The current effort to revive our traditional Christmas customs is heartening. The holidays saw traditional Christmas concerts and other functions put on by schools and churches, as well as children’s parties and other activities sponsored by community leaders and organisations. These events all augur well for fostering unity and maintaining continuity, but the special emphasis exerted on “serenading and carolling” during the immediate past season is particularly commendable.
Douglas Wheatley’s “A Look at the Community” interviewed people who reminisced about the way Christmas celebration used to be; and others rendered traditional hymns and carols that evoked “goose-bump” feelings all over us. Eileene Parsons’ recollections on several radio shows were nostalgic. The “Clash of the Carollers” event jointly sponsored by the Social Development and Culture departments was a timely initiative to help preserve the tradition of carolling. And what a set of performances it was!
The “Clash of the Carollers” was entertaining, engaging, humorous and warming! And so was the accompanying drama, which was complete with props like the inkberry Christmas tree and strong guavaberry liqueur “kicking in,” reminiscent of old-time carolling, and hilarious, all at the same time! The choirs really captured the spirit of sharing good Christmas cheer. They were all winners! The performance of the conductor of the Cane Garden Bay Choir was typical of the call-and-response “lining out” method of song form, developed among the slave society eons ago. May this initiative continue!
Origin of serenading
It is important to note, however, that the origin of serenading goes far back beyond the 1940s and 1950s. In fact, the National Archives heralded the current revival of serenading and carolling with the publication of a series of Christmas cards and its Christmas Newsletter (introduced in 2005) illustrating our traditional Christmas symbols. The historical perspective of each symbol was outlined.
Here is an excerpt from the November/December 2010 newsletter: “Serenading has its roots in the revelry of African slaves, when anyone with an instrument joined the group to entertain the masters with singing and playing of made-up songs on Christmas Day. (The made-up songs may have been coded, but that’s another angle for another discussion). It was a celebration of identity and artistic expression, ‘a means of social interaction and a release of stress from discontentment.’ It was also a nostalgic reminder of their African heritage and traditional folkways. It was in that expression that serenading originated. Today, the banjo, guitar, dried gourds, bongos, drums, washboards, combs and other improvised instruments still make alluring music.
Carolling, a later derivation, is the singing of religious hymns and songs associated with Christmas, by church choirs and community groups, sometimes accompanied by an instrumental band. The carollers begin before midnight on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve and go from house to house in chosen villages singing until dawn. They were usually compensated with donations of money or drinks and food.
Some bands associated with serenading and carolling over the years are Band of Britain, The Happy Family Band, Serenaders, Band of Unity, Band of Love, Joyous Singers, Band of Faith, Voice of Love, Women’s and Girls’ League of the Methodist Church, and Maxwell Thomas Christmas Fungi.”
‘Tonal quality’
Back to the “Clash of the Carollers.” I listened for but did not hear a certain tonal quality reminiscent of choirs like the “Band of Britain” and the old-time carollers from Belle Vue and Long Trench villages. It is an ancient, evocative tonal quality that is intriguingly gripping. BBC programme researchers have found that same tonal quality existing in small groups across the continents; it also exists here, or used to exist anyway.
It was the same captivating sound that I heard on a BBC 3 programme a few years ago on a cold December night in Colchester, United Kingdom. It was warming and transported me back to the Virgin Islands, for indeed I thought it was the Belle Vue Carollers singing, “Why are you so fond of sleeping? Awake! Awake! This is the happy Christmas morn!” But it was a Welsh choir instead, still singing in that ancient sacred style.
Currently, there is also a deliberate effort in the United States, especially among the black Baptist churches, to practise and record the foundational old-style singing, music and lyrics that pre-date “traditional gospel music.” The hymns date back as far as 1707, and the spirituals have been passed down by oral tradition over the centuries. That effort ensures that the sacred style of music and the traditions associated with it are no longer in danger of disappearing as the older singers pass on.
Similarly, may the resurgent effort in our VI to help preserve our customs and traditions in the area of carolling and serenading be encouraged and continued for generations to come.
P.S. Perhaps the Department of Culture might also consider introducing a guavaberry liqueur competition next December. For general information, it should be noted that “guavaberry liqueur” is our traditional Christmas drink — not “guavaberry wine” as is often published in the media.