It’s that time of year again when the old Christmas decorations debate rears its head! Is putting your decorations up in November a sin, or can it actually make you happier?
It’s a hot debate among those who love the festive season and the grinches of the world – when is the appropriate time to put up Christmas decorations?
Some neighbours start putting Christmas decorations up the minute the Halloween ones come down, perhaps even before!
Conversely, others either don’t put any up at all or wait until the week leading up to Christmas at the earliest to even consider mounting the Christmas décor around the house!
However, some people might change their festive tactics when they learn that putting up your Christmas decorations early can make you happier, according to science.
The Christmas decoration debate – when is it socially acceptable to put them up?
Typically, you either come from a family that puts your festive decorations up as early as humanly possible and acceptable, or you basically put them up a day or two before 25 December.
It’s a debate that gets people all over the world riled up every year as soon as Halloween comes to a close.
When certain people see Christmas decorations in the shops in September, it makes their blood boil, while others get an instant spark of excitement for the impending holiday season. Which side of the fence do you sit on?
Putting up Christmas decorations early makes you happier – according to science
Research from psychoanalyst Steve McKeown at The McKeown Clinic suggests that the perfect time to start Christmas festive cheer is right after Halloween.
“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 childhood,” McKeown told UNILAD.
“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”.
This sentiment was echoed by psychotherapist Amy Morin, who said, “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”.
The opposite effect for some – a time of hurt and painful memories
On the flip side of the coin, while Christmas reflects a happy time for some, it’s the opposite experience for many others.
The Priory group reports that other people can struggle around the festive period due to things like addiction, depression, anxiety or eating disorders, to name a few reasons.
Priory group published some advice in the hopes of helping people struggling over the next couple of months here.
So, if putting your Christmas decorations up early gives you the joy you want and deserve this festive season, forget all the naysayers and light up your house now!