‘A mega-mechanism for bonding’: why singing together does us good

Carols and choirs are enjoying a boom in popularity, and science is showing how they improve lives

For the Columbia Road carol service in Bethnal Green, east London, the power of TikTok proved too much. After footage of December’s first singalong went viral, thousands turned up to ding dong merrily, forcing organisers to scrap the events over fears for public safety.

The cobbled street’s Victorian charm has always drawn the crowds, but the carol service has become an extraordinary seasonal hit. The success mirrors the nation’s newfound enthusiasm for group singing, a trend that follows the rise of the TV choirmaster Gareth Malone and the increasing popularity of rock choir and pop choir.