If you’ve been trying and failing to persuade your family or flatmates that no, it is not too early to deck the halls with boughs of holly for another year then glad tidings are here: people who put their Christmas decorations up early are happier than those who wait, according to psychology experts.
Yes, if you’re itching to dust off the tinsel and plug in the fairy lights, you’re more likely to be in touch with your inner child.
Putting your decorations up earlier can make you feel happier by reminding you of your childhood, before you had to deal with the responsibilities and stresses of adulting.
“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,” Steve McKeown, Psychoanalyst, founder of MindFixers and owner of The McKeown Clinic, 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 the 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!”
But not only can decorating your home fill you with festive joy, it could also help you bond with your neighbours.
A study published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology revealed that decorating the outside of your house makes you appear more friendly.
For some people, putting up Christmas decorations is a way to bring back memories of good times with loved ones who’ve passed away.
“Perhaps the holidays serve as a reminder of when a loved one was still alive,” Amy Morin, psychotherapist and best-selling author of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do, told UNILAD.
“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.”
