[SCI-TECH] Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly: The Science Behind the Tradition
by Sandra Fagerstrom
With the holiday season coming to a close, Filipinos have attempted to get a semblance of normalcy and tradition in their lives amidst the new normal. Holiday get-togethers have thus been reduced to immediate family gatherings, blasting Christmas songs instead of meeting up to have seasonal Karaoke, and finding gifts for your loved ones are now much more carefully analyzed as people look towards safer alternatives at a cheaper cost. One tradition that wasn’t affected by the quarantine is the chance to hang up Christmas decorations around your house. Let us explore as to why this is so important to keep our spirits up, especially during Christmas time.
Happiness through Decor
When people say that putting up holiday decorations, especially Christmas decorations such as lights, the tree, candles, tinsel, etc., results in a happier mood and a better outlook in life just in time for the holidays, people think it’s just a wonder tale, but there have been actual studies and researches done regarding the topic; and the results have shown that holiday decorations can biologically affect one’s mental and emotional state. An example of this would be the use of colorful Christmas lights and ‘chromotherapy’, or color therapy that works by utilizing the regulating vibrations of colors to maintain a state of balance within the body as well as the use of individual colors that promote a host of unique benefits on their own. Yellow light, for instance, provokes feelings of warmth, friendliness, and familiarity. In addition, the act of putting up Christmas decorations gives a sense of nostalgia and novelty that results in a neurological shift thereby producing happiness, specifically the release of Dopamine, the feel-good hormone.
Filipinos & Christmas
Filipinos are recognized as one of the happiest people in the world who are able to see the silver lining whenever there’s a problem or difficulty that’s being faced. The multiple typhoons that have and will plague the country won’t stop us from doing our best to maintain our happiness with our family members.
Hopefully, with the dopamine that’s being felt as we string up our Christmas Lights and prepare our Christmas Trees at home, may we still be able to find joy in our homes and more importantly, with our families.
With all these factors, it’s no wonder that Christmas decor gives a sense of serenity and merriment in the holiday; and with the combination of Filipino Tradition and Scientific Truths, rest assured these will forever stay for the future generations, with each year outdoing the last. Despite the quarantine, and with that in mind, it will allow the spirit of Christmas to always be in our hearts.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Generally known as optimistic and energetic, I have never felt more drained in my life, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
Juggling the maintenance of good grades with a casual art career, I also aim to write more, and with the opportunity of the Tigercubs to express myself with
a colorful vocabulary (In a good way!) I hope to be able to excel in various other fields. Aside from the aforementioned activities, I also spend my time listening to video essays, tutorials, and podcasts, with the subjects ranging from art, true crime, reviews, and character analyses. However, even with the struggle of multitasking, I believe that a positive personality will see me through!
