One of the best activities my troop loved to participate in each year is Christmas caroling.
You can set up a Christmas caroling event and go to nursing homes, Christmas tree lighting in the community, go door to door, bring the community together at a church. The options are unlimited.
In this post I want to share a few tips for you to think about when you are planning your troops Christmas caroling event, learn how to sign Jingle Bells and also I included a free PDF booklet with 27 of the most popular Christmas songs you can use at your Christmas caroling event. Have fun!
Christmas Caroling Suggestions from one leader to another
- Before the actual event show the girls the songs and have them pick out what they want to sing, even practice them as a group before heading out.
- If your troop is large like mine, we split into a few groups and went down different sides of the street and meant at end.
- If you are in a cold area make sure to tell everyone to dress warm with hats gloves scarves etc, I know that seems like an obvious thing but you will be surprised how many girls will show up not prepared to be outside.
- Plan for a stop for hot chocolate at a local cafe or McDonald to warm up your girls.
- If you are planning to sing in a hospital or nursing home rather than being out in cold, please be sure to contact them ahead of time to get permission. While some places would love to have kids come in and sing others have strict policies that wont allow you to come in without signing waivers or talking to manager. Note: With Covid this wont be possible, other options is setting up zoom for virtual caroling.
- Don’t over do it, only sing a song or two at each house, people love to get carolers but too many songs could upset people.
- Teach your girls sign language and add that to your caroling event. (see below for video with tutorial for Jingle Bells
Interesting Facts to Share with Your Troop
Did you know? The 12 Days of Christmas is the most popular Christmas carol. It was first published in England in 1780. ‘The 12 Days of Christmas’ carol is about the grand gifts given on each of the 12 days of Christmas, and is amongst the most preferred carols.
Do you know what the most popular and most profitable Christmas song in United States is? According to the Guinness Book of World Records, “White Christmas” by Bing Crosby is the best selling holiday single plus it has sold over 50 million copies worldwide.
27 Song Christmas Carol Booklet
Songs included in booklet:
- Away In A Manager
- Deck The Halls
- Did You Hear What I Hear?
- Frosty The Snow Man
- The First Noel
- Go Tell It On The Mountain
- Grandma Got Ran Over By A Reindeer
- Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
- Here Comes Santa Claus
- Holly Jolly Christmas
- Jingle Bell Rock
- I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
- It Is Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas
- Jingle Bell Rock
- Jingle Bells
- Jolly Old Saint Nicholas
- Joy To The World
- Let It Snow!
- Let There Be Peace On Earth
- O Christmas Tree
- Rudolf the Red-nosed Reindeer
- Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
- Silent Night
- Suzy Snowflake
- The Twelve Days of Christmas
- Up On The House Top
- We Wish You A Merry Christmas
Beyond this free Christmas carol booklet there are a number of great song books on the web you can purchase this is one of my favorites: The Christmas Caroling Songbook
Learning How to Sign Jingle Bells
Caroling Fun Patch Ideas
Click the fun patches and it will take you over to the website to purchase. One is from Makingfriends.com and two are from Advantage Emblem.
Planning a party for Christmas as well?
Games your girls are sure to love
More ideas for Christmas
- Ornament Time Capsule and Reindeer Ear Awards
- 12 Days of Christmas Gifts for Leaders Parents and Girls in Your Troop
From one leader to another….Have a wonderful Holiday season with your Troop and Families.
Jodi, so how does it work for you going in a neighborhood. I have a very large troop 50 to be exact. all levels. we have caroled before at nursing homes but it gets a bit congested with us.. and we have even broken up into groups.
I need hints.. ugh..
That is about the size I had Daisy to Ambassador. We would mix up the groups makings sure we had adults and older girls with the younger girls. If we were say caroling on 4 streets we break into 4 groups of about 12 plus adults and each group would take a street. If your going to a nursing home, If your all going to be in one area, do the same but have each group go up in front of group sing a song and then they would step out and next group goes up. Or if you can break up locations in nursing home sing in different areas thats even better.
Oh my gosh, this is perfect timing, our Service Unit is going caroling at a nursing home in December and I’m in charge of coordinating it. Thank you for the tips!!!