Chock up another year of neighborhood caroling! Yes, the Carol Caravan made it through the hood unscathed, with much joy, many laughs and some great singing!
Like any year we have done this, we start with the basics… a trailer with hay, lights (as gaudy as possible), a heavy marketing campaign (a sign), carolers, parental units, the allure of hot chocolate and cookies, and fire. Oh, there may have been a hot toddy for the adults.
We get the kids all sugared up – and then send them home; I’m pretty sure the adults stick pins in our effigy.
And in a sign of the times, technology has caught up with us… watch this doorbell video from one of the neighbors we visited to carol!
But there is tradition here – history. I had to go back in time to remind myself we have been doing this for years, and every year is different, and every year has been great. We started this tradition back in 2005. At the time we had a 12 foot utility trailer – and a completely different set of riders. At this point, everyone you see in these pictures from 2005 is off on their own career – in most cases working, in the military, married, having kids… you name it. Enjoy a blast from the past!
In 2005, and in rare footage (queue National Geographic narrator speaking in whisper), you will see our two kids actually sitting within five feet of each other and not striking the other one. Mind you, neither one realizes the other is so close. Epic.
In 2006 the makeup of carolers was mostly female, and they were almost all teenagers! Go figure. Age or gender has never a factor when it comes to caroling, though.
In 2007, Santa graduated to a 16 foot utility sleigh.
In 2008, we seemed to start getting a much younger crowd of carolers; I think that just goes with the makeup of the hood at the time.
In 2009, we had a full batch of delinquents.
We were going for the Bling Award in 2010.
And in 2011 we had the prospects of rain, so we suited up a bit. You know, red neck shit.
I’m not sure we went caroling in 2012, but for sure we had the Christmas spirit. Rosie and Lucy weren’t too sure about Santa popping his head out of the Airstream, though. Grrr.
We didn’t go caroling in 2015, but we did have multiple sightings of Santa. You can see Karen being a bit naughty. Bad Santa.
In 2016, instead of going caroling, we had carolers come to us! Awesome!!
But no matter the year or the group, Christmas caroling in the hood has been a blast!!