It has become a Christmas tradition and several thousand revelers were in place when Bono and Glen Hansard showed up on Grafton Street in Dublin for a busking performance on Christmas Eve 2013.

It was all for a good cause, the Simon Community, which helps the homeless and those in need.

Bono made his way through the thronged thoroughfare to sing with Hansard on Dublin’s busiest street on Ireland’s busiest shopping day.

The crowds were alert to the possibility of Ireland’s greatest rock star showing up and the U2 frontman did not disappoint.

There were wild cheers when he made his appearance and pushed through the crowd to join Hansard whose song “Once” has become the basis of a smash hit Broadway musical.

After briefly conferring the two led off with “Here it is Merry Christmas” a 1973 hit by the British group Slade.

Then came Bono suggesting the ancient hymn “O Come All Ye Faithful,” originally written in Latin in the 1750s, as the crowd enthusiastically sang along.

That was it for the super star as he kissed the faithful goodbye and slipped away into the crowd.

The Bono appearance has become an annual gig most years and a welcome new addition to the Dublin Christmas scene.

Bono lives in the exclusive Dublin suburb of Dalkey/Killiney and is frequently seen there along with wife Ali.

Here's the video of Bono and Glen Hansard singing on Grafton Street on Christmas Eve 2013: