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A lot of
news articles have been floating around about how happier people put up Christmas decorations early. However, a lot falsely use the word "study," when there hasn't been a study done, or at least not one that I could find, or say "scientists," as if there were multiple people backing this up, when there are actually only two who have shared their opinions, which you can read below:
Psychoanalyst Steve McKeown said to
UNILAD:
"Although there could be a number of symptomatic reasons why someone would want to obsessively put up decorations early, most commonly for nostalgic reasons either to relive the magic or to compensate for past neglect.
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 the childhood.
Decorations are simply an anchor or pathway to those old childhood magical emotions of excitement. So putting up those Christmas decorations early extend the excitement!"
Psychotherapist Amy Morin, best-selling author of
13 Things Mentally Strong Parents Don't Do, told
UNILAD:
"The holiday season stirs up a sense of nostalgia. 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.
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."
Basically, it sounds like just putting up decorations, in general, makes one FEEL happy because of the memories and nostalgia that come with it. It doesn't really matter when you decorate, but doing it sooner may extend the excitement, and seeing the decorations probably will make you feel more cheerful.
However, just because I don't put my decorations up earlier, doesn't mean I am not a happy person and those who do put them up early aren't necessarily happier people.
UNILAD even included at the bottom of their article (which no one probably read) that there are also dark reasons as to why people put decorations up early, such as using it as a form of escapism. So if that's the case I could make claims that depressed people put up decorations early (not true, just showing how these articles make false statements to get views).
Both scientists clearly explained why putting up Christmas decorations up earlier can make people FEEL happy or why seeing them up early makes them feel joy. It has nothing to with them being "happier people." Those are two different things, but the articles like to twist their words and make false claims in order to get views.
They also never clarify what "early" is. Are we talking about November? October? July? Technically the week before Christmas could still be early as it's not Christmas yet. It feels like someone is just trying to stir up unnecessary drama when it comes to decorating for the holidays.
The truth is it doesn't matter when you put your Christmas decorations up, you will probably feel happy when doing it. Whether it be July or the week before Christmas. Unless you really hate Christmas, you are probably going to feel happy when putting up and seeing your decorations.
Free free to share when you decorate for the holidays and leave your thoughts in the comments!
Sources
Extra
I did find one study that was done relating to Christmas decorations, but it's from 1989, and all it showed was that people who decorated their houses were seen as "friendlier" or "more inviting" by strangers.
You can read that study here if you are interested.
