Keeping the joyous caroling tradition alive

Christmas in the Philippines is a vibrant and deeply cherished festivity, celebrated as the longest Christmas season in the world.

Once September rolls in, streets, establishments, and homes transform into Christmas wonderlands, even as Halloween remains around the corner.

Yet beyond the festive lights and decorations, what truly ignites the Filipino Christmas spirit is the sound of Christmas carols filling the air.

Tradition rooted in history

The tradition of Christmas caroling in the Philippines traces its roots to the influence of Spaniards.

In Spain, caroling originated as the singing of villancicos or hymns performed in churches. During their 333-year colonial rule, Filipinos embraced this custom, transforming it into a beloved tradition where neighborhood children or professional groups sing and play instruments at the gates or doorsteps of homes.

If fortunate, homeowners would reward them with coins or bills. But if luck wasn’t on their side, carolers might find lights switched off, giving the impression that no one was home. Others might simply hear a polite “patawad” (apologies) when homeowners have no spare change to offer.

Over the years, this practice has remained alive in many communities, but its prevalence has begun to wane, especially in urban areas compared to rural provinces.

A dying tradition?

Cess, a 23-year-old Manila resident, always spends Christmas with her family in a small mountainside barrio in Burgos, Ilocos Sur. For her, the festive atmosphere in the province is far more vibrant than in the city.

As far back as she can remember, Cess has always been one of those who continue to engage in the tradition of Christmas caroling. For her, it’s a custom deeply connected to the bond she shares with her cousins and friends in the province.

According to Cess, caroling in her hometown has never truly declined, except during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. Every year, households are still serenaded with Christmas melodies.

She shared how carolers in their area go all out, especially on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

“Every five minutes, someone will pass by a house singing Christmas carols, sometimes they even line up. After the midnight Mass, some start drinking, so from midnight until 5 in the morning, it’s all caroling,” she said.

As a child, Cess and her cousins would earn around P200 from their caroling gigs. But she fondly recalled one memorable year when they managed to collect P7,000 total.

“It really depends on who’s with you and who you’re singing for,” she said.

With advancing technology, the way people carol has evolved. Some groups now use amplifiers to enhance their performances, although traditional instruments like guitars and rondallas are still widely used.

However, Cess admitted that witnessing the differences between Manila and Ilocos has left her with a bittersweet realization: Christmas caroling is slowly becoming a “dying tradition.”

While it continues to thrive in her hometown, the number of caroling groups traveling from one barrio to another has noticeably decreased. In Manila, the decline is even more pronounced, with streets remaining quiet in the absence of carolers.

The same can be observed in Binangonan, Rizal, where traditional caroling has largely faded, and children no longer flock to the streets to sing Christmas carols in their small voices.

What keeps the Christmas spirit alive are community bands that perform festive music.

One such group is the Victory Band of Barangay Libis, Binangonan, Rizal.

Established in June 2000, the band has passed down the tradition of playing Christmas tunes for over two decades.

“We start performing around the second week of December, usually at 6 p.m. But as Christmas approaches, like now — two days before Christmas — we also start as early as 10 in the morning,” band members said during an interview on 23 December.

The band typically performs with 10 members during evening gigs, while smaller groups of three to four individuals play during morning performances. Their music, featuring instruments like drums and trumpets, fills the streets with lively Christmas tunes, preserving the spirit of the season in their community.

Keeping it alive

While the decline of caroling is a sad reality, it is not too late to preserve this beloved tradition for future generations. For Cess, keeping the practice alive requires active participation and a strong community effort — a “two-way street” kind of effort.

“There are many factors to consider to keep it alive,” she said. “For example, parents here include their children in caroling. There needs to be that kind of example.”

She also emphasized the importance of generosity, no matter the amount given.

The Victory Band echoed this sentiment, adding that a neighborhood’s receptiveness plays a key role in sustaining the tradition. “Some households don’t like the noise, and we understand that. But how can we show this to the next generation if we’re being prevented from doing it?” the band members explained.