Angelo Lontoc and his friends follow the same routine each night in December. After finishing work and eating a spot of food, the Sing Harmony Carollers don floor length gowns and dinner suits to head out and spread Christmas cheer across Abu Dhabi. They perform a Christmas concert at people’s doors, singing festive songs accompanied by guitars and violins. Christmas carolling is a tradition in the Philippines, and many groups head out each night in the UAE to share the custom with others. “If you go to the Philippines, there are a lot of people who do caroling. They go to each other’s houses to bring the spirit of Christmas. If someone knocks on your door, it is very touching,” said Mr Lontoc, who has lived in Abu Dhabi for four years and works for a company which supplies the armed services. "We sing Christmas and holiday songs, like <em>Jingle Bells</em>, <em>Winter Wonderland</em>, <em>I Saw Mummy Kissing Santa Claus</em>, <em>Joy to the World</em>, and things like that. “People ask us to sing at their events. There are a lot of birthday parties and we sing at Christmas parties, mostly for Filipinos, Americans and Europeans, because they know us already. “ Most of the people who book the group are referred by friends who already saw them perform. Many of the people they sing for are Filipino, because they appreciate the tradition as it reminds them of home. “We sing in Tagalog and English, because in English it sounds good too.” Europeans and Americans also enjoy their festive renditions, which some find touching, he said. "Sometimes Europeans cry when we sing songs like <em>O Holy Night</em>. If they hear that with the violin, they hug their children and cry. They really feel the Christmas spirit. Sometimes people are very far from their families and they cry and say thank you." And occasionally Arabs book them too. Melody Datario, 40, who works as a cleaner, is a member of another group which goes door-to-door each night to sing carols, mainly in Raha Beach, but also in the city. “Some people don’t know about Christmas, so we are really happy to sing for them. They are usually surprised to see us," she said. “They are happy. They are thankful because we came to their house. Sometimes they get tears of joy. That’s why we are really happy to sing for them.”
