A carol is a joyful song, especially one sung during Christmas time. When groups of carolers go door to door singing “Jingle Bells” or “Silent Night,” they're sharing Christmas carols with their neighbors. Churches fill with carols during December services, and families sing them while decorating trees or baking cookies.

Centuries ago, people would dance in rings while singing carols to celebrate holidays and special occasions. Over time, carols became associated mainly with Christmas, though the dancing part disappeared.

While most carols today are about Christmas, the word can describe any song of praise or celebration. “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens takes its title from this tradition of joyful holiday songs, even though the story itself contains more talking than singing.

When you carol, you're singing these festive songs, usually with others. Picture a snowy evening with a group of friends bundled in scarves and mittens, singing cheerful songs on a neighbor's porch. That warm, communal feeling of shared celebration is what caroling captures. The songs themselves tend to be simple enough that everyone can join in, which is part of what makes caroling such a welcoming tradition.