Summary: Researchers explain why maintaining holiday rituals is important for mental health, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Source: The Conversation
From birthdays to weddings and graduations, 2020 has seen many personal celebrations cancelled, while communal festivities such as Bonfire Night, Eid and Diwali were often muted or postponed. Given concerns that increased social mixing could spark another wave of COVID-19, it may feel tempting to downplay Christmas as well.
Yet this year, engaging in the rituals and celebrations of Christmas and New Year—within current safety limits—may be more important than ever for our mental health. There is growing evidence that embracing the spirit of the season, even in a reduced form, supports wellbeing after a long, stressful year.
Christmas carries social, cultural and religious significance. For people of many faiths and for those with none, the holidays are a time to gather, reflect on the year that has passed and look ahead. Participating in shared holiday activities helps us reconnect with others and feel part of a wider community.
Sociologists have described the uplifting mood that arises when people join in collective celebrations—sometimes called “collective effervescence.” While this idea was originally used to describe large religious gatherings, similar uplifting feelings also appear in smaller family or friend groups. At Christmas, that communal warmth often shows up as increased generosity, goodwill and acts of kindness. For many, the seasonal spirit is a tangible emotional boost.
The positive power of ritual
Rituals matter because they provide structure, predictability and meaning. The familiar saying that “the best part is getting ready” highlights that rituals are important in themselves: preparing for an event can be as emotionally meaningful as the event. Routines and rituals offer psychological stability and can help people manage anxiety—an especially valuable function during a period when anxiety levels have risen for many.
Rituals are sequences of actions repeated in particular ways and loaded with personal or shared symbolism. At Christmas, those actions include religious services, buying and wrapping presents, family meals, attending performances, carol singing, visiting markets, or enjoying seasonal foods and drinks such as mince pies, panettone, stollen or mulled wine. These repeated acts link the present to past experiences and help sustain positive feelings across time.
Many people put up decorations earlier than usual this year to lift their spirits. That instinct has a scientific basis: holiday rituals cue stored memories of past celebrations and rekindle associated emotions. Seeing decorations, hearing familiar songs or smelling seasonal scents can prompt neural responses tied to earlier happy moments, so even scaled-back festivities can produce real emotional benefits.
Smells and sights in particular are powerful triggers for memory. Although the current circumstances differ from previous years, those sensory cues can still summon comforting memories and feelings. That is one reason why maintaining even small elements of holiday tradition—lighting candles, setting the table in a familiar way, playing favourite songs—can make a difference to how we feel.
Rituals also strengthen social cohesion. Collective acts, from national moments of appreciation to local traditions, reinforce shared identity and a sense of belonging. When rituals are disrupted, people can feel disconnected or unsure about their place in a group. After a year of interrupted routines and increased isolation, holding on to holiday practices helps restore connection and shared meaning.
Celebrations tend to highlight what we are grateful for, and gratitude itself supports psychological wellbeing. If being together in person is not possible, catching up by phone or video still fosters closeness and can lift mood. Reminiscing about positive past experiences with loved ones is a simple, evidence-supported way to increase happiness in the present.
Even when grief or hardship makes joyful celebration harder, preserving the rituals of the season can aid emotional recovery. Rituals tap into reservoirs of positive emotion built up over many years. They help us notice what remains good in our lives and give structure to otherwise difficult days. So, within safety guidelines, putting up a tree, decorating a space, or sharing a meal—even with fewer people—can still offer meaningful comfort.
About this mental health research news
Source: The Conversation
Contact: Nilufar Ahmed – The Conversation
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