What do you do or say when Christmas carol singers knock at your door?

cavemeister

It's happened to me a lot this year. You hear the doorbell and upon answering it, you are blasted with a rendition of "We wish you a merry Christmas" that makes my cat hide under the sofa.

I find it so awkward.. a group of strangers singing to you at your front door. I don't know where to look, what to say and the big question... Do you give them money??

I usually fish a few Euro out of my pocket but I know it's not going to charity, it's just teenagers looking for money.

Anyone any tips for making the worst part of Christmas a little easier?

And no, I'm not a Scrooge, I do love Christmas, just hate strangers guilting me out of money by singing very, very badly

Spleerbun

I thought this only happened in films. Never had that before, thank god

ZX7R

I have not had a carol singers at my house ever and that is in the 15 so years living there.

Fr_Dougal

Release the hounds...

touts

cavemeister wrote: »

It's happened to me a lot this year. You hear the doorbell and upon answering it, you are blasted with a rendition of "We wish you a merry Christmas" that makes my cat hide under the sofa.

I find it so awkward.. a group of strangers singing to you at your front door. I don't know where to look, what to say and the big question... Do you give them money??

I usually fish a few Euro out of my pocket but I know it's not going to charity, it's just teenagers looking for money.

Anyone any tips for making the worst part of Christmas a little easier?

And no, I'm not a Scrooge, I do love Christmas, just hate strangers guilting me out of money by singing very, very badly

Haven't had proper Christmas Carolers in years. I suspect the tradition is long dead. Any that come these days seem to be Traveller kids looking for money. Give them some sweets from a quality street box instead of money and their handlers/parents won't send them back to your door. Give them money and you'll have callers every night for the 12 days of Christmas.

cavemeister

ZX7R wrote: »

I have not had a carol singers at my house ever and that is in the 15 so years living there.

I like in Kildare and they are EVERYWHERE!!!

the dark phantom

I don't answer the door when it knocks..Could be TV license inspector.

ZX7R

cavemeister wrote: »

I like in Kildare and they are EVERYWHERE!!!

not the part i am from feel a bit left out now

utyh2ikcq9z76b

the dark phantom wrote: »

I don't answer the door when it knocks..Could be TV license inspector.

The Grinch

anewme

cavemeister wrote: »

I like in Kildare and they are EVERYWHERE!!!

I live in Kildare and we've had none.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

I don't know, as in 49 years here it has never happened.

colm_mcm

At least you don’t have the Mummers calling and having a 2 minute ceili in your sitting room.

buried

Never had Christmas carol singers call. Get the wren boys on St.Stephens day alright knocking on the door but I'm far too busy dying on the couch watching Indiana Jones baitin the head off some Kali boys on a rope bridge to bother even get up

Dr Strange

colm_mcm wrote: »

At least you don’t have the Mummers calling and having a 2 minute ceili in your sitting room.

Particularly if you live in a bedsit.

The Rape of Lucretia

Give them a quid and tell them to bugger off.

Zaph

colm_mcm wrote: »

At least you don’t have the Mummers calling and having a 2 minute ceili in your sitting room.

Who the fcuk are the Mummers and why would they be in your sitting room?

Berserker

Page two and nobody has given the age-old AH reply of 'blast them with pee'.

donspeekinglesh

anewme wrote: »

I live in Kildare and we've had none.

I'm also in Kildare, and we get about three groups calling a year. Sometimes as early as late November...
I just say no thanks and close the door.

ZX7R

Zaph wrote: »

Who the fcuk are the Mummers and why would they be in your sitting room?

something about novice actors dressing up ,got board reading what its about

Panthro

I like to look over my shoulder back into the hallway and shout "Tommy! Get the baseball bat! We've trouble at the front door!"
Then time them running down the driveway.

Ahh Christmas.

Misguided1

Be very careful. Very common practise to have kids singing at the door while they scope out where your car keys are. Older adult standing at the gate and bigger group around the corner. If the keys are in sight once the door is open - watch out. Huge problem in north Dublin last year. Witnessed it directly.

pgj2015

just dont answer the door, and if you do by mistake, dont give them money or sweets.

im definitely getting electric gates.

PhilOssophy

There is no good comes from an unexpected knock on the door.
Its either the TV licence man, door to door salesman, beggars, etc.

Airyfairy12

I think id close the door on them haha.
Thats such an American thing, never seen it happen here, only in American movies.

anewme

PhilOssophy wrote: »

There is no good comes from an unexpected knock on the door.
Its either the TV licence man, door to door salesman, beggars, etc.

So true.

It's never to your benefit.

SEPT 23 1989

I make sure the back door is locked

ebbsy

cavemeister wrote: »

I like in Kildare and they are EVERYWHERE!!!

This is correct.

colm_mcm

Zaph wrote: »

Who the fcuk are the Mummers and why would they be in your sitting room?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mummering

Quite common in Munster.

LaFuton

i follow them home and prune their hydrangeas.

Hangdogroad

I remember wren boys calling when I was about five. That was over 40 years ago. The idea of carol singers calling to the door seems quaint .Op makes it sound like charity chuggers or dodgy tarmaccers.

whisky_galore

This is why I never answer an unexpected knock on the door. If they want me bad enough, they'll ring first.

Purple Mountain

It's an urban myth.

IAMAMORON

Plenty of young kids this year, some with their mothers and some without. I have given a wide range of gifts, sometimes some loose change or I gave one family some fruit and another some sweets.

In fairness it was very quiet at Halloween.

It has become more common.