Christmas caroling is a holiday tradition often seen in the movies, but one family makes it their mission each year to bring this festive joy to local doorsteps.
The Andersons have driven around Logan singing Christmas carols to their friends, neighbours and other residents for more than three decades.
The performances trigger smiles, nostalgia, and sometimes even tears.
It is a tradition that started with George and Jeni Anderson 51 years ago in New Zealand, before they moved to Beenleigh.
Now the entire family gets involved, including all four children and all 17 grandchildren.
And after 32 years singing outside local homes, they picked up a few friends along the way.
“There was one time when we had more than 15 cars full of different families who came along to sing with us,” Mr Anderson said.
“We have never missed a Christmas.”
Around 40 people joined the Andersons for their night of carols this year.
Mr Anderson played guitar while his family and friends, all dressed in festive gear, sang along to the Christmas classics.
“It is a lovely thing for us to do in Christmas, and didn’t really think about that it is not a common thing for people to do,” he said.
“We love it because we get together. It has been a great thing for our kids to see.
“When you sing to somebody and they start crying, it’s a good thing for our kids to see and a good thing for the people to feel.”
Mr Anderson said several of the tears were shed by “hard-nosed” men.
“For a bunch of people to turn up and sing Christmas carols to him, it is quite an event,” he said.
“You’ve seen Christmas carols in movies your whole life, and all of a sudden that turns up to your house and you go, ‘ woah, this is what it feels like’.
“People say they love it – the feeling and the carols.”
Usually the Andersons choose which houses they sing to – often friends of the family, sometimes school teachers, and one time the patrons of a local McDonalds.
They have a book full of songs to choose from, including Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Jingle Bells, and all the classics.
This year’s caroling was the first one not organised by Mr Anderson and his wife.
“My daughter was the one who organised this year,” Mr Anderson said.
“That is great to see – me and mum don’t have to do it anymore.”
It turns out Christmas caroling has become an intergenerational tradition within the Anderson household.
But Mr Anderson said it wasn’t his idea to step back from organising the event.
“They grabbed the baton off us – it didn’t get passed by me,” he said.
“They have taken the reigns and said they are going to keep doing it because they like it.”
Mr Anderson said his children were continuing the tradition for the same reason he and his wife started it – “for the kids”.
