How to Host a Caroling Party
Debra Vaughn
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Invitations: Can be sent through Evite.com, email, US mail, phone calls.
1. Wear scarves, hats, gloves and comfy shoes
2. Bring flashlights or charged cell phones (download flashlight app, if needed.)
3. If children, bring strollers and wagons with blankets
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Plan and Time the Route
1. Consider a shorter route if children &/or disabled.
2. Walk the route in daylight, watching for obstacles and where your group will stand at
each home.
3. Be sensitive to elderly, shut-ins or kids with early bedtimes.
4. Plan on about 7 - 9 minutes at each home (4-6 songs plus Scriptures).
5. If going to convalescent homes/rehab centers, call ahead for their instructions.
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Choose Your Songs
1. Start with an upbeat song (ex: “Jingle Bells”)
2. Follow with 1-2 carols (ex: “Joy To The World” and “Silent Night”)
3. End with “We Wish You a Merry Christmas”
4. Insert Scripture between songs (see sample order on song sheet)
5. Using the same songs each time will bring polish to your performance (but can get
boring to your singers, so be ready to mix it up).
6. Use song sheets (handout) or
7. Find many more Christmas carols and songs with chords at LyricsforChristmas.com
8. When caroling, to find your starting note use a pitch pipe or download a pitch pipe app
for your cell phone. (Starting note next to song title on song sheets)
9. Non-singers can shake keys, or play jingle bells or kazoos (at orientaltrading.com: Jesus
Loves Me kazoo – 12 for $3; metallic snowflake kazoo – 24 for $6; jingle bells – big
variety/price range).
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Safety
Being visible in the dark is important. Consider using:
1. Flashlights for walking AND for seeing song sheets.
2. Glow sticks or Glow necklaces (available at orientaltrading.com – 50 for $35)
3. Flashlight key chains (at orientaltrading.com -12 for $6)
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Food & Drinks
Your guests will be cold and thirsty after caroling
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2.
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4.
5.
6.
Soup (see recipe for Chicken Potato/Cheese Soup)
Chili (see Debra Vaughn’s Chili Recipe)
Breads/crackers
Christmas Cookies for dessert
Warm drinks: Coffee, Tea, Hot Chocolate, Wassail Punch (see recipe)
Potluck is a great way to include others and simplify your preparation.
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Ice Breakers and After-Caroling Activities
1. Discussion topics: Favorite Christmas tradition; favorite Christmas memory growing up;
favorite gift you ever gave; favorite Christmas song or carol; find the person with the
most unique Christmas tradition; if neighbors – has anyone lived here longer than 20
years or less than one year?
2. Name That Christmas Carol (see handout)
3. That Carol Clue List (handouts)
4. Photo Op – Styrofoam Snowman Cutouts (see handout); photo booth props – your own
or see orientaltrading.com or shindigz.com
5. Balloon guys for kids (check online, cost can be $100-$300)
6. Read Christmas story in Luke 2
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Before Caroling That Night:
1. Practice singing through several of the carols so your guests become familiar with the
song sheets.
2. Assign someone to play the pitch pipe and another to read Scripture verses, if using.
3. Practice jingling bells, keys and/or singing into kazoos.
4. Determine your song selection before ringing the doorbells.
5. Make sure all have a flashlight/cell phone light/glow stick or necklace.
6. Pray together, asking for the Lord’s protection on the carolers, as well as His blessing on
those hearing the carols proclaiming Christ’s birth.
7. Take that last potty break (I had to say it!).
Online Resource List:
1. LyricsforChristmas.com – Songs, lyrics and chords;
2. Orientaltrading.com – jingle bells, kazoos, glow sticks/necklaces, photo booth props, flashlight key
chains
3. Shindigz.com – photo booth props & backgrounds
4. http://partygameideas.com/christmas-games
5. http://www.purpletrail.com/partytrail/holiday_parties/christmas/free-printable-game-christmascarol-match-up
6. www.bowtieproducts.com/christmas_party_games_and_puzzles.htm
7. freebies.about.com/od/Christmas-Freebies/tp/Christmas-party-games.htm
CHRISTMAS CAROLING PARTY RECIPES
CHICKEN POTATO/CHEESE SOUP
5 Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
½ teaspoon salt
5 cups water (or more if needed)
¼ teaspoon pepper
Cook covered in a large pot over low heat for 1 hour and break up chicken into bites.
Add:
4 Chicken bouillon cubes
1 pkg peeled carrots, diced
3 potatoes, diced
1 pkg celery, chopped (or 3 – 4 stalks)
Sprinkle with lemon pepper.
Continue to cook, covered, over low heat for 1 ½ hours.
Cut up 1 lb Velveeta cheese and add. Stir until cheese is melted and mixed. Serves 10.
WASSAIL PUNCH
Prep 5 min, cook 8 hrs – ready in 8 hrs 5 min
2 quarts apple cider
2 cups orange juice
1/2 cup lemon juice
12 whole cloves
4 cinnamon sticks
1 pinch ground ginger
1 pinch ground nutmeg
In a slow-cooker or a large pot over low heat, combine apple cider, orange juice and lemon juice. Season
with cloves, ginger and nutmeg. Bring to a simmer. If using a slow cooker, allow to simmer all day. Serve
hot. Makes 12 servings.
DEBRA VAUGHN’S CHILI RECIPE
2 – 40 oz cans Sun Vista Pinto Beans
1 – 30 oz can Ortega green chilis
1 – 30 oz can stewed tomatoes (Mex style)
5 or 6 beef bouillon cubes
2 – 4 lbs Lean Ground Beef or Ground Sirloin
3 – 5 Tablespoons chili powder (Gebhardts)
Dash – ground Cumin
1 med onion, chopped fine
1 bell pepper, chopped
1 pasilla pepper, chopped
4 – 6 celery stalks, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
Dash – Oregano
Salt and pepper to taste
Brown ground beef in a large pan with onion, drain. Season with chili powder, oregano, cumin and
salt/pepper. Put into large crock pot. Add remaining ingredients (with juices – don’t drain) and mix well.
Cook on High for 2 – 4 hours OR on Low for 6 – 8 hours. If desired, thicken with 1-2 Tablespoons
cornstarch. Makes a LOT.
Name that Christmas Carol
Supplies needed: Christmas music, CD player, pen and paper, prep time
Tip: Don’t buy a ton of new music for this game; see if your local library rents music or see if a relative or
friend has CDs you could borrow for research and the game.
Version 1 - Name that Christmas Carol - Group and everyone plays at once:
Create a song playlist from your favorite Christmas carols and songs for your party. Then make sure you
write down the song and artist. If you are using an iPod you can create a playlist and if using a CD player
be sure to note the CD and track number of that song.
Tip: Use a CD with various artists, then you can play a few from that CD during your game. Also avoid
instrument music and be sure to include a mix of easy and difficult songs.
In version 1, you play the first 5 or 10 seconds of the Christmas carol / song and if someone’s hand goes
up they are the first to have a shot at guessing the name of the song. If no one’s hand goes up after 15
seconds after the song was played, start the song again and play until a hand goes up.
You can play Christmas title only or you can make it harder by asking them to give you the title and
artist. My recommendation is to do 1 or 2 rounds of title only and then add a round of title and artist. (If
you do a title + artist round increase the points for an answer during that round.)
Scoring: If the person correctly names the Christmas song they get 1 point, if they can get the title of the
song and the artist 2 points. If the person answers incorrectly they get -1 point and they cannot guess
again on that song.
Version 2 - Name that Christmas Carol – Use pen and paper
Instead of people raising hands, on a sheet of paper have them write their name, place numbers down
the left hand side (1 through the number of songs you have to play) and leave a blank space for song
title and artist. We recommend between 12 and 18 songs. Explain to your guests that you will play 15,
20 or 30 seconds (be consistent) of a song and then if they think they know the title and / or artist of the
Christmas song write it down.
You will announce what song number you are on each time so that they can list them properly. A
correct song title is worth 1 point; if they get the song and artist correct, 2 points. No points for just the
correct artist.
Once you have played all the Christmas songs, give the players 30 seconds to wrap up and then have
guests trade sheets so you can score the answers. Then start with the first song and play an intro of 5 –
10 seconds and see if anyone got it. If yes, score accordingly. If no, correct and then let them know
what/who it was. Continue until all the answers have been revealed.
Person scoring the most points wins. Be ready in case there is a tie to have a back up Christmas Song,
where the first person to answer the songs correctly wins.
THAT CAROL CLUE LIST
Answer Key
1. down where he lay: Away in a Manger
2. silent stars go by: O Little Town of Bethlehem
3. in Heavenly peace: Silent Night
4. ride and sing: Jingle Bells
5. field and fountain: We Three Kings
6. and the sweet words: I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
7. dancing in the night: Do You Hear What I Hear
8. a cold winter’s night: The First Noel
9. made of snow: Frosty the Snowman
10.pulling on the reins: Here Comes Santa Claus
11.how are thy leaves: O Christmas Tree
12.gather near to us: Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
13.I used to know: White Christmas
14.snow is glistening: Winter Wonderland
15.no place to go: Let It Snow
16.King of angels: O Come, All Ye Faithful
17.triumph of the skies: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
18.you would even say: Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
19.the mountains in reply: Angels We Have Heard on High
20.deep and crisp: Good King Wenceslaus
21.prepare Him room: Joy To the World
22.our finest gifts: Little Drummer Boy
23.to you and your kin: We Wish You a Merry Christmas
24.dressed up like Eskimos: The Christmas Song
25.only in my dreams: I’ll Be Home for Christmas
26.bushels of fun: Jingle Bell Rock
27.my true love: Twelve Days of Christmas
28.the weary world rejoices: O Holy Night
29.what a laugh: I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
30.smile after smile: Silver Bells