Holidays - "There used to be more tinsel" - home psychologist explains why Christmas decorations are so important to us
"There used to be more tinsel" - as the saying from a famous sketch goes. Did we really decorate better in the past - so that Christmas and the Advent season were more contemplative and cozy?
Barbara Perfahl: My impression is that today the range of what is considered Christmas and Advent decorations has become much wider. In the past, Christmas decorations actually looked the same in every home. There were the traditionalists who relied heavily on green, red and gold and those who deviated slightly and perhaps hung up one or two items in pink. But basically it was very ritualized. The design and this ritualistic aspect of the design has changed and today it is much more acceptable as an Advent decoration. Thirty years ago, an Advent wreath like the one I have here - a glass box with four candles in it - would not have passed as such.
You just mentioned the rituals. Many families have a tradition of decorating the Christmas tree together on December 22 or 23. So is it not just the decorations themselves that are important?
Essentially, the ritual is important. The decoration is just the symbol, image or result of the ritual. I look at my Christmas-decorated home every morning and am reminded that we are in Advent. Perhaps we look at the Advent calendar together with our children - and this also reminds us of wonderful moments from the Christmas celebrations of our childhood. And it's not the decorations themselves, but the ritual behind them that ultimately makes the stars in the window, the baubles on the tree or the candle on the wreath so important to us. The decorations prepare us for Christmas and get us in the mood.
The results of a study suggest that those who decorate earlier are happier and look forward to Christmas more.
The question with such studies is always about the causal relationship: do people decorate earlier because they are looking forward to Christmas so much, or do the decorations put them in a positive mood? However, rituals generally give us a sense of security. Christmas as a celebration of love and family has positive connotations for most people. So people decorate to bring the symbols of this festival into their homes weeks in advance.
Some people also tend to be perfectionists when it comes to Christmas decorations. So does decorating also cause frustration?
Of course, it depends on how we are wired and what our living requirements are. If, for example, it is important to you that your own four walls represent something and you use your decorated home to represent yourself, you may have a tendency towards perfectionism. This may include the perfect Christmas decoration of the house and then it becomes more of a compulsory program, which can burden and frustrate you in addition to all the other Christmas preparations.
A study from 1989 came to the conclusion that our neighbors perceive us as friendlier when our house is nicely decorated for Christmas. So are we really not hanging up the poinsettia for ourselves?
Decorating the house and garden for Christmas is also a bit of a show. I lived in Hamburg for a while and I remember a house near the airport that was decorated so excessively that it was a must for me and many others to visit this house in the run-up to Christmas. People hang or put up this kind of decoration to attract attention or to show off their own craftsmanship. For many families, Christmas is the time of year when everyone really gets together. Visitors are received at home and the house should be presentable for the guests.
In the last decade, entire streets have sprung up in many places where people decorate their homes to the extreme and transform them into a veritable Christmas wonderland. Where does this penchant for opulent decorations come from?
It's difficult to say why. One reason is certainly that we see how other countries decorate for Christmas when we travel, watch films on TV or read reports. We are particularly familiar with the colorful lights and big Santas in gardens from the USA. And here in Germany, too, some people have adopted this way of decorating because they like it. Why some people do it so excessively can be a form of self-expression, a kind of competition for a whole town or simply a hobby.
However, a large number of fairy lights or a huge glowing figure in the garden may not be an option for many people in view of rising electricity prices and the energy crisis. Many people will probably have to shift down a gear when it comes to Christmas decorations. How does that affect people?
I can well imagine that many families will really shift down a gear when it comes to decorating. And will focus more on more contemplative, minimalist and traditional decorations. Instead of the big illuminated figure, there will only be the tree, the nativity scene and the Advent wreath. This could make Christmas a little more visually contemplative again. Living and decorating is always very much influenced by what is happening in society. The last few years with the pandemic and the war in Ukraine have been unusual and stressful for many people. I can well imagine that this is also reflected in the Christmas decorations - but we won't know for sure until after Christmas, when we have experienced it.
Let's talk about traditional Christmas decorations - they include the colors red, green and gold. How do these colors affect our mood?
Many people think of a snow-covered forest at Christmas and with the Christmas tree and greenery, we bring nature into our homes. Gold is something extravagant and a symbol of joy and celebration. Red is the color of life. Red is normally a color that is stimulating or can also be aggressive. In combination with green and gold at Christmas, the color red is excitingly good and can even have a calming effect. Ultimately, the colors should certainly also be viewed from a religious context, where Christmas is a high festival.
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Barbara Perfahl: In the past, some families might have incorporated a unique touch with a single pink decoration, deviating from the traditional green, red, and gold palette.
Barbara Perfahl: Today, the expansion of Christmas decoration options has made it more acceptable to incorporate diverse colors and designs into holiday displays.
As the festive season approaches, some individuals may find joy and anticipation in starting their decorations sooner, contributing to their overall well-being and Christmas spirit.
Source: www.stern.de
