In England, and some other countries (i.e. Poland (kolędowanie)
and Bulgaria (koledari)),
there is a tradition of Christmas carolling (earlier
known as wassailing), in which groups of singers travel
from house to house, singing carols, for which they are
often rewarded with money, mince pies, or a glass of an
appropriate drink. Money collected in this way is
normally given to charity.
In Australia, where it is
the middle of summer at Christmas, there is a tradition
of Carols by Candlelight concerts which are held
outdoors at night in cities and towns during the weeks
leading up to Christmas. In Melbourne, "Carols by
Candlelight" is held each Christmas Eve. Performers
at the concerts including opera singers and musical
theatre performers and popular music singers. People in
the audience hold lit candles and join in singing some
of the carols in accompaniament with the celebrities.
Christmas carols can also be played on musical
instruments, and another tradition is for brass bands,
such as the
Salvation Army brass bands, to play carols before
Christmas.
