Where was I?
Sitting on the back of an open truck bed on itchy hay bales in temperatures just above freezing sounds like torture. But it actually didn’t feel that way for me many, many years ago. Teens from our church and young adults used the open, long bed of an International Harvester truck as the setting for a mobile Christmas caroling choir, the driver maneuvering us over hill and dale.
Who was there?
I wore pink ear-muffs, a white neck scarf, a wooly winter coat and red mittens as we circled from house to house in the country close to Elizabethtown, Maytown, and Rheems, Pennsylvania. We sang “Silent Night,” “Oh, Come All Ye Faithful”, “O Little Town of Bethlehem” and “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing,” to shut-ins and the elderly, probably much the age I am now. Songs familiar to us from the church hymnal were printed as sheet music. “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” was in the repertoire too. Always the last song before the truck and singers chugged on to the next stop
Probably twenty young people were huddled together behind the truck’s cab, some on top of hay bales, others on the truck bed. At first, body heat and my warm wraps kept me comfortable, but eventually the cold seeped in, chilling me to the bone. Just when I felt cold through and through, even my gloved hands feeling frost-bitten, the truck screeched to a halt at a cozy rest stop. Maybe it was my Aunt Ruthie’s house or Mother’s house, where we were treated to hot chocolate or cider and cookies—often sand tarts, gingerbread, or molasses cookies.
What I Think Now
I imagine those bedfast or others finding it hard to get around waited for the age-old sounds of the carolers from Bossler Mennonite Church, singing the beloved tunes—probably in four-part harmony. And always with the glorious message of peace and good-will.
Update: After this post was first published and shared on Facebook, Joyce Schultz, father of the truck owner, mentioned in a comment that her dad, Parke Garber, donated the use of 5-ton open bed truck for the carolers those many years ago. Thank you, Joyce!
(This post appeared first on Substack, December 9, 2025)
Your thoughts on Christmas Caroling welcome here.
Wishing you a happy and holy season with high hopes for a
blessed new year!
©MLB
I’ll be taking a break now and connecting with you again in the new year.
Good morning, Marian! I think it must have been so lovely for people to hear the carolers (even if you were cold and uncomfortable)! No kids in open truck beds filled with hay traveling around our streets though. 😊
Our kids were in a madrigal group in when they were in high school, and they used to do some caroling, as well as performances in Renaissance costumes at schools, churches, senior centers, etc.
I have heard of madrigal groups; I admired their Renaissance costumes and moody music.
I enjoyed listening to them. I think they mainly wore their Renaissance outfits in the winter.
Also–pink earmuffs sound very “fancy.” 😊
Happy holidays to you and yours and enjoy your break!
I grabbed fancy wherever I could find it. If you recall, my plain mother made little girl dresses for us that looked fancy too. Thanks for the good wishes and the same to you–even the break!
I know you always loved fancy! 👠
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I used to love to go caroling! We used to walk around the neighborhood.
I’m glad you guys reached that rest stop before the cold got to you!
I hope you have a wonderful Christmas, Marian! Happy New Year to you!
It’s good to know my experience is not unique, L. Marie. And I’m sure you had a cold experience too. Thanks for the good wishes–and the same to you! 😀
This rang so true to my childhood memories in the 50’s! (I grew up in an Anabaptist home). This could have been word for word of my experience except for the location. I grew up in the Pottstown/Birdsboro PA area. What fun it was as a child to stay out late, warming up with hot chocolate. It felt like it made Christmas morning come sooner.
Welcome, Elaine. And thanks for sharing your memory, especially the idea that caroling felt like it made Christmas morning come sooner. My, my!
Have a blessed holiday season! 😀
My Dad would drive his hay wagon — sometimes for caroling, other times at Halloween…. what great memories. Recently we had the option in Oct. to join a hay wagon with a nearby church (where we enjoyed a lovely fall supper) and we politely declined the hay wagon…. too cold. Did you used to hold hands with boyfriends on the wagon?? Yaaaa, that too. Blessings to you and your family.
Ah, you can understand the experience totally.
No, I did not hold hands with boyfriends on the wagon, but that doesn’t mean hold-handing didn’t happen: a cold, dark night, what a better place!
Thank you for the memories, Melodie! 😀
Oh Marian, that brings back so many memories. And to think that we are the age of the ones we visited that night!
Yes, as I was writing this story through the lens of long ago, it struck me that I was the age of those we sang to. Time flies, leaving us with memories.
Thanks, Arlene, a church friend from the 1950s and 60s. 😀
Our youth group went caroling also, but mostly close to the church where some of the elderly members lived, including my great grandmother. Lot’s of Christmas joy to you and all your family, Marian!
I believe you went to a town church, so no hay wagon required. Great memories though!
Thanks for the comment and also sending a lovely Christmas greeting via Facebook, Shirley. You are recording family history year by year, a very good thing! 😀
Such a wholesome and fun activity! I love Christmas carols. I have a double heritage of German as well as English ones and when I hear them I’m transported back to the magic of my childhood and how special it was at Christmas time!
I wish you and your family a wonderful Christmas!
I know that your childhood had challenges, but your early years were magical too—and wholesome. I am glad my dear departed ones don’t know about the horrors of this past weekend.
Thanks for the good wishes–I’ll see you again in 2026, Lord willing. 😀
Are you referring to the Australian massacre or something closer to home
Yes, that and what happened at Brown University. We will let our lights shine brighter!
We went as a group, my four siblings and I, our mother, and one cousin, in the late 50s. We would walk the huge neighborhood [but in reality it was only a couple of blocks!]. Could we carry a tune? Not really. But we tried. It was my mother’s idea.
This Friday there is a meetup at our little library to have cookies and go caroling to the businesses in town. All two blocks of them. But the weather forecast is not too favorable.
Who cares if you can carry at tune or not… It’s the spirit of Christmas, that’s the main thing. How wonderful that you have planned cookies and caroling in town. Thanks for the uplifting words here, Ginger! 😀
I think your caroling in a truck with hay bales sounds nostalgic and magical, Marian. Clearly, the Christmas spirit was thriving in those towns in PA. I could feel both the cold (brr..) and the joy in your story-telling. Honestly? I would do that in a heartbeat.
I have one fond memory of caroling in high school. Three girls drove together to school and one (who was a very good singer) talked us into dressing up and roaming around an outdoor mall that was Georgetownesque with cobblestones and street lamps. What fun! Thanks for your story and helping me remember a great memory. Merry Christmas! 😊
Your comment made me smile: Friends roaming about dressed up, caroling on cobblestone streets and street lamps. I’m glad this post sparked a happy memory, Melanie! 😀
What wonderful memories bringing joy to those shut in. Definitely kinder days. We sang carols to the elderly and sick as well, but it was inside. Our choir visited hospitals and care homes at Christmas time when I was a teenager. Since it often dipped to -20 or -30, I would not have done well as the cold really affected me. Wishing you and your family a wonderful Christmas time, Marian. xo
Yes, with the Canadian cold, you were sensible to sing carols to the elderly and sick indoors. We both have great memories of bringing joy to shut-ins. Thank you, Darlene! 😀
Merry Christmas to all of you, Marian!
Thank you, Jack. And the same to you–with a happy new year! 😀
Merry Christmas and a very happy New Year to you and your family, Marian.
Thank you, Fatima. Good health to you and Peter as well! 😀
Our daughter texted us a photo from her Ring Camera showing little kids caroling at her door. Here is her message: “It was very cute, sounded terrible but was fun. They sang “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”
Liz, your comment proves that Christmas caroling is still alive and well–and comes in all shapes and sizes. I can imagine “Cute–terrible–and fun.” Thank you!
You’re welcome, Marian! Sonia does enjoy the little ones coming to her door.
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Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and Cliff, Marian! Enjoy your blogging break, family time, and maybe even some carols singing with the grands? Xox
The grands are now 18 and 20+ — not interested in caroling with us though we will get together for bagels and beverages on Christmas morning.
I’m excited for you all in this transition time: Looking forward to exploring Europe and all that entails. I’m guessing you may visit relatives when you get to Belgium.
Merry Christmas to you too: Mark and Maya! 😀
This is such a lovely memory, Marian. Simply delightful. Wishing you a Merry Christmas 🎄🎅🏻
I’m glad you enjoyed it! Happy Christmas to you and your family wherever they may be, Robbie! 😀
A wonderful memory Marian. How wonderful to listen to carols. Wishing you a very Merry Christmas. 🥰🌲🌲
Debby, I hope you can celebrate Hanukkah in the best way in spite of the recent horrors. Hugs to you . . . and as always thanks for commenting here. ((( )))
What fun!…no Carol’s here only what I have on repeat this time of year but plenty of people ride in the back of trucks …Merry Christmas, Marian x
I don’t imagine Christmas carols in Thailand but maybe back in England–ha!
I really like the name Carol and have other friends with that name. Thanks, Carol.
Yes Carol was a popular name in the 50’s…x
😀
What a precious memory of Caroling, Marian! I went caroling with our youth group in a van. We stopped by people’s home to sing, then we kept on singing in the van from one home to another. One year, we went uptil 4:00 in the morning. When I was in California three years ago, the choral I was in, went to retirement homes to sing to the folks there.
A van is quite similar to an open bed truck but offering a little more protection from the cold. I love that your singing one time continued till 4:00 a.m. Now that’s dedication, Miriam! 😀
Yes, a good memory of the energetic youth, Marian! 🙂
Happy New Year, Miriam! 😀