The origins of
Christmas caroling
The festive nature of the holiday season makes it an ideal time to sing , especially in groups . Perhaps it ’ s no surprise then that caroling , a tradition that dates back many centuries , ultimately collided with Christmas .
Caroling and Christmas caroling are two different things . According to History . org , the origins of modern Christmas caroling can be traced to wassailing , a term that has evolved for more than a millenium . What started as a simple greeting gradually became part of a toast made during ritualized drinking . Time magazine notes that the word “ wassail ,” which appeared in English literature as early as the eighth century , eventually came to mean the wishing of good fortune on one ’ s neighbors , though no one can say for certain when this particular development occurred .
During medieval times , farmers in certain parts of Britain would drink a beverage to toast the health of their crops and encourage the fertility of their animals . By 1600 , farmers in some parts of Britain were still engaging in this ritual , and some
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were by now taking a wassail bowl filled with a toasting beverage around the streets . These wassailers would stop by neighboring homes and offer a warm drink , all the while wishing good fortune on their neighbors .
During this period , wassailing had nothing to do with Christmas , but that began to change in Victorian England , when Christmas became more commercialized and popular . It was during this time when publishers began circulating carols , forever linking the tradition of wassailing with Christmas .
Christmas caroling as Victorian Englanders knew it might have fallen by the wayside . But while carolers may no longer go door-to-door singing Christmas songs and wishing their neighbors good fortune , those intent on seeing the modern manifestation of this tradition that dates back more than a millenium may be able to find some carolers at their local mall or church . n
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