Christmas in Australia means Carols by Candlelight

Darwin Carols by Candlelight 2012

It is the Christmas season.  Unfortunately, in Darwin, that also means it is the wet season. 

In Australia, a common Christmas tradition is attending a Carols by Candlelight concert. Bands, choirs and performers sing Christmas carols of their choice.  The audience holds candles and sings along (with the help of a carol songbook). 


Traditionally (especially for the large events in Sydney and Melbourne),  these nights are held close to Christmas.  In Darwin, the carols are always held on the first weekend in December.  There’s a good reason for this timing – the early date makes it less likely that the event will be rained upon.

Last night, was the scheduled Darwin Carols by Candlelight for 2012 and it was, as it always is, a wonderful gathering of locals in a joyful mood and a chance to hear carols performed by local singers, bands and choirs. 



But about 6.30 pm, just as the event was getting started, the Bureau of Meteorology declared a severe storm warning. 

As the storm starts to get close ...

And by 7.10 pm we were getting wet and leaving.  The rain and wind would not have been such a problem, but it seemed foolhardy to stay through the lightning.

Here is what it feels like at the Darwin Carols by Candlelight when it is not rained upon (these pics are from 2009).





I have linked to some of my favourite Aussie Christmas carols in previous posts
Christmas signing