Door to Door Christmas Carols Etiquette??

azzabazza

I have never heard of this before. Any carol singers we have in our community are the guides, brownies, etc who give organised performaces around the village christmas tree. Proceeds are for the local children's hospice. I would definitely not give to any ad hoc little groups knocking at the door.

Welshwoofs

Huh...what??? The only carollers we get round here are a proper choir who go round with lanterns etc. If some scabbly little family turned up on my doorstep yodelling carols badly I'd just smile and close the door on them.

ognum

We have just had our little area carol sing. neighbours standing under street lights with local impromptu musical accompaniment, violin, cello ,doublebass, accordion and guitar!

Mulled wine and mince pies sold for charity, all this and not in a village but city centre residential streets, it's always funny to see shoppers heading through the area to the station looking shocked by this fairly eccentric British behaviour.

Its good for the communily, kids enjoy it, very relaxed, last about half an hour and is a great part of Christmas.

fluffnutter

Yet another reason never to answer the poxy door.

barbiedoll

A few years ago, in November, the doorbell rang and when I answered it, there were 3 scruffy oiks, two of which are brothers whom I knew from way back when (when they used to attend our local playgroup with their mother, who used to let them steal the toys :mad:)

As soon as I opened the door, they started singing (badly) "We wish you a Merry Christmas", and held their hands out. I just laughed in their faces and said "I don't think so" and shut the door!

I do miss our Rotary Club Santa and sleigh, who used to come round the streets with carol singers. They would knock on the doors and collect for local charities. Not that they needed to do much knocking, everyone would hear the singing and come out anyway. I haven't seen them for the past couple of years, so I assume that they don't it anymore. That was lovely, especially when DS was small, it was the highlight of his night and it always put me in the Christmas mood!

SingleSue

aliasojo wrote: »

:think: mmmmm, new potential income opportunity.

*wonders how many carols I know the words to.*:rotfl:

Unfortunately, I think I would have to pay them to stand and listen to me sing :rotfl:

Not that I would dare in the first place!

Yorkie1

I just say "No, sorry" and close the door. It is almost always older children who have made no effort and can't sing.

I will contribute sweets to Halloween but not for any money-making enterprise.

Where I previously lived, the local church and brass instruments used to go round the streets, making a lovely noise and collecting for charity. That's a completely different situation.

busiscoming2

We don't get many Carol singers around here any more. If they do appear before Christmas eve, I tell them they are too early and to come back!

BTW I believe the etiquette is to give some money...

skintchick

If they can't sing better than me and don't know all the words then I give them some constructive criticism! I've never had carollers who sound good and they never know more than one verse. So it's just begging.

In past years I've gone out with a group singing carols but we don't knock on doors, we just sing in the street do people can enjoy it.

Wellyboots6

I have a rather large dog who took a dislike to the Rotary Club Santa who came round the other day.
He saw the sleigh outside and started barking like a mad 'un.
Funnily mine was the only house in our row that the charity collectors forgot to knock at!
I felt so guilty afterwards.

I am another that likes halloween and gets all the sweets ready. Funnily dog doesn't bother about trick or treaters, even with costumes.

I don't know how he would react to carol singers. Me either for that matter. I assumed tradition was to give money which I am not so happy about. Could I get away with offering a mince pie?