Sing for joy (and lots of other good reasons) this Christmas!

The Christmas season is unthinkable without singing.

Originally this was because the singing of carols was the best way of telling the Christmas story, a tradition that became widespread in Victorian England along with Christmas trees and lots of the other things we associate with a traditional Christmas.

In the 21st century we sing carols at school nativities and in churches, belt out Christmas bangers along with the radio in the car, at festive parties and on the terraces at the Boxing Day football. Perhaps you sing Auld Lang Syne with friends at the stroke of midnight as one year turns into the next.

It's perhaps not surprising that singing is so important at this time of year. First and foremost, it’s fun! Singing with other people means that we might be a bit less self-conscious about our own voices. And especially at this time of year, the tunes are familiar and heart-warming. Many of them might remind us of happy times. There is also evidence that singing with other people brings communities of different ages, cultures and creeds together, sharing an experience that transcends their differences and allowing everyone to feel like they can belong.

For many though, and for all sorts of reasons, this time of year can be really tough. Singing can help lift the gloom – boosting your dopamine, serotonin and endorphin levels, as well as your appreciation for the people around you. It’s a shared experience – whether it’s catching the eye of a fellow singer at a particularly great moment or sharing a smile with a near-by parent at the sheer adorableness of a group of young people making music together. Even the thought of managing all the arrangements and business of Christmas can be stressful – and here singing’s stress-relieving effect is crucial, slowing your heart rate and dampening your stress response.

There’s a Christmas song for everyone, from the still beauty of Silent Night to the exuberance of The Twelve Days of Christmas and the sparkle of All I Want for Christmas is You. At National Youth Choir we’ve asked our community for their favourites Christmas songs and have added them into a playlist - we hope you enjoy singing along!

Carris Jones, Head of Creative Programmes at National Youth Choir and Vicar Choral at St Paul's Cathedral, London

Listen to our Choral Christmas Favourites playlist