As promised, information about how what where and when for this years carols—a fully fledged, brass supported, sing your hearts out, Christmas carol session around Highfields.

We’ll be gathering at number 10 at 5:15 pm (ish) for a 5:30 pm (ish) start on Friday the 23^rd. I say “ish” because, as is traditional on these occasions, there will be “refreshments” before we set out.

Obviously, these are still not normal times so please bear the following in mind:

We’ll be meeting and staying outside (there will be a bloody big gazebo if its damp). Dress appropriately.
There will be refreshments – mulled wine (and hot chocolate for the littles) and possibly mince pies. Feel free to drop off offerings during the day at number 2 or number 10.
Save the planet. Please bring your own cup to be filled with good cheer.
When singing please don’t clump too close together. Covid hasn’t gone away and its flu season. Family clumps are probably the best option and having your own words (paper or electronic – see links below) makes distancing easier. Torches to help with seeing what you’re singing are recommended.
Dogs, babies, cats, pushchairs, wheelchairs, Zimmer frames all welcome.
A special truncated song book has been produced (see below). You can still use an old song book if you have one lying around. The running order has a cross reference for the old song number.
If you’re going down the electronic route, downloading the songbook BEFORE start is strongly recommended.

As with previous years…

WE WILL NOT BE COLLECTING ANY MONEY

It’s just for fun.

(Though plying us with more “refreshments” as we go around would not go amiss – purely to keep the cold out of course).

If you really, really feel the need, make a donation to your favourite charity.

Please tell your neighbours we’re coming around (especially the electronically challenged and/or elderly) and give them an approximate time. Some older residents hide because they are intimidated by the dreaded carol singers demanding money with menaces after singing one verse of “We Wish You A Merry Christmas”. It would be a pity for them to miss out.

Running order

#	Song	(Old song book order)
1.	God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen – 3 verses (1, 3, 8)	(2)
2.	Oh Come All Ye Faithful / Adeste Fideles – 4 verses (1 English, 1 Latin, 2 & 3 English)	(4)
3.	Hark! The Herald Angels Sing – 3 verses	(15)
4.	It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas – 2 verses (1, 5)	(34)
5.	In The Bleak Midwinter – 2 verses (1, 5)	(16)
6.	Ding! Dong! Merrily on High – 3 verses	(6)
7.	We Three Kings – 3 verses (1, 2, 5)	(19)
8.	Silent Night / Stille Nacht / Tawel nos – 4 verses (1 English, 1 German, 1 Welsh, 2 English)	(5)
9.	Good King Wenceslas – 5 verses	(8)
10.	Jingle Bells – 3 verses	(7)
11.	The Holly and the Ivy – 4 verses (1, 2, 3, 6)	(11)
12.	All through the night / Ar Hyd Y Nos – 3 verses (1 English, 1 Welsh, 2 English	(21)
13.	Deck the Hall / Nos Galan – 3 verses (English only)	(13)
14.	We Wish You a Merry Christmas – 4 verses	(28)