Why Do Christmas Decorations Make People Happy?

Most people have fond memories of the holiday season. Whether you remember waking up excitedly on Christmas morning as a child or remembering everyone getting together for a family dinner, the holiday season reminds you of special moments. When you start decorating, your brain is reminiscing about those holiday memories.

Whether you’re listening to Christmas music or putting up decorations on your mantel, the sights, sounds, and smells of the holiday season can stir up your nostalgia.

When you find a childhood decoration you always loved hanging on your tree, you might immediately remember the wonder you felt when you put it up every year. Or, you might string up the lights just like you did in your childhood home, and honoring that tradition might make you feel closer to your family.

Nostalgia might remind you of loved ones who are no longer alive. While this can feel a little bittersweet, these memories may also make you feel closer to someone from your past.

Research shows that nostalgia has many benefits. Nostalgia can help us find more meaning in our lives, deepen our social connections, and even ease collective anxiety. When you decorate early, you’ll feel the nostalgia for a longer period of time.

In a world filled with stress and anxiety, people like to be connected to things that make them happy, and Christmas decorations evoke powerful feelings of childhood. Decorations are simply an anchor or pathway to the magical excitement of childhood. So putting up Christmas decorations ahead of time can prolong the excitement!

But decorating your home doesn’t just fill you with festive cheer; it can also help you connect with your neighbours. A study published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology showed that decorating the outside of your home can make you appear friendlier. For some people, putting up Christmas decorations is a way to recall the good times they had with their deceased loved ones.

“Maybe the holidays can remind people of when their loved ones were still alive,” said Amy Morin, psychotherapist and author of the bestselling book 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do.

“Or maybe looking at the Christmas tree reminds people of what life was like when they still believed in Santa Claus.

“For those who have lost a loved one, the holidays can remind them of the happy times they had with their loved ones in the past. Decorating ahead of time can help them build a closer connection with their loved ones.”