Carollers will gather this evening for the Buninyong and Yuulong Lavender Estate Christmas carols before the Ballarat Christmas carols take over the North Gardens Reserve tomorrow.

The Christ Church Anglican Cathedral’s service of Nine Lessons and Carols will also offer the community the opportunity to celebrate Christmas through readings.

The cathedral’s musical director Lyndell Allen said to many people music was an important part of their way of life.

“Music brings together cultures and communities, and for the cathedral’s congregation it is a way to celebrate the life of Christ,” Ms Allen said. 

“This year there is a better sense of community within the choirs participating in the service.

“It is an exciting time as we come together to create vocal harmonies in celebration of Christmas.”

The music will reflect recent compositions, with references to ancient times, as well as traditional carols that the whole congregation will be invited to join in. 

Music will include traditional basque tunes to contemporary settings by Rutter and Lauridsen and Ballarat’s own Rosalie Bonighton.

Acting Dean Gunnar Rippon said Christians were given the opportunity to focus on the meaning of Christmas, away from the material world.

“This is a time when we can think of giving ourselves to one another, to be compassionate and accept each other’s frailties,” Fr Gunnar said.