Forget politics — there’s another big debate that divides the globe.
When is too early to put your Christmas decorations up?
While the Scrooges among us will be disgusted at the mere sight of a bauble before December 1, it turns out the festive fanatics are the ones having the last laugh.
Those who harness their inner Buddy from the Christmas classic “Elf” and stick theirs up early are happier and more relaxed, according to the experts.
Steve McKeown, psychoanalyst and owner of the McKeown Clinic, told Unilad that people who start decorating as soon as they’ve blown the candle out on their Halloween pumpkin are driven by nostalgia.
“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,” he said.
“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.”
Amy Morin, psychotherapist and author of “13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do,” also told Unilad that Christmas is a time when people feel more connected to their past, and loved ones they have lost.
“The holidays serve as a reminder of when a loved one was still alive,” she said.
“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, it may serve as a reminder of happy times they had with that person.
“Decorating early may help them feel more connected with that individual.”
And past scientific research suggests another theory.
Getting overexcited and “vomiting” Christmas all over your front lawn is not garish and obscene — it’s a sign of a friendly family, according to a study published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology.
“A main effect for the decorated factor indicated that raters used Christmas decorations as a cue that the residents were friendly,” the authors wrote.