Christmas season in Diablo includes all the classic holiday elements: eggnog by a crackling fire, stockings hung with care, milk and cookies for Santa. And caroling also makes the list. On Saturday, Dec. 23, around 35 carolers gathered on the main street, Alameda Diablo, for the singing of Christmas cheer.
In Diablo, caroling was always a tradition, but in recent years, it had stopped. Then last year marked the beginning of a resurgence of the practice. This December, plans circulated for a community event welcoming children and their families from Diablo and surrounding areas to once again share the Christmas spirit by caroling to the houses on Alameda Diablo.
“It was a grassroots project,” Diablo resident Shannon Warburg said. “Caroling is a throwback to a simpler time, and it connects us to generations of Christmases past. The best part about it is that it’s really fun and it’s free fun, which is a nice contrast to some of the stuff this time of year, which can be expensive and too commercialized.”
The carolers met for hot chocolate before setting off and were each given a song book containing 12 Christmas carols. There was something for everyone, from “Winter Wonderland” to “O Little Town of Bethlehem” to “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.” Children were encouraged to bring their own bells to jingle during the caroling.
Warburg called homes on Alameda Diablo beforehand to see if they had time to be serenaded by the carolers, and wound up with 12 homes to visit. The group set off around five o’clock, just as the sun was setting.
“It’s a wonderful tradition,” Betty Matthews said as the carolers walked down her driveway. “It reminds me of my teenage years when I’d get up at 4 a.m. to go caroling.”
The protocol for Diablo caroling was simple. The group approached the home’s front door, with the children often running down the driveway to arrive much before the adults. A child rang the doorbell and as soon as everyone was ready, the group sang a pre-selected carol. Another child then asked the homeowner if they had a request from the list on the songbooks. After the requested song, the group would all sing, “We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.”
“It’s a part of Diablo, it just is,” said Anne Smith, whose house was the caroler’s first stop. “The carolers bring back memories of Christmases past. It’s just lovely.”
As the carolers made their way down Alameda Diablo, they worked through most of the carols in the songbook. The overwhelmingly requested carol was “Rudolph,” which delighted the children at first and then elicited a few groans by the fourth time. But everyone sang with gusto and lots of smiles. At the end of each song, homeowners clapped enthusiastically for all the carolers.
“It’s fun to sing,” said 6-year-old Ciara Chow. “It’s really, really exciting to go all around the neighborhood.”
Caroling was a great event for all who joined in. Everyone had fun socializing and sharing Christmas cheer in the neighborhood. Diablo caroling looks to become a renewed tradition with the success of this year’s festivities.
“I like caroling because it was fun to go to all the different houses to carol,” said Jacob Wight, 8. “I liked the cookies that some of the houses gave us for singing, too.”
His 5-year-old brother Gavin agreed.
“I liked singing all the songs, but Rudolph was my favorite,” he said.
