Here We Come A-Caroling!

 My mind has been filled with carols these past few weeks as I practice and research for the upcoming Here We Come A-Caroling! program. I present this show with my friend, folk musician Jeff Seager, and each year we add new stories and songs to our performance. This year's new songs include:

• Nova! Nova!, a medieval carol with an interesting construction
• Beautiful Star of Bethlehem, a carol written in an Appalachian cow barn
• Welcome Yule!, a hearty welcome to the coming of Solstice

There will be stories that tell the history and lore behind each of these carols as well as all of the other carols included in our program. Some favorites, such as The Huron Carol and Don in Yon Forest are also on the agenda. Recently I learned of a family connection to the Christmas Truce of 1914, and that story will be included in our rendition of Silent Night.

From last year's fun: attendees playing parts with masks for an old
Appalachian song.

There is so much more--there is such a wealth of carols! And there is fascinating lore too--the traditions, superstititions, prohibitions, etc. connected with our celebrations of the holidays. Holly, ivy, the bringing in of greenery, the food customs, ways to assure good luck and fortune, finding a mate, the Yule log...it's not what to include, it's how much we can manage in the time we will have.

Here is the schedule of our performances so far. Call or email me for more information. I hope to see you at one of these events!

• November 28: Here We Come A-Caroling, Cedar Lakes, Ripley, WV 7:00pm, Road Scholars program.
• December 10: Here We Come A-Caroling! House concert, Frederick, MD. 7:00pm. Contact me for details.
• December 11: Olde Tyme Christmas, Harper's Ferry, WV, St. Peter's Church, 1:00pm, free public program.
• December 17: Here We Come A-Caroling! Philippi Public Library, Philippi, WV 2:00pm, free public program.
• December 18: Here We Come A-Caroling! Blackwater Falls State Park, Davis, WV 10:00am, for Breakfast with Santa program.