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| Hark, the pub regulars sing... | Hark, the pub regulars sing... |
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| Whether it's in the pub, a church or out on the street, people in the UK are keeping local - and often unique - carol-singing traditions alive. But what are they? | Whether it's in the pub, a church or out on the street, people in the UK are keeping local - and often unique - carol-singing traditions alive. But what are they? |
| Across the country, pockets of people are keeping alive Christmas carol traditions that were lost to most of us hundreds of years ago. | Across the country, pockets of people are keeping alive Christmas carol traditions that were lost to most of us hundreds of years ago. |
| We're not talking the usual carols you hear playing on a loop as you shop in the supermarket. In churches, village pubs and on the streets, local voices are singing carols that have been handed down the generations and are unique to their areas. | We're not talking the usual carols you hear playing on a loop as you shop in the supermarket. In churches, village pubs and on the streets, local voices are singing carols that have been handed down the generations and are unique to their areas. |
| Often the traditions tie in with the old ways of life and trades of the area, like fishing and farming. Each community fiercely claims the carols as their own. | Often the traditions tie in with the old ways of life and trades of the area, like fishing and farming. Each community fiercely claims the carols as their own. |
| "People still want to sing, we haven't lost the demand for music making in a community, for the community," says Jon Boden, a musician and caroller from Yorkshire. "It is community that keeps all of these traditions at Christmas alive." | "People still want to sing, we haven't lost the demand for music making in a community, for the community," says Jon Boden, a musician and caroller from Yorkshire. "It is community that keeps all of these traditions at Christmas alive." |
| So what makes these carols and singing them so special? | So what makes these carols and singing them so special? |
| DUNGWORTH, SOUTH YORKSHIRE | DUNGWORTH, SOUTH YORKSHIRE |
| In Dungworth, south Yorkshire, Christmas officially starts on the first Sunday after Armistice Day, when the Royal Hotel opens its doors for traditional pub carols. | In Dungworth, south Yorkshire, Christmas officially starts on the first Sunday after Armistice Day, when the Royal Hotel opens its doors for traditional pub carols. |
| FIND OUT MORE... Keeping Tradition Alive At Christmas is on for four days starting on Radio Two at 2200 GMT starting on Monday, December 21Or listen to it on the iPlayer later | FIND OUT MORE... Keeping Tradition Alive At Christmas is on for four days starting on Radio Two at 2200 GMT starting on Monday, December 21Or listen to it on the iPlayer later |
| For 200 years locals have squeezed into the pub to sing. But these aren't traditional carols, sung by sweet, angelic voices. This is carolling Yorkshire style - traditional, local songs that are belted out. It's about raising the pub roof and making the walls vibrate. | For 200 years locals have squeezed into the pub to sing. But these aren't traditional carols, sung by sweet, angelic voices. This is carolling Yorkshire style - traditional, local songs that are belted out. It's about raising the pub roof and making the walls vibrate. |
| "There's a particularly amazing sound about a group of people singing without inhibition," says Jon Boden, who lives near Dungworth and takes part in the pub carols each year. | "There's a particularly amazing sound about a group of people singing without inhibition," says Jon Boden, who lives near Dungworth and takes part in the pub carols each year. |
| The pub carols are rooted in the community. Some are sung only in south Yorkshire, some only within a few miles of Dungworth, some only at the Royal. | The pub carols are rooted in the community. Some are sung only in south Yorkshire, some only within a few miles of Dungworth, some only at the Royal. |
| The tradition stems from the early 19th Century, when the Church of England took a hard line on singing. Disgruntled locals simply took the carols and themselves to the pub. For them it was - and still is - about community and tradition, not religious piety. | The tradition stems from the early 19th Century, when the Church of England took a hard line on singing. Disgruntled locals simply took the carols and themselves to the pub. For them it was - and still is - about community and tradition, not religious piety. |
| "The songs were driven out of the churches by the Church of England formalising them," says Dave Eyre, who has been singing at the sessions for more than 30 years. | "The songs were driven out of the churches by the Church of England formalising them," says Dave Eyre, who has been singing at the sessions for more than 30 years. |
| "The people who sang freely were driven out and ended up in this area in the pubs. No one knows why they went in pubs, but they did. These carols are sort of fossilised in a piece of amber, existing almost as they did the in 1830s and 40s and that's what makes them so fascinating." | "The people who sang freely were driven out and ended up in this area in the pubs. No one knows why they went in pubs, but they did. These carols are sort of fossilised in a piece of amber, existing almost as they did the in 1830s and 40s and that's what makes them so fascinating." |
| The Royal is one of several pubs in the area that guard this cherished tradition. The sessions start on the first Sunday after Armistice Day and are held every week until Boxing Day. Nothing is formally organised, people just turn up each year and pack out the pubs. | The Royal is one of several pubs in the area that guard this cherished tradition. The sessions start on the first Sunday after Armistice Day and are held every week until Boxing Day. Nothing is formally organised, people just turn up each year and pack out the pubs. |
| Carols start at noon and officially finish at 2pm, although unofficially they can go on much longer. Families have been taking part for generations and those who have left the area often come back to sing, sometimes from as far away as Australia and New Zealand. | Carols start at noon and officially finish at 2pm, although unofficially they can go on much longer. Families have been taking part for generations and those who have left the area often come back to sing, sometimes from as far away as Australia and New Zealand. |
| "It might sound a little trite, but it tells us who we are," says Ian Russell, a folk music anthropologist who began as an outsider researching the carols in the 1960s. | "It might sound a little trite, but it tells us who we are," says Ian Russell, a folk music anthropologist who began as an outsider researching the carols in the 1960s. |
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| LIANFYLLIN, WALES | LIANFYLLIN, WALES |
| They're old, sound beautiful and are unique to Wales. The Plygain carol-singing tradition is a treasured part of Christmas for the Welsh, with words and music that are centuries old. | They're old, sound beautiful and are unique to Wales. The Plygain carol-singing tradition is a treasured part of Christmas for the Welsh, with words and music that are centuries old. |
| The word Plygain comes from Latin and is translated as "cock crow". This is because originally the services were held early each Christmas morning and singers would have to rise between 3am and 6am to attend them. | The word Plygain comes from Latin and is translated as "cock crow". This is because originally the services were held early each Christmas morning and singers would have to rise between 3am and 6am to attend them. |
| They date back to the 1600s. Back then it was only men who took part, with women staying at home. They would walk through the village carrying candles to light the church. Once there they would offer up their gift of song to the Christmas morning. | They date back to the 1600s. Back then it was only men who took part, with women staying at home. They would walk through the village carrying candles to light the church. Once there they would offer up their gift of song to the Christmas morning. |
| Today, the churches have electricity, services are more commonly held in the evening and women now attend, but aside from that little else has changed. | Today, the churches have electricity, services are more commonly held in the evening and women now attend, but aside from that little else has changed. |
| In LIanfyllin, where the Plygain tradition is still strong, it is not unusual for families to have their own carols that are part of their heritage and closely guarded. | In LIanfyllin, where the Plygain tradition is still strong, it is not unusual for families to have their own carols that are part of their heritage and closely guarded. |
| "In the old days each area would have their own folk poet, someone who would be willing and able to compose a Plygain carol for the use of a soloist or a family party," says Rhiannon Ifans, history professor at the University of Wales and a Plygain singer. | "In the old days each area would have their own folk poet, someone who would be willing and able to compose a Plygain carol for the use of a soloist or a family party," says Rhiannon Ifans, history professor at the University of Wales and a Plygain singer. |
| Plygains are held in churches from December to January 6th. They open with a carol sung by the congregation, followed by an abbreviated evening service, with readings and prayers. | Plygains are held in churches from December to January 6th. They open with a carol sung by the congregation, followed by an abbreviated evening service, with readings and prayers. |
| "Following that the vicar declares the Plygain open to the public, and it's at this point that the soloists, the duets, the quartets, large parties and small parties or even complete male voice choir is welcome to present a carol," says Ms Ifans. | "Following that the vicar declares the Plygain open to the public, and it's at this point that the soloists, the duets, the quartets, large parties and small parties or even complete male voice choir is welcome to present a carol," says Ms Ifans. |
| "There is no master of ceremonies, no invitations, but the church is in silence then the singers decide for themselves when they wish to deliver the carol. It's all very, very informal." | "There is no master of ceremonies, no invitations, but the church is in silence then the singers decide for themselves when they wish to deliver the carol. It's all very, very informal." |
| It closes with another carol sung by the congregation. | It closes with another carol sung by the congregation. |
| A Plygain speaks of another age and is very much a part of worship for Welsh people," says the Reverend Bethan Scotford, lady rector Corwen Parish which includes Llanfyllin. | A Plygain speaks of another age and is very much a part of worship for Welsh people," says the Reverend Bethan Scotford, lady rector Corwen Parish which includes Llanfyllin. |
| "It's part of the Anglican, chapel tradition, that in itself is important. It's a way of sharing that, probably in a way that Welsh people feel very at home with, getting together to sing." | "It's part of the Anglican, chapel tradition, that in itself is important. It's a way of sharing that, probably in a way that Welsh people feel very at home with, getting together to sing." |
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| PADSTOW, CORNWALL | PADSTOW, CORNWALL |
| In Padstow it's done in the streets. In the run-up to Christmas, the Cornish town is alive with the sound of carol singing and it has been the same for hundreds of years. | In Padstow it's done in the streets. In the run-up to Christmas, the Cornish town is alive with the sound of carol singing and it has been the same for hundreds of years. |
| "The Padstow carols are so special because in Padstow we have preserved a repertoire that's been forgotten in many other places," says caroller and music historian Mike O'Conner. "People are singing an unbroken tradition of carols that goes back certainly well over 150, and probably 200 years." | "The Padstow carols are so special because in Padstow we have preserved a repertoire that's been forgotten in many other places," says caroller and music historian Mike O'Conner. "People are singing an unbroken tradition of carols that goes back certainly well over 150, and probably 200 years." |
| A lot of what goes on isn't written down, it's handed down, from father to son, from mother to daughter. And unlike the informal carols every Sunday in Dungworth, the Padstow carols need a little more forward planning. | A lot of what goes on isn't written down, it's handed down, from father to son, from mother to daughter. And unlike the informal carols every Sunday in Dungworth, the Padstow carols need a little more forward planning. |
| They have a leader who's job it is to arrange the route, get the carollers in the right place at the right time and choose what they will sing. They start the singing by announcing the name of the carol and then saying "strike sound". They then use a pitching pipe to bring everyone in on the right note. | They have a leader who's job it is to arrange the route, get the carollers in the right place at the right time and choose what they will sing. They start the singing by announcing the name of the carol and then saying "strike sound". They then use a pitching pipe to bring everyone in on the right note. |
| Local Barry Kinsman started carolling 60 years ago with a group of friends from primary school. | Local Barry Kinsman started carolling 60 years ago with a group of friends from primary school. |
| "I feel I'm doing what Padstownians have done for 200 years, maybe some of the carols are even older," he says. "The carols are treasured... they are part of the living tradition of Padstow." | "I feel I'm doing what Padstownians have done for 200 years, maybe some of the carols are even older," he says. "The carols are treasured... they are part of the living tradition of Padstow." |
| The carollers take a route through the town. Sometimes they sing to small crowds or just to themselves. Often they have sung to generations of the same family. They are rewarded with food and drink along the way. | The carollers take a route through the town. Sometimes they sing to small crowds or just to themselves. Often they have sung to generations of the same family. They are rewarded with food and drink along the way. |
| The carols they sing are steeped in tradition. Harky Harky is a carol based on the words of the universal carol Hark The Herald Angels Sing. | The carols they sing are steeped in tradition. Harky Harky is a carol based on the words of the universal carol Hark The Herald Angels Sing. |
| "The version that we sing here came, I think, from Port Leven or Newlyn, one of the west Cornwall ports," says Mr Kinsman. | "The version that we sing here came, I think, from Port Leven or Newlyn, one of the west Cornwall ports," says Mr Kinsman. |
| "In the winter a lot of the trawlers fished out of Padstow and the men would sing their carols on the quay and we would sing ours. I suppose we adopted Harky Harky, about that time, about 100 years ago." | "In the winter a lot of the trawlers fished out of Padstow and the men would sing their carols on the quay and we would sing ours. I suppose we adopted Harky Harky, about that time, about 100 years ago." |
| For the carollers of Padstow it is important to keep local traditions alive. | For the carollers of Padstow it is important to keep local traditions alive. |
| "People have started working on the old music and making sure that it gets sung out and heard," says Mike O'Connor, a caroller and music historian. "A book in a library, or a manuscript in an archive doesn't do anyone any good at all, these things deserve to be heard out." | "People have started working on the old music and making sure that it gets sung out and heard," says Mike O'Connor, a caroller and music historian. "A book in a library, or a manuscript in an archive doesn't do anyone any good at all, these things deserve to be heard out." |
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| LEIGH-ON-SEA, ESSEX | LEIGH-ON-SEA, ESSEX |
| What makes Leigh on Sea's carolling service so unusual is the fact it is so new compared to the other areas. When they didn't have their own tradition, the community created one. The town now sings a "patchwork-quilt of carols" and has done for the last 32 years. | What makes Leigh on Sea's carolling service so unusual is the fact it is so new compared to the other areas. When they didn't have their own tradition, the community created one. The town now sings a "patchwork-quilt of carols" and has done for the last 32 years. |
| "What you do if you want a local carol service and you haven't got your own... you make your own tradition," says professor and lay minister Ken MacKinnon, who has been involved from the start. | "What you do if you want a local carol service and you haven't got your own... you make your own tradition," says professor and lay minister Ken MacKinnon, who has been involved from the start. |
| Along with local musician Paul McDowell, he has researched manuscripts, tunes and many other old items over a long period. This includes carols that have probably never been sung for hundreds of years. This year Prof MacKinnon has revived one from 11th Century Ireland. | Along with local musician Paul McDowell, he has researched manuscripts, tunes and many other old items over a long period. This includes carols that have probably never been sung for hundreds of years. This year Prof MacKinnon has revived one from 11th Century Ireland. |
| Others have been adapted for the service, even specially written for it. There's been at least two "world premieres" at the event in recent years. | Others have been adapted for the service, even specially written for it. There's been at least two "world premieres" at the event in recent years. |
| The pair have gathered so many carols that a few years ago they produced a carol book. In it you'll find a mixture of carols from around the UK, some from Dungworth and Padstow. | The pair have gathered so many carols that a few years ago they produced a carol book. In it you'll find a mixture of carols from around the UK, some from Dungworth and Padstow. |
| The service is held in church and carollers are accompanied by a band. This stems from what is called the West Gallery tradition, where local musicians or a band would play in church with the congregation. The tradition was largely lost when church hardliners brought in organs. | The service is held in church and carollers are accompanied by a band. This stems from what is called the West Gallery tradition, where local musicians or a band would play in church with the congregation. The tradition was largely lost when church hardliners brought in organs. |
| There are quite a few songs that the service has borrowed from Padstow, like the Padstow Farewell Shanty. The locals feel an affinity with the Cornish town, as they do with all small fishing ports. It stems from a shared way of life and a community that once revolved around the offerings of the sea. | There are quite a few songs that the service has borrowed from Padstow, like the Padstow Farewell Shanty. The locals feel an affinity with the Cornish town, as they do with all small fishing ports. It stems from a shared way of life and a community that once revolved around the offerings of the sea. |
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