Decking the halls with boughs of holly as early as the first day of September has been a local tradition and over the years, I’ve had foreign friends who express how they’re quite intrigued by that. “Why so early?” they’d ask when I tell them I’ve been busy helping my parents prop up our Christmas tree at home. Most of the time, I’d just shrug and say that that’s just how it is in our country. But if you need a solid answer, here’s what experts have to say.
According to psychologists, putting up holiday decorations can make us feel happier. Psychoanalyst Steve McKeown told UNILAD, “In a world full of stress and anxiety people like to associate to things that make them happy and Christmas decorations evoke those strong feelings of childhood.
“Decorations are simply an anchor or pathway to those old childhood magical emotions of excitement. So putting up those Christmas decorations early extends the excitement,” he added.
Psychotherapist Amy Morin also affirmed how this nostalgia triggered by the holiday season can boost our spirits.
“Nostalgia helps link people to their personal past and it helps people understand their identity. For many, putting up Christmas decorations early is a way for them to reconnect with their childhoods,” said Morin.
In another interview with the New York Post, the psychotherapist also noted that the “spirit of giving” that we associate with the yuletide season also helps enhance our mood. “Altruism increases in the month of December and as people start to give more and donate more, it makes them happy,” she said.
Overall, Morin notes that the Christmas season and everything we associate with it makes us feel good, which is why we like to start our celebrations as early as possible. In relation to spreading positive vibes, a study from the Journal of Environmental Psychology also showed that putting up holiday decorations early makes us feel friendlier and more approachable for our neighbors.
So, don’t hesitate to put that festive garland on your door or that mini Santa Claus by your front porch, because if anyone asks, you’re welcoming the holidays early for the serotonin boost.
Header photo by freestocks on Unsplash
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Writer: YANN MAGCAMIT
