Christmas Carols

When I was about 16 I went with four mates from Kingston around Wellgreen Lane and Kingston Road, carol singing. We wanted to raise money to spend on alcohol in the Christmas period. None of us were that good at singing. One of us (nicknamed Yanks) just opened his mouth and pretended. “Ginger’s not doing much for his money,” said one guy.

Little did we know that we were following a long tradition of such carol-singing, or wassailing. In the middle ages paupers would, at Christmas, sing at rich men’s houses and refuse to leave until they had been given something to drink or eat. In return they would wish good cheer to their benefactors. This tradition has evolved into the current tradition of carol singing, which is coming into season. The carols are often arrangements of medieval songs, though some are from the Victorian era, when there was a revival of the practice. On Sunday, at 3pm there are carols on the Green in Nevill, and in St Pancras church (proceeds at the latter go to the Brighton homeless). On Wednesday at 7pm The Bach Choir are singing at St Anne’s Church. The first two events are free, tickets for the latter cost £10 and go to Victoria Hospital.

Back in those teenage times the five of us soon dwindled to four, then three, then two. When we reached the Juggs I decided I’d had enough. Nick, however, had got the bug, and he carried on singing at doors up The Street, on his own. He didn’t have the best of voices, but he always went that extra yard. AL