A caroler is someone who sings Christmas carols, often going door to door in their neighborhood during the holiday season. Picture a group of people bundled up in winter coats, standing on your front porch on a cold December evening, singing “Jingle Bells” or “Silent Night.” That's caroling.

The tradition goes back hundreds of years, when groups would walk through villages singing songs to celebrate Christmas and spread holiday cheer. Today, carolers might visit nursing homes, hospitals, or simply walk through their own streets, sharing music with anyone who wants to listen. Some carolers dress in old-fashioned clothing that makes them look like they stepped out of a Charles Dickens story.

While most caroling happens at Christmas, the word can technically apply to anyone singing carols at any time. If you've ever joined friends to sing holiday songs around the neighborhood, you've been a caroler.