Unwrapping Christmas Carols

Christmas carols carry centuries of stories. Some playful. Some haunting. But all earn their place beside the classics.

In this guided evening, music expert Helen Astrid opens the songbook and takes you inside the tunes you know by heart.

You will hear how some carols travelled the world, why others almost vanished, and which versions stuck because audiences just loved to sing them together. Created for major cultural venues, Helen’s popular talk traces more than 300 years of carol-singing across Europe and beyond.

Created for the V&A and now refined for a live audience, Christmas Carols Unwrapped blends short musical examples with clear, lively storytelling to make singing carols even more magical.

Learn the backstories behind favourites like Good King Wenceslas and O Come, All Ye Faithful, plus hidden gems and sparkling medieval carols. Expect powerful demonstrations, emotive anecdotes and audience participation before a fun friendly sing-along finale.

The evening closes with a festive sing-along. Lyrics are provided, and voices of all ranges are welcome. Ideal for friends, families, and anyone who loves a good carol done right.

Come for the history, stay to sing together in the glorious Landmark auditorium. By the end, you will understand the songs of Christmas more deeply. You will leave with ears ringing with fresh favourites for the season ahead. A warm Christmas night out in SW London.

About Helen Astrid

“Astrid lives out her singing in her body as well as her voice” — The Times
“Helen should have her own TV show. She’s got an amazing voice” — Paul O’Grady

Helen Astrid is not only graduate of the Royal Academy of Music and a seasoned performer but she has also established her own singing academy titled the Helen Astrid Singing Academy. Helen has delivered talks widely (Bishopsgate Institute, Courtauld Institute and more) and is scheduled to speak at the V&A on art and opera in Spring 2026. Her TEDxSquareMile talk, Tell me the truth about opera, has passed 20,000+ views and is known for its engaging, participatory style. Helen has also written and performed a song for the London Olympics titled ‘2012’, as well as being an Opera Consultant for the BBC .

See Helen’s TEDxSquareMile talk below

Tell me the truth about opera | Helen Astrid | TEDxSquareMile