Caroling and Christmas go hand in hand — just like peanut butter and chocolate; salt and pepper; red beans and rice; and macaroni and cheese. Or, should we say, it once did. Over the past few years, it seems like fewer people are caroling than they did in the past, bringing us all closer to a time when caroling is no longer performed during the Christmas season.

We just can’t let that happen, and we can help prevent it by observing December 20th as Go Caroling Day. This is a holiday that encourages everyone to go out caroling. We just hope that enough people do it and help save this time-honored tradition.

The History of Go Caroling Day

Tradition states that caroling has been done since the Middle Ages. It’s believed that the first caroling for Christmas happened in 1223 at the church of St. Francis of Assisi.

This saint believed that it would be better for all involved if merrier songs were sung for Christmas, instead of the solemn songs that had been sung for hundreds of years previously. Technically, a Christmas carol is a noel — a word that comes from the Old French word “nael,” which means “of or born on Christmas.”

All carols have a distinct song pattern that is based on the musical chord progression used during the Middle Ages. Many popular carols were written before the 20th century, but some newer ones have been written in the 20th and 21st centuries.

During the 17th century, the Puritans put an end to the practice of singing carols, at least for a while. Fortunately, people sang them in secret and thereby preserved many of these older carols. These songs would come back during the 18th and 19th centuries and became quite popular.

In 2001, the holiday Go Caroling Day was invented. It was originally observed on the 19th of December, but then it was decided that it should be observed closer to the winter solstice. That is when it was given its current day on the calendar: December 20th.

Observing Go Caroling Day

Caroling is something that everyone should try on this night. It doesn’t matter if you sing the carols for your family at home, or if you roam the neighborhood singing carols. It’s up to you and the local noise ordinances in your neighborhood.

No matter which way you choose to observe this holiday, just be sure to pick about 4 or 5 carols that you can use to spread the holiday spirit. The carols that we prefer include “Deck the Halls,” “Frosty the Snowman,” “Little Drummer Boy,” and the classic “Silent Night.”

Of course, your preferences may differ. Just make sure that you spread the word about this holiday before you begin caroling by using the hashtag #GoCarolingDay and encouraging denizens of the Internet to leave their computer keyboards and spread some Christmas cheer.