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“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 […]
By Yankee Magazine|Nov 25 2014|
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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. 
Also, it was ONE hall, not plural “halls,” that was decked — it was the manor’s great hall, where the festivities took place and the Yule log was burned; I’ve almost given up on this one…
But what is the ancient yuletide carol?
The statement implies a ancient carol sung at the yuletide. What are the lyrics to it?
Very interesting. I’ve long heard that to “troll” was not as one would automatically assume, and now knowing it in this context makes complete sense. Thank you for sharing this archive, Yankee.
decking the hall means decorating the halls