It was already close to 3am, but the Christmas carolers showed no sign of winding down.
Around 20 of them from the Ang Mo Kio Tamil Methodist Church, had started singing carols at 8pm on Dec 20.
They went from house to house, starting at Ang Mo Kio and going on to Toa Payoh, Woodlands and Sengkang.
They finished at Jurong East – the 11th house they covered that day – and returned to the church at 3.30am in a private hire bus.
At every door, the mere sight of welcoming faces lit up with Christmas joy was enough to inject a new wave of energy into the carolers.
Mr James Raj, 42, who has been hosting carolers at his home for the past 10 years, said this year was special as it was the 44th year of caroling by the church.
“It is our tradition to spread love for Jesus during Christmas,” he said. That’s why we welcome carolers. It gives us fulfilment and increases bonding among church members.”
Mr James, who has been a caroler since young, knows the amount of dedication it takes to go from house to house and sing. He ensures that the carolers are well fed.
Christmas caroling, an age-old tradition, has transcended generations at the Ang Mo Kio Tamil Methodist Church. Today, even people as young as 12-year-old Raja Raemon Vasanthan are involved.
The boy said it provided him with an opportunity to learn a new instrument – the cajon (a box-shaped percussion instrument originally from Peru which is played by slapping the front or rear faces with the hands).
“When I joined the caroling group with my family, many asked me if I could play the cajon,” said Raja. “So I learnt the cajon by myself, and now I am playing it.”
Caroling also gave Rameshbabu Ramya, 17, an opportunity to come out of her shell.
“At church, normally, we don’t speak much,” she said. “But, in a more informal and fun setting like caroling, I am able to make new friends.”
Also on Dec 20, a group of 25 carolers from the Life Centre Church in Yishun visited different houses, as part of their three-day session. It included singing at 91-year-old pastor Rita Abeysekera’s house where they were greeted with warm hugs.
First-time caroler Sherrin, 36, enjoyed the occasion as she carried her one-year-old child Shira Daniela with her.
“I’m really happy,” said Sherrin. “It’s the first Christmas carol for both of us. That makes it really special.”
Anusha Selvamani and Ravi Singaram
