Warm fires crackling in the background to eliminate the cold drafts that sneak in through the front doors in homes that smell of evergreen trees, freshly baked cookies, or even the latest Christmas candle. These are all common associations people have made with the month of December. Many people may not be aware of the psychology behind these associations that make Christmas ‘Christmas’.
Our Brains are able to take in sensory information like sights, sounds, and smells that influence memory, emotion, and social connection. Memories are made through senses and association by first encoding sensory inputs such as sights, sounds, smells via the hippocampus, which binds these elements into a coherent experience, creating an associative network where one cue (like a smell) triggers recall of the whole linked memory (a place, feeling, person). This explains the associations that come with Christmas, many of which have been formed from very young ages and later bring on that feeling of nostalgia.
In addition to the sensory, memory, and associative aspects, gift giving also holds psychological significance. Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Britt Young, spoke about the topic, explaining that anyone would think that gift giving is super intuitive, but there’s actually whole psychology to it. “It turns out that subconsciously, many of us actually give a gift that’s meaningful to us, not that’s meaningful to the other person” she says. Psychologists have confirmed that the warm glow of kindness, the feel-good rush after being kind to others, is real.
As for the gift receiver, getting gifts activates reward centers in the brain, releasing dopamine, leading to feelings of happiness and satisfaction. Even the anticipation of recieving gifts can activate reward centers before the gift is even opened, which explains the excitement leading up to Christmas day. Thoughtful gifts strengthen social bonds, foster appreciation, and can boost mood, while the act itself reinforces positive behavior, making it a mutually beneficial cycle for both the giver and receiver.
Hopefully, this holiday season will be filled with warm fires, joyful music, time with family, gifts, and, most importantly, the nostalgic feeling of your most memorable childhood Christmases!
