, guests—to come see. What’s this? Caroling?

Smiles and wishes of a “Merry Christmas!” assure the street singers their interruption was welcome.

All but one home opened their door. Folks could be seen inside, but they didn’t stir. Maybe they heard. Perhaps they listened.

With visions of hot chocolate and cookies dancing through children’s heads, spreading Christmas joy may last only one more song.

SINGERS: Joy to the World the Lord is come. Let Earth receive her king. Let every heart prepare him room. And heaven and nature sing. And heaven and nature sing. And heaven and heaven and nature sing. Merry Christmas! [LAUGHS]

Joy to the World! It’s the most ubiquitous Christmas carol that focuses little on His birth and more on its effect.

The song celebrates Jesus’ reign. So, as we praise God for fulfilling his promise to send the Messiah, may we also, like our ancestors in the faith, joyfully wait and watch for his return. Now that will be something to sing about!

SINGERS: He rules the world with truth and grace and makes the nations prove the glories of his righteousness and wonders of his love, and wonders of his love and wonders of his love…

For WORLD, I’m Bonnie Pritchett. Merry Christmas!

REICHARD: We’ll update our Spotify Playlist with these new pieces, so you can enjoy them at home. We’ve included the link in today’s transcript at wng.org/podcasts.

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