Christmas decorations have a very special place in my home and heart. But I don’t put them up until the 12th day before Christmas, sometimes later. My wife would love them to go up straight after Thanksgiving.
Well maybe it’s time to change this habit and consider putting them up in November. It turns out that people who put up Christmas decorations early are happier, healthier and more friendly.
A study published by the Journal of Environmental Psychology found that Christmas decorations can affect your mental and social well-being.
Steve McKeown, psychoanalyst and owner of the McKeown Clinic, said that many people associate these festive decorations with their childhood, according to UNILAD.
“In a world full of stress and anxiety people like to associate with things that make them happy and Christmas decorations evoke those strong feelings of their childhood,” McKeown said.
According to psychotherapist Amy Morin, the nostalgic feeling makes us better at understanding ourselves.
“It may be a bittersweet feeling. Perhaps the holidays serve as a reminder of when a loved one was still alive. Or maybe looking at a Christmas tree reminds someone of what life was like when they still believed in Santa. For people who have lost a loved one, the holidays may serve as a reminder of happy times they had with that person in the past. Decorating early may help them feel more connected with that individual,” Morin told Unilad.
Friendly sign
When it comes to your social life, it’s a good idea to put Christmas decorations up early as it’s a sign you’re more friendly and available to your neighbors.
As part of the journal study participants were shown houses with Christmas decorations and those without. Those who had Christmas decorations were considered more “friendly and cohesive”.
Christmas decorations fill you with a feeling of nostalgia, it seems the same goes for others in your neighborhood.
So can Christmas decorations help keep the doctor away? Yes maybe. When you feel happy, your body releases “happy hormones” like endorphins, dopamine and serotonin in your brain. These hormones are natural analgesics, improve your memory and energy levels, reduce depression and boost your immune system.
