Will there be singing in your house?

Subject: Will there be singing in your house?
From: marty D
Date: 05 Dec 01 - 11:49 PM

I found myself hunting up the songbooks tonight, and that only means one thing. Around Christmas time when people drop by for occasional hellos and the one (reasonably) big party, there'll be some Carol singing and probably some all year folksongs as well. The problem is that other than the first verse almost nobody knows the rest of the Carols. That's what the books are for. They're BIG easy to read ones WITH guitar chords. You'd think after so many years the second and third verses would be learned by osmosis, but they're not. Is yours a singing household thru the holidays?

marty

Subject: RE: Will there be singing in your house?
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 05 Dec 01 - 11:52 PM

no, I can't sing.john

Subject: RE: Will there be singing in your house?
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 05 Dec 01 - 11:54 PM

I only sing when I am drunk but not very good at all (rubbish really)

Subject: RE: Will there be singing in your house?
From: katlaughing
Date: 06 Dec 01 - 12:12 AM

Used to be, when there were more of us around and we always got out the books because we liked singing every single verse, esp. of ones like the Cherry Tree Carol!*BG*

If we make it to my sister's I am sure we will sing together. Maybe I'll even pick out a carol or two on my dulcimer!

kat

Subject: RE: Will there be singing in your house?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 06 Dec 01 - 02:45 AM

There's always singing at my house!

;-)

Subject: RE: Will there be singing in your house?
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 06 Dec 01 - 03:33 AM

Back in my Stonnall Players days, before I moved, every Christmas Sheila (aka Madam Producer) and Peter would invite the whole cast plus families around for nosh, party games, and (best of all) Christmas songs and recitations. Being blessed with one or two excellent musicians, many good singers and universal enthusaiam, it was always a wonderful night (and a welcome relief from panto rehearsals). I don't know if she still does it, but I certainly miss it. This will be our first Christmas without the kids, too.

Steve

Subject: RE: Will there be singing in your house?
From: Cappuccino
Date: 06 Dec 01 - 06:08 AM

What a very good question - no, there never has been singing in our house, which makes it a darned good time to start.

I know Christian references annoy some Catters, but this does have a legitimate folk-process theme as well: I was chatting to a very well known Christian songwriter the other day, and he said that the disappearance of family singing in the home over the past 50 years or so has adversely affected our children's general education across many subjects. Christmas is a good example - much of the story used to be passed on through song.

Great question, my friend.

- IanB

Subject: RE: Will there be singing in your house?
From: Banjer
Date: 06 Dec 01 - 06:19 AM

No, probably not here...Most of us couldn't carry a tune in a two handled bucket! But there probably will be some solo banjo picking...been working on several songs including Jingle Bells (which I know is originally a Thanksgiving Song) Away In Manger and others. If I can get the grandson involved he may try to strum along on the dulcimer.

Subject: RE: Will there be singing in your house?
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 06 Dec 01 - 06:24 AM

Well, I'll be paying my annual visit to my wife's church for the carol service and if my aged P has had enough scotch and if I've had enough metaxas there may be duets to the pianola perpetrated at "Dunlendin'" as well over the festive period.
RtS

Subject: RE: Will there be singing in your house?
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 06 Dec 01 - 07:04 AM

I remember when I was a kid growing up in the Midwest, our family always sang carols at Christmas. That was how I first learned to sing harmony (which I much preferred to the melody.) There was always a group of people who got together informally and walked around the neighborhood Christmas Eve, singing Christmas Carols. I really loved it, and hadn't thought much about it until you posted this. I'm singing with a black male chorus in a Japanese church (interesting combination) singins old carols and a black version of the Hallelujah chorus. The service is completely in Japanese, except for us. Done it the last three years. We'll also probably have our friends who are part of our gospel quartet stop over Christmas day, and whenever we're together, there is ALWAYS singing.

Interesting thought, you Mudcatters. Would you be offended if someone walked down your street singing Christmas Carols on Christmas Eve? Or could you just let it ride, for one night?

Jerry

Subject: RE: Will there be singing in your house?
From: artbrooks
Date: 06 Dec 01 - 08:29 AM

There is ALWAYS singing or other music in our house (the quality is often questionable, especially if I'm participating), and this holiday season is unlikely to be any different. We either attend or host a song session, which will end up holiday-focused. And no, we would hardly be offended by street carolers, especially since that is more of a folk thing (DON'T START!) than a religious one. After all, what good carol session doesn't include Frosty the Snowman and the Wassail Song as well as Silent Night?

And, Mr. Rasmusson, I believe that you are in error in believing (if I understood your last comment) that Mudcatters have a tendency toward anti-Christian bias. There is always the vocal minority, of course, as in any ther forum.

Subject: RE: Will there be singing in your house?
From: MMario
Date: 06 Dec 01 - 09:11 AM

I would be delighted if carolers came down our street! (Not likely - given the nearest neighbor is a half mile away)

I carol as part of a promotional event every saturday and sunday from Thanksgiving to Christmas - many people join in.

Had someone try to shut down a carolling session at a party once - they were afraid non-christians at the party would be offended - turned out I was the only Christian in the group singing carols.

Subject: RE: Will there be singing in your house?
From: Jeanie
Date: 06 Dec 01 - 09:32 AM

Yes - there is, all year round ! I do think this sort of thing goes in families. My grandma always went around the house singing, and my dad, any spare minute he had, would be playing the piano or accordion, or various "alternative instruments" which came to hand, e.g. his tobacco tin whilst singing "Bye bye blues", or tapping out a tune on his teeth with his pipe. Wierd family, you're thinking. Yes.

When my daughter was a small baby, I sang to her almost constantly (poor kid). I remember saying to someone,"I'd better start talking to her, or else she'll think that singing is the way people communicate with each other."

Going back to my childhood - Sunday afternoon was always a time for singing, with my dad playing the piano. Old music hall songs, songs from the shows, that kind of thing, then as Christmas got nearer, all the Christmas ones. Round about September, he and his Jewish friend Neville used to start getting together for "rehearsals" for the rather grandly named "Christmas Concert" we did at home on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. I realize now that these "rehearsals" started so early just as a great excuse for them to disappear for a few beers. The length of rehearsing never made a scrap of difference to the end result. I have never known a family so keen on Christmas and Christmas carols as our Jewish friends. The old grandpa came and ate turkey, provided he had been assured that it was kosher Christmas turkey. They really were great times.

Neville is long since gone, and my dad died this summer - but the tradition lives on ! My daughter is 12 now and it's getting to be just like having my dad around the place: any spare minute, she's on the keyboard, flute, clarinet, recorder or singing away - and I'm probably making a racket, too. So yes - there most definitely will be singing in our house at Christmas. Thanks for this thread - it's brought back some great memories for me.

- Jeanie

Subject: RE: Will there be singing in your house?
From: SharonA
Date: 06 Dec 01 - 09:42 AM

Since I live alone in an apartment, I'm sure I'll be singing to myself (as usual)! If I go to my brother's for Christmas, as I often do, he will be playing his instrumental CD's as background music but the family doesn't gather 'round to sing. We did a bit of that in my youth, usually with my mother playing piano, but not as a regular event. Alas, my mother and the piano are both gone. Nowadays, even if I took my guitar along and tried to initiate some singing, I doubt that I could work up much enthusiasm for it.

Fortunately, I'll be attending a couple of open houses Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, hosted by musician friends, where singing will be welcomed and encouraged. There's also a Wassail party coming up!

To answer Jerry's question, I would love to see carollers coming down the street and singing on Christmas Eve. Unfortunately they'd probably be drowned out by the sound of the fire engine: it's a Christmas Eve tradition for the local fire departments to dress one of their guys as Santa, perch him on top of a firetruck, and drive through the streets blaring the siren as Santa waves to anyone and everyone. Personally, I find the noise (if I'm home) and the resultant snarled traffic (if I'm out) to be extremely annoying, and would much prefer carollers, no matter what or how well they sing!

Subject: RE: Will there be singing in your house?
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 06 Dec 01 - 10:23 AM

Let me amend my question (or maybe Amen it.) Yeah, asking Mudcatters if they would be offended by people singing Christmas carols in their neighborhood is as bad as lumping all Christians with the ultra-right wing, ultra-conservative Christians. My apologies. And, you can call me Jerry. I guess that we've all become so politically correct in Amerikay that we too often lean over backward, not to offend anyone. I've been thinking all morning (over here) about this, and because we've just moved in to a new neighborhood, I don't think I could muster up enough Carolers. But next year... that sounds like fun.

Wanna come?

Jerry (Only Mister Rasmussen to the Tax Collector)

Subject: RE: Will there be singing in your house?
From: Steve in Idaho
Date: 06 Dec 01 - 11:17 AM

LOL at Jerry - I can hear that magnificent voice as you speak through the letters on the page!

Music is a daily affair at my home - and my Partner is just learning to play the piano. Her first complete tune? Jingle Bells!

When I was a kid the little Red Rock Christian Church, where we went, would put a group of Carolers together and we'd troop through the snow singing. The neighbors would all make up hot chocolate or hot apple cider with cookies and such as a reward. Then the men came home from Korea, well most of them, and I can't recall doing this anymore. We are pretty rural here so probably not - but the spirit lives on in every one of the local churches. And we've such a lovely snow fall this year - I would certainly bring the crew in to stand by the stove and share some hot chocolate or apple cider for the hearty souls out singing!

Steve

Subject: RE: Will there be singing in your house?
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 06 Dec 01 - 12:01 PM

Bet yer booties there will!

Every year we have a fairly big gathering on the 25th. (as big as our little house will hold). It's a divergent group of folks, not neccessarily the folks we see most of the rest of the year. Several are professional musicians (they NEED a free dinner!) and the rest are folks who either love singing or won't be put off at the sight of a bunch of banjo and guitar cases in the hall. For the second time we're looking forward to our 'long distance' fiddler, Mudcat Jeri to make the long walk from New hampshire.

Should be lots of Carol singing, blues, spirituals, ragtime etc. Heather and our friend Tony are working out some "Medieval Christmas" things to keep the atmosphere slightly weird (there may be an 'eel pie' that I'll do my best to avoid) and a reading from Chaucer (the 'clean bits') may be in order.

"offended if Carolers came down the street?" Bit of a strange question Jerry.

I'm afraid our street is a rather busy one traffic-wise, so Carolers, or Halloween kids don't often do the rounds here, but behind us (and down a hill with less cars) I've heard some outdoor Caroling. There'll be lots inside anyway. As usual, that 'unknown' ol' standard "Handful of Songs" will get a workout at the end of the evening.

Cleaning up the mess is still a drag though!

Rick

Subject: RE: Will there be singing in your house?
From: GUEST,JohnB
Date: 06 Dec 01 - 12:20 PM

Not "always" singing in our house, at least I think I stop when I have dropped off to sleep. What is any party without singing. We don't usually allow those sort of parties to exist. Books or no books, sing the bits you know, sing the chorus, sing the bits you don't know, sing the chorus, make something up, sing the chorus, hum it again, then sing the chorus twice to finish off. OK what's next. Deck the walls with bits of whatever. FA LA lA LA lA lA lA lA LA. Who needs words. JohnB

Subject: RE: Will there be singing in your house?
From: Leeder
Date: 06 Dec 01 - 01:25 PM

A chum of mine has hosted carolling for many years. He invites his friends (who are many) and their families, we meet at his house, and we go around the neighbourhood singing carols at houses where there appears to be someone home. We refuse money (many people assume that we're collecting for a charity) but will accept goodies for the children. Our route varies every year, but includes houses of people we know, or people who we know will be appreciative, or who we know will give us goodies. Sooner or later, depending on the weather, we repair back to his house, where he has prepared a major stew and a major fruit salad. To me, this has many of the elements of traditional wassailing as I've read about it, and we've invented other traditions to suit ourselves.

Also, one evening before Christmas all our sisters- and brothers-in-law (who are numerous) get together for supper and have an evening of carol singing afterward.

For the record, I'm agnostic, do not believe in the literal "Christmas story", but find that Christmas carols work on other levels for me, including spirituality and friendship. Also for the record (getting back to the original question), there is singing at our house; at the very least, I host a jam every week.

Subject: RE: Will there be singing in your house?
From: pattyClink
Date: 06 Dec 01 - 03:48 PM

This thread is a good nudge to put a little singing event together if you can work one in. Last year we saved to file some of the carol parodies posted on the Cat, made a few copies, and did a song circle Christmas eve during one of those deadly lulls which can happen in family gatherings. I just arbitrarily handed sheets for one song at a time to a solo, pair, or trio, or all the guys or all the girls, etc. and they sang it off the sheets while the rest of us chuckled at the parodies. You can include some recitations for the non-singers; we had 3 ladies rotate reading the Twelve Thank You Notes.

This year, we may go whole hog and do actual serious stuff with just a few parodies. I am looking forward most, however, to hearing the Elmer Fudd version of Silent Night. Outside caroling is so cool, has anyone in a humid climate figured out how to do it without giving everybody a bad chill?

And NEXT year, maybe we'll tackle the video-watching-on-holidays branch of the family...

Subject: RE: Will there be singing in your house?
From: Fortunato
Date: 06 Dec 01 - 04:01 PM

Rick that sounds like a great day. I wish we could pop up and sing a few with you.

We'll be singing as always at Chez Fortunato, TJ o'Malley's got 5 or 6 of us working on an instrumental of a carol and I'm getting ready to dig out Fortunato's fake book of schlocky Christmas songs (Rudolph is my favorite). I'm practicing Blue Christmas of course, "like The King". We'll have two or three singarounds through the holidays, some folk flavored and one Irish/celtic flavored. On the 25th we go to the Presbyterian Home and sing for the old folks.

Subject: RE: Will there be singing in your house?
From: Kim C
Date: 06 Dec 01 - 04:18 PM

Mister and I love to sing; unfortunately, my family (with the possible exception of my brother) doesn't have much appreciation for the old carols. They want to hear something they know.

We spent Thanksgiving with Mister's family, though, and did quite a bit of singing - more than I wanted to do on vacation! :-)

Subject: RE: Will there be singing in your house?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 06 Dec 01 - 04:23 PM

Yip - always is. I tend to catterwall around the house all year anyway. Mrs G has started the usual wintery wassails and even the teenage Gnomes have taken to warbling bits of Frosty when they think no-one is listening:-)

Never do anything organised but it's great when we get carol singers at the door. I make em do at least 5 minutes which often causes much confusion and embarrasment. The local kids think that the first verse of Silent Night is worth a quid or so - I have other ideas;-)

I often request 'Adeste fideles' or 'Schtill Nacht' (sp?) to confused looks and much muttering under the breath.

I can be an evil little bugger sometimes.

Cheers

Dave the Gnome Love and joy come to you
and to you your Wassail to
and God bless you and send you a happy new year
and God send you a happy new year

Subject: RE: Will there be singing in your house?
From: gnomad
Date: 06 Dec 01 - 04:41 PM

Visiting with relatives heavily involved in church music, so no, no singing in the house because the voices need some rest.

As the non-christian one I would still be perfectly happy to hear carolers singing down my street. What I will hear is the first verse of O little town of Bethlehem, off key, and accompanied by a thunderous beating on the door from great hulking teenagers demanding cash. They seldom know more than the first verse of each of three carols, but fortunately only render one per household, less if paid off promptly.

The alternative is the more organized begging done on behalf of various charities, this is usually a trailer done up as a sleigh, with Santa and all his helpers. This is accompanied by taped sound (I can't bring myself to call it music). This system has the merit of offering a variety of "tunes", and being for generally laudable purposes. Minor drawbacks are the volume (excessive) repertoire (Slade again, again, again) and the fact is starts too soon. I've been visited twice this week already. The big drawback is the sound system which is invariably of astonishingly poor quality, but high volume.

Am now off to acquire humbugs, will enjoy a few carols down the pub where people can sing and do so, but not this week, nor the next.

Subject: RE: Will there be singing in your house?
From: brid widder
Date: 06 Dec 01 - 07:15 PM

I used to belong to a church where we went carolling around the parish, knocked on doors and instead of asking for money (actually we declined offers of money) we gave out mince pies!

I our house...well I might be heard singing in the kitchen but not once the Aged P arrives...she's tone deaf

If you want to share some christmas cheer and amaze your neighbours try the mince pie idea!

Subject: RE: Will there be singing in your house?
From: Hawker
Date: 06 Dec 01 - 07:57 PM

Yes - but then there always is!
Tomorrow we are having a Carols, Coffee (Mulled wine) and Cheer - a fund raiser for the church at our home, with lots of singing of all sorts but lots of carols, new old and Cornish! We also have a mad New Years eve party with lots of music, singing and dancing - I LOVE a good excuse for a party!
Seasons greeting everybody!
Lucy

Subject: RE: Will there be singing in your house?
From: 53
Date: 06 Dec 01 - 07:57 PM

me and glenda will be picking and a grinnin and a singing and a laughing, of course we pick and sing together almost every night. BOB

Subject: RE: Will there be singing in your house?
From: Nancy King
Date: 06 Dec 01 - 11:23 PM

I expect there will be, as both of my sons will be home for a few days!

A longstanding tradition in my family, introduced in the early 1950s by a wonderful Swedish/Albanian couple who came to Christmas dinner for many years, was to have schnapps before dinner, complete with a couple of Scandinavian drinking songs. The beverage of choice was (and is) akvavit, the bottle having been frozen inside a block of ice. Everyone has a little shot glass of this cold firewater at the ready, and the singer sings several lines, then pauses while we all drain our little glasses, then all sing the last line of the song together, with great flourish. Then we all scarf down some bread and cheese and pickled herring, refill the little glasses, and sing the other song. Our old friends taught these two songs to my brother, more or less by rote. I'm sure no Swede would recognize them. One ends with a word or phrase that sounds like "hey-lan-gor!" The songs really have nothing to do with Christmas -- they're just drinking songs, but we always sing 'em on Christmas.

As for the music-making party, that happens on New Year's Eve!

Cheers, Nancy

Subject: RE: Will there be singing in your house?
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 06 Dec 01 - 11:47 PM

Sorry jerry, missed your explanation of "offended catters". Glad I re-read everything.

Christmas is also the only time I feel safe getting out my accordion and torturing folks for a few tunes. They're usually in such a good mood they don't mind.

Rick

Subject: RE: Will there be singing in your house?
From: Jeri
Date: 07 Dec 01 - 12:26 AM

Rick, I EXPECT to hear that accordion. I must have missed it last time. You'll also have to let me know if I have any responsibilities for doing something strange. Most people aren't aware of it, but I'm pretty good in the "weird" department.

It seems Christmas is a time when it's possible to get folks to sing even if they don't sing the whole rest of the year. I've been in some very fun impromptu caroling sessions. Jerry, you never know - you might start off singing on your own, and wind up with a good chunk of the neighborhood joining in.

Subject: RE: Will there be singing in your house?
From: Kaleea
Date: 07 Dec 01 - 01:06 AM

I was raised with family singing around the piano. One of my fav family photos is all of our collective backsides, including little ones on chairs & shoulders, gathered around the unseen upright piano while singing. In our family gatherings there is always singing. When I lived in the far north, I often visited my family during thanksgiving,as flying is undependable in December, and the family insisted in caroling around the piano if I would not be there for Christmas. And yes, this year will be no exception. We will go to church Christmas eve, with some family members participating in the music portion of the service, and return to a family members' home for gifts & singing & merrymaking.

Subject: RE: Will there be singing in your house?
From: Fortunato
Date: 07 Dec 01 - 08:20 AM

Hey Nancy, sounds like fun. Give my best to the boys. The vibrocats are at the Tabard Inn again this New Years doing the roots rock thing, have to miss your party, sorry! REgards, Chance

Subject: RE: Will there be singing in your house?
From: Janie
Date: 07 Dec 01 - 09:34 AM

When I was a child my family's Christmas Eve tradition was to read the the story of Jesus' birth from the Bible and then to put our "Sing Along with Mitch" (Mitch Miller for all of you youngsters) Christmas album on and sing with it. It was the only time I ever heard my Dad sing. Mom, on the other hand, would often entertain her young daughters by putting on an album of show tunes, grabbing an umbrella and straw hat, and dancing and singing with it. We LOVED it! All through adolescence my sisters and I were sure we were the next Supremes or a female Kingston Trio and would regularly put on shows for Mom's enjoyment and to Dad's painful chagrin.

For many years I sang only when alone and completely quit playing guitar and autoharp (husband finds it distracting and we lived in very small quarters.) Now I am singing more at home and encouraging my "change of life" child to sing with me (when Daddy is not around.) But have too much arthritis and not enough free time to pick up the instruments again.

Sorry to be so long winded.

Subject: RE: Will there be singing in your house?
From: Dani
Date: 07 Dec 01 - 09:46 AM

When my family can't find me, tell 'em I'm at Nancy's house!!

Hell yes, there's singing at my house. As often as I can 'til they tell me to shut up... or more often, 'til they start singing with me! And not a year goes by without SOME sort of caroling; I'm hoping this year it'll be the pesky kind where we knock on doors and drag 'em out with us.

One of our traditions is to drive around to look at the festive holiday lights and sing sing sing, rocking the car with all the choruses and harmonies that SOME singers do better with in darkened cars.

A note for Jeanie: please don't tell your daughter, and she won't know any better! Isn't singing how we really communicate? Talking just mucks things up.

Thanks for a great thread!

Dani

Subject: RE: Will there be singing in your house?
From: Morticia
Date: 07 Dec 01 - 09:59 AM

Not this year....

Subject: RE: Will there be singing in your house?
From: DancingMom
Date: 07 Dec 01 - 07:02 PM

Oh, yeah. When the kids were little their youth group used to make the rounds caroling at the nursing homes.

Nowadays they're all practicing for their "Winter" band concerts and chorus concerts at school.

Tonight me and the 13-year- old and a neighborhood teenager are listening to Bruce Cockburn's Christmas CD and just belting it out. ("Gloooooria!! In the highest!")

Lovely stuff. Even for me, who has been a little Scrooge-like in the past. Love to all. Sharon

Subject: RE: Will there be singing in your house?
From: Nancy King
Date: 08 Dec 01 - 04:30 PM

Dani, you'd be more than welcome! Just let me know when you'll be getting in... :o)

Great to read about everybody's traditions!

Cheers and keep singing-- Nancy

Subject: RE: Will there be singing in your house?
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 11 Dec 01 - 11:52 AM

If there is,(singing that is) and you haven't seen this site, it has most of the (not folk) sing-along songs:
Click Here
RtS

Subject: RE: Will there be singing in your house?
From: marty D
Date: 11 Dec 01 - 12:31 PM

Roger, you're a gem! And possibly psychic, because I just started looking for the very things that are on that site. Thank you!

marty

Subject: RE: Will there be singing in your house?
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 11 Dec 01 - 12:49 PM

marty, I pride myself in knowing almost all the verses of all the carols. Now I'm not 100% by any means, but I can usually fake it until I'm back on track.

I also know the alto parts to most of them. As a little girl growing up and singing carols, since I could read music, I always got stuck singing alto even though I had a soprano voice. I always wanted to do the tenor part to "Joy to the World."

I also have many hymns memorized. It started when I was too vain or lazy to use my reading glasses, so I just memorized the words. Now due to MS I can't sing but enjoy "mouthing" the words.

Quiz: What carol has the words "How silently, how silently..."?

Also, what carol has a last verse considered to be a child's prayer? When the hostages in Lebanon were allowed to send a Christmas message to their families one of the ladies sang this verse for her nieces and nephews.

Subject: RE: Will there be singing in your house?
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 11 Dec 01 - 01:53 PM

This Saturday, I'll ne singing with a fifty-strong black Men's Chorus at an all Japanese Lutheran Church. How ecumenical can you get (I'll be the only white guy there.) We'll be singing many familiar carols and hymns, and some you probably haven't heard. It should be a joyful time. Christmas Eve, my wife and I are going to a service at another church, and I'll be singing there, too. I may not get out to go carolling, but that doesn't mean that I won't be singing carols.

'Tis the season.

Jerry

Subject: RE: Will there be singing in your house?
From: jeffp
Date: 11 Dec 01 - 03:08 PM

Mary, the answer to your first is "O Little Town of Bethlehem." And no, I didn't look it up. I have no idea what the second answer is. I imagine we'll have some singing around our house. There's been more and more of that lately.

jeffp

Subject: RE: Will there be singing in your house?
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 11 Dec 01 - 09:59 PM

The second one is the last verse of "Away in a Manger." (I like the Flow Gently Sweet Afton tune.)

Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever, and love me, I pray.
Bless all the dear children in thy tender care,
And take us to heaven, to live with Thee there.

Subject: RE: Will there be singing in your house?
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 11 Dec 01 - 10:02 PM

Oh yes, for "O Little Town of Bethlehem" I like the Forest Green tune.

Subject: RE: Will there be singing in your house?
From: GUEST,Wyrdsister
Date: 11 Dec 01 - 10:40 PM

Brilliant---"The Cherry Tree Carol"! Those are the songs I really like: "oh, yeah, Miss Virgin, let the guy who got you pregnant go pick you some cherries!"

I always want people to sing, and my husband plays guitar respectably, but generally speaking everyone has to have reached a stage of, er, lubrication at which the musical value of anything being sung is at best questionable! It's still good fun, though, and the sort of thing one WANTS to be doing with a houseful of company, regardless of whether any two people know the same words to any given song!

Subject: RE: Will there be singing in your house?
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 12 Dec 01 - 09:55 AM

Mary, you didn't leave enough time! I knew that!
My X2b moved out last May; this is my first single Christmas in over 20 years. I'll need to sing all I can!

Subject: RE: Will there be singing in your house?
From: SINSULL
Date: 12 Dec 01 - 04:11 PM

Singing and dancing and walking on air! In twenty four hours I have gone from sadly sending out resumes to NYC job opportunities to selling my apartment AND finding temporary housing in Portland - a newly renovated condo whose owner has seven cats and sympathizes with my five. Now all I need is a job... Jingle bells! Jingle bells! Jingle all the way!

Subject: RE: Will there be singing in your house?
From: Celtic Soul
Date: 12 Dec 01 - 05:06 PM

Two years ago, I remember 2 of my siblings and I sitting in my folks livingroom sorta doing an improv Caroling thing. One of them had brought a book.

Things are really changing for the family since our Mother passed away 2 years ago, so chance happenings like impromptu Caroling are a little more rare these days.

I hope someone does bring a book...maybe I'll have to look for one myself and start that as a new tradition. :D

Thanks for the tickle in the ear!

Subject: RE: Will there be singing in your house?
From: GUEST,Desdemona
Date: 13 Dec 01 - 04:50 PM

In reply to Nancy King's post above----My husband is Swedish, and we all sing those songs & drink that aquavit every Christmas Eve in just the manner! The other one starts "Hey tomtergober...." I don't speak Swedish, alas, but I (and my 3 kids) have essentially learnt them by rote as well---God Jul!

Subject: RE: Will there be singing in your house?
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 13 Dec 01 - 05:24 PM

Hey, Desdemona... two of my sons favorite books that I used to read to them around Christmas are The Tomten, and The Tomten and the Fox. Tomtens are small folk who lived on small Swedish farms, and were very protective of the children and livestock. Both are charming books. This Christmas, I'm giving them to our five year old Grandaughter for Christmas..

Jerry