The season for fa-la-la-la-la-ing is officially in full-swing. Pandora stations are constantly set to the sounds of Michael Bublé’s creamy voice singing about being home for the big holiday, and everyone is dancing and singing along with Mariah Carey about all they want for Christmas.

While Christmas music is appreciated by most people during this time of year, the way we spread holiday cheer is somewhat different from the Christmas caroling several decades ago. Although carols are still traditionally sung, the idea of actually caroling has seemed to fade behind the hustle and bustle of commercialized holiday music.

In fact, the original tradition of singing carols was hardly to spread Christmas cheer; it used to actually be about acquiring treats, such as food or money, said Nicholas Temperley, Professor Emeritus of Musicology. He said it was often poorer families who would travel around to wealthier families’ homes to sing — similar to the idea of children trick-or-treating at Halloween.

“When I was a little boy (growing up in England), kids would come around, ring a bell and start singing on the doorstep,” Temperley said. “Then you would give them money or food.”

While this tradition still is popular in England, it seems to have lost its luster in America.

A lot of the traditional meanings behind the carols stem from hymnals often sung in churches in the early 19th century. Aside from the obvious, classic hymnal carols such as “Joy to the World” and “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,” Temperley said even some secular carols symbolized Christian meanings. For example, “Deck the Halls” speaks of decorating with boughs of holly.

“Holly and other evergreens are a symbol of the continuation of life,” Temperley explained. “All the leaves are off the trees, but life will go on, so this gives people hope during the winter, reminding them that life will go on and return to full glory.”

He explained that this symbolizes the hope that Jesus brought to the world in the Christian faith, drawing a parallel between the most basic of carols and ones stemming from hymnals.

While most people have heard these carols, it’s not so clear that everyone understands why they are singing these words or where they originated from. And most people aren’t going from doorstep to doorstep singing the carols, either, although it appears to be common in Christmas movies like “The Santa Clause.”

But the caroling tradition isn’t all lost.

Students of Service and Justice Outreach (SJO), a student affiliation of St. John’s Catholic Newman Center on campus, braved the cold last week to spread holiday cheer to residents of the nursing home, Illini Heritage Rehab & Health Care, through Christmas caroling.

“(The residents) really get a joy out of singing,” said Monica Marry, sophomore in the College of Nursing and volunteer coordinator for SJO. “And honestly, so do we.”

The older crowd finds a unique joy in spending time with younger adults, especially in the holiday season, Marry explained. It’s the group’s first year of Christmas caroling, but there was a good turnout. About 20 to 30 carolers came out for the occasion.

Girls Next Door are also participating in their annual Christmas caroling event at Gameday Spirit on Green Street this Saturday.

“We like to do it because it’s something everyone really enjoys around Christmas time,” said Alexandra Habeeb, junior in the College of Business.

The girls of the a cappella group are singing traditional carols such as their own renditions of “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” and “O Holy Night.” They also hope to keep the tradition of participating in old-fashioned Christmas caroling around campus.

“I mean, I would love it if people came outside my apartment and sang carols,” Habeeb said with a laugh.

While Christmas is and can be celebrated in a multitude of ways, it’s safe to say Christmas music and carols are here to stay.