Carolling

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. The activity of performing joyful songs in a group setting, usually to spread cheer during holiday celebrations or festive gatherings
2. Engaging in the communal singing of lively tunes, often aimed at creating a festive atmosphere and sharing joy with others
3. The practice of singing cheerful songs in unison, typically during festive occasions to evoke a sense of joy and community

Etymology: Carolling is the ongoing act of singing carols, but the word's older sense was far less wholesome. Medieval Old French "caroler" meant to dance in a ring while singing, and the Middle English "carolen" stretched that further, to spend time noisily or even unprofitably. The dance came first; the song was attached to it later. The noun behind it, "carole", was a round dance with singing, and it had a surprisingly wide reach. It could name a group of dancers in a circle, a song sung by those dancers, a religious poem, and even a circular object such as a braid or chain. Some scholars have traced the root to a Greek word meaning one who plays the flute for a chorus dance, while others connect it to Latin "corolla", a little crown or garland. Neither origin is certain, so the path from circle to crown to chorus remains partly a mystery.

Synonyms: singing