Michigan's Swartz Creek High School Choir to Bring Back Christmas Traditions

"Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way..." will soon be the sound of downtown Swartz Creek, Michigan. Christmas is on its way and along with the holiday brings some tradition from the Swartz Creek High School choir.

Beginning the second week of December, the Swartz Creek High School choir will tour around downtown Swartz Creek and sing Christmas carols on doorsteps. The events will take place along Miller Rd. and throughout the village that surrounds the middle and high schools around 6 p.m.

The idea came from a 14 year old freshman who hasn't had much of a Christmas the last few years due to money being tight in the family. Celebrating Christmas for him usually consisted of exchanging a couple small gifts and a dinner at a relatives. His family hasn't put up a Christmas tree since 2001, making him only 8 years old at the time.

In an effort to bring holiday traditions back, the school choir director, Mr. Luke, casted his best ten singers, including 14 year old Jason Halbert, to sing fa-la-la-la-la at houses willing to listen. The project required some approving, however.

"We had to get the board to approve of the outing as an extracurricular activity," says Mr. Luke.

The selected seven choir members will walk town and sing shortened classic Christmas songs such as "Jingle Bells," "Deck The Halls," "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire)," "We Wish You A Merry Christmas," and "O Come All Ye Faithful."

"It means a lot to me because I haven't really celebrated Christmas traditions in about six years," says the teen, whose idea at first wasn't taken seriously.

"When I brought up the idea of caroling, much attention to it wasn't paid. But I kept insisting on it," he says.

"He first came to me last month and I didn't think he was serious and I didn't think it was a good idea at first," Mr. Luke said.

"But with holidays now becoming more commercial, we thought it was an experience they'd never forget. It'll give them something to sing about," he chuckles.

Before the group goes out to sing, they will first have to perform as a complete choir group in front of the school for a Christmas concert. Additional Christmas songs will be sung, including "All I Want For Christmas (Is You)," made popular by Mariah Carey in 1994.

"Every time you go into a store around Christmas, you hear that song! It's played every year, so we thought it would be fun to give it a try," Jason said.

"Of course, none of us sound like Mariah Carey, but it will be a familiar song to sing for everyone."