Christmas which is the celebration of the birth of Jesus has long been celebrated in song, and well-loved Christmas carols are now at the very heart of the seasonal tradition.

Singing carols creates a sense of social connectedness and also calms our bodies. Singing in unison creates an environment in which the singers’ heart rates and breathing patterns synchronize, cortisol levels decrease, and oxytocin levels increase. Singing together for all to hear therefore most certainly can increase your feelings of Christmas cheer!

Christmas carols create a bridge across divides of age, economy, politics, and even religions. It connects our society which seems to be simultaneously becoming homogenized and divided into smaller and smaller fractions, and yet we have these beautiful touchstones that can bring us together.

So let’s all enjoy the beautiful gift of Carols!