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Show ma, carols express better 5g else, probably, the l V ,ii of Christmas. ' rd "carol" itself signifies i Twas originaUy used to ac- P !, i dance. William Wallace includes that the term carol :"M . of j0y r eXUUa" Lther definition states: "A ., . hymn of praise especial-' especial-' w is sung at Christmas In Ml'nd. which gave America . ol its carols, they were some- i c , and sometimes convivial ?i time of the Puritans, who " a to suppress the Christmas e Rest"t,on' 1H.U. ture of the day was m t Ume almost forgotten In ! re,cUon from Puritanism. J Zi ciro1 w" temporrU, i lott ta the sonjs. I TK.re re many quaint customs ' Joetated with the early caroler, J might be used today to break J monotony of going from house " atoiie singing Christmas hymns. I It was about the 16th century I A,t caroling became a Christmas m! rjitom, nd ' supposed to have ' sun brought to England from Italy j the traveling clergy. The first JJi Jul Christmas carol is attributed j St Francis of Assisl who made I , juodei of the Bethlehem' manger j , help him tell his people the I Carjtmas story- Tbe We of caroling fitted ad-I ad-I eiribly into the English con-1 con-1 teptian of Cbristmai as a com-I com-I blutlon of religious celebration and a great home day with neighborly feeling, so it grew and flourished In that country. Little bands and groups of singers which sprang up in the towns and villages came to be known as "Waits." A natural explanation of the name seems to be that it refers to watching and waiting, for Christmas Christ-mas Eve is called the Vigil of Christmas. As early as December 21, which Is the day dedicated to St. Thomas, mummers and carolers would begin going from door to door, announcing announc-ing the great feast at hand. It was natural for the householders to offer hospitality to these Christmas troubadours, and gradually in many places the custom of giving alms and presents of various kinds was established. This benign custom threatened threat-ened at one time in England te become a profession and to lose Its original simple ebarm. For a period beginning Just when no one knows and ending in 1820, there were in London and Westminster West-minster companies of "Waits" whose leaders held office by public pub-lic appointment and who obtained an exclusive right to solicit contributions con-tributions from the public. The carolers were often accompanied accom-panied by entertainers who gave a spirit of revelry to the occasions. The mummers often interrupted the singing to give their interpretation of "St. George and the Dragon." Tumblers, dressed in bright red, would perform their arts of skill to entertain the onlookers. |