In general pubs start to open their doors from the first Sunday after Remembrance Day, with places such as the Royal Hotel at Dungworth and the Blue Ball at Worrall leading the way.

They are both preparing to welcome the first singers at sessions from noon to 2pm, although the singing often continues after the organist and pianist have gone home.

At one time the first Sunday lunchtime at the Royal was relatively quiet but now landlady Linda Lambert expects a queue waiting for the doors to open. Then it gets busier as Christmas approaches.

"Last year some people came with fold-up seats and sat outside the front windows with their hymn sheets. It's usually choc-a-bloc."

The tradition of the local carols can be heard in pubs in villages such as Stannington, Bradfield, Grenoside and Oughtibridge and extends to North Derbyshire.

Many of the customers are from Sheffield but they are joined by singers from across the country, keen to bellow out the Christmas songs with pints in hands.

It has been described as one of the most remarkable examples of popular traditional singing in Britain, featuring local compositions and carols no longer on the mainstream 'playlist' or set to different tunes.

It's a fantastic atmosphere, says Linda. "Everybody wants to have a good time and sing." She was aware of the tradition long before moving into the Royal ten years ago with husband David, son Dave and daughter-in-law Joanne.

"My grandad was a lay preacher so I knew all about the local Christmas sing."

She believes Sunday lunchtime was the main occasion because the pub is next to a Methodist chapel and the farmers used to plough into the pub from the church.

Some of today's singers travel long distances and book into the pub's three rooms to make a weekend of it.

It can be sad to realise that some familiar older faces are no longer roaring out the local Christmas anthems but Linda says the tradition continues to be handed down.

"I was surprised last year that a lot of younger people were coming. I hope that applies this year."

Some pubs ring out to the carols at other times of the week. The Bull at Ecclesfield is quick off the mark this year, starting their Thursday night sessions last night.

It's Sunday lunchtime at the Blue Ball at Worrall, though, where landlady Julie Bailey is preparing for the annual ritual.

"The first one is usually a good one," she says. "Some people haven't seen each other from one year to the next. They come for a sing, drink copious amounts of beer and leave."

In fact Julie opens up at 11am, serving tea and coffee at £1 a cup in aid of the teenage cancer unit at Weston Park Hospital.

Julie, who took over the pub three years ago, has seen and heard it all since she became a barmaid there more than 15 years ago. "It's a fantastic atmosphere."

lA Festival of Village Carols is held every two years to celebrate the local carol singing tradition.

It takes place this year at Grenoside Community Centre on November 29 when the Crown and Glove Carollers from Stannington will be among the guests. The event is already sold out.

All the carols will be available in a new 2008 Sheffield Book of Village Carols, which will be launched at the festival. It combines the 1994 and 1996 collections, plus 16 other carols.





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