“Troll the Ancient Yuletide Carol” | Lexicon

Every year at this time, as the last note of “Deck the Halls” fades into the general hubub of Christmas party conversation, the question hangs in the air, unasked: What exactly does the phrase “troll the ancient Yuletide carol” mean? Wonder no more. This troll is not a monster found beneath bridges or a method of fishing, but a vocal technique. To troll a song is simply to sing it in a full, rolling voice. This, of course, is how people do sing at Christmas parties, especially those who have indulged in three or four cups of eggnog. Excerpt from “’The New England Sampler,” Yankee Magazine, December 1995.