An unforgettable day: Christmas Carol

It’s only October and TV ads, colleagues, shops and supermarket are keen to tell us that Christmas is just around the corner.

On this occasion I would like to write about one of the most fascinating traditions in the UK. I am not talking about Santa or Boxing day. I am referring to Christmas Carols.

Although, its origins are unknown, it has been acknowledged that the tradition has been passed down from generation to generation. Some ancient texts confirmed that Christmas hymns were sung in the 4th Century in Rome, on the other hand, other sources tell us about the disappearance of a young girl in London, called Carol Poles. While searching for her they were singing her favourite songs.

Whatever its origins are, the Carol Service is a beautiful occasion to share, to forgive and to remember what really matters.

The 20th December 2018 was an unforgettable day for me, a few weeks before I was asked to be part of the annual Christmas Carol held at the Chapel of St. Augustine in Tonbridge.

For my reading, I finally decided to pick a poem written by Julesies whose name is “Christmas Lesson”. It speaks about kindness, generosity and how often we forget the key values within our society.

For weeks I practiced every day in order to polish my strong Spanish accent until I decided to phone one of my best English friends who potentially could provide valuable feedback on my reading, intonation and rhythm.

My friend told me to read it out to her dad who apparently had a vast experience at public speaking, which I did. I received the most insightful feedback I have ever got. Curious by nature, I tried to find out how he had gain such experience at public speaking.

After some research I found out that I had got feedback from one of the most prestigious International correspondent in the UK, Sandy Gall,who reported from Afghanistan on many occasions. Apart from writing several books, he also filmed three documentaries during the Soviet–Afghan War.

After such a boost of confidence (I was sure none of the readers had been trained by such a figure) the big day arrived, which I can summarize it as an emotive evening that I was lucky to experience.