There is no bigger holiday argument than that of when the appropriate time to decorate for Christmas is. There are some that insist on decorating right after they hang up their halloween costumes. Then there is some that wait to put up the Christmas Tree just a week before the day. People get upset that Thanksgiving gets skipped over entirely, but once you hear this, you may change your mind about decorating early.
Experts and psychologists that actually study the subject say that there are a number of psychological benefits to decorating for the holidays early.
“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.” says psychoanalyst Steve McKeown.
There is a sense of nostalgia that comes with decorating, making people happier as they recall fond memories from their 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!” McKeown goes on to say.
But just as decorating brings back feelings of excitement, it may also be a sign of over compensating for the lack of excitement around Christmas during childhood. Sometimes it brings back memories of a loved one who may not be here to spend the holidays with you anymore or family you don’t see anymore. Either way, these memories are usually fond ones, that can bring as much joy as looking at a fully trimmed tree.
Another psychologically proven reason why people decorate their houses early is because it makes them seem more friendly. There was a study done that showed a group of people a neighborhood decorated for the holidays. They agreed that the decorated homes looked most “open” regardless of whether or not the residents actually interacted with their neighbors. Which makes sense. Holiday decorating is something that people have in common with one another, which turns into something everyone can do together, which ends by creating a sense of community for an entire neighborhood- and that makes everyone happy.
And the simple reasoning is: you get to enjoy them longer. Everyone knows that a lot of work goes into decorating, whether its hanging lights on the house, or putting up the tree just right, it takes time and a lot of effort. The sooner you go through the work of putting them up, the later you have to go through the work of taking them down. But more importantly, the feelings of joy that the red and green, tinsel, lights, and more bring you are the true reason you should put up your decorations sooner rather than later.
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