Christmas Around the World, Part 2 – Caroling!

This Advent season, our annual trip around the world to explore Christmas traditions from different places looks a little different. Instead of visiting a different country each week, we are visiting a different Desert Mission family and learning about the special traditions that make their Christmas celebration unique. This week’s stop: Susie G’s house, where holiday joy brings the whole neighborhood together!

Susie loves music – not only does she sing in our choir and lead the bell choir, she has been caroling for 30 years. What started as a fun high school activity took on a life of its own when she moved out on her own and started a family. Susie’s caroling crew began knocking on doors around her neighborhood, creating a yearly tradition that deepened as it grew. Folks were notified ahead of time so they could plan to be home when the carolers came by, and some would even invite others over to share in the joy. Friends of different faiths began participating, and the exchange of holiday joy included communal Chanukah and Diwali celebrations in addition to Christmas caroling.

The Bible tells us to love our neighbors, and Susie has taken that guidance literally. But her tradition is not just a beautiful reflection of God’s love, it also has an added bonus: by connecting her neighborhood together, it makes it a happier, healthier, and safer place to live. You can read about some of the benefits of close-knit neighborhoods here.

This Christmas, why not bring these benefits to your own neighborhood? Gather your family and friends, brush up on a few of your favorite carols, and give it a go! You don’t have to know a vast array of Christmas songs, and you certainly don’t have to be a trained singer – all you need are a few carols and some holiday spirit. You would probably be well-served by taking a page from Susie’s playbook and spreading the word before you venture out, as many folks don’t answer the door these days unless they know who it is. Perhaps your caroling tradition will grow as Susie’s did, and perhaps your neighborhood will be inspired to connect in a similar way at other times of the year. At the very least, you will move through the rest of the Advent season with a song in your heart.

Thanks so much to Susie for sharing her family’s Christmas tradition with us. You can still share your traditions with us via email, or on Facebook or Instagram!