Actually, the title of this piece is a paraphrase of a 1960's folk song popularized by the American trio of Peter, Paul and Mary. The analogy of flowers of say that of carollers becomes a centrepiece of this essay in the spirit of celebrating Christmas that just passed five days ago. As in the song, the flowers were gone, just like the Christmas carollers, if last Wednesday's celebration was any gauge. Zeroing in on the main theme of this story-- the carollers, it is the kind who are popular with old folk as Christmas ushered in. But alas and alack!, the carollers of old were gone as attested to in the last Christmas setting. Where have all the carollers of the bygone days gone?

Long time passing?

Those were the days that we were entertained with Christmas songs reminiscent of what took place in a manger when Jesus was born. Interpreted by chapel organizations, barangays LGUs, and the likes, the native Christmas songs were rendered with nostalgic touch as if one is brought back to the hands of time in the greatest story ever told throughout humankind—the birth of Jesus. Most of these singing groups came all the way from the mountains which descended upon the highways of the towns to bring the good tidings of the season through songs of old. Last Christmas, with great anticipation, we prepared for food and cash for their coming. But they were nowhere to be found. Have they become extinct? Or they just hibernated believing that times have changed as a result of the calamities. Old tradition never dies, we suppose. It is our belief that calamities or not, we still believe that the way to observe the true spirit of Christmas is to recall the nativity scene in all its pomp and splendour. It is a pity that the tradition of the olden times will just die a natural death.

We hate to believe that it has been thrown to the graveyard of history so much so that we failed to hear them their favourite daygon last Christmas day. After all is said and done, we hope that next time around, the tradition of hearing our favourite Christmas songs will never be lost in our consciousness if only to mark the day Christ was born with aplomb. Can you imagine if it goes the way of the dodo which last time we heard just means as being consigned to extinction? Where have all the carollers gone? We cannot imagine they are gone for good. Anyway, old songs favourite or none, just the same merry Christmas and a happy new year to one and all!