There’s nothing quite like Christmas morning, with piles of presents under the tree and laughter all around. Family game nights and snow days, candle-lit evenings of gingerbread house decorating, gift wrapping, and a mug of hot cocoa—all the joy of the season has a familiar sound. Christmas songs evoke a sense of nostalgia: Silent Night may bring sweet memories of candle-lit services while Baby All I Want for Christmas Is You may blast as you push through a crowded store on Black Friday. Sweet memories of the most wonderful time of the year are intertwined with the melodies of the season, whether the memories are sweet, bitter-sweet, or stressful.
There is no denying that the holidays can be stressful; with travel plans and searching for the perfect gift, this stress is intertwined with a peaceful and joyful sense of nostalgia. According to Music Therapy professor Ronald Borczon at Biola University, Christmas music can become ingrained in us. When we hear the familiar tune, it brings back a vast array of joyful memories—ones that can act as an escape from the stress of the holidays to a simple child-like joy. Additionally analyzed by neuroscientist Brian Rabinovitz, the structure of Christmas music is memorable and satisfying in a way that leads to pleasure for the listener. The joy that music brings is not only found in the memories of the music but also found in the rhythms and melodies themselves. The familiarity of Christmas music has the ability to give people a type of stability in a seemingly (and consistently) unpredictable time. Unfortunately for many the joys of the holiday season are stripped away by the stress it creates. However, as Derrick Bryson Taylor of The New York Times states, in others, the familiar tune can release a stress hormone that triggers the brain’s fear center. This causes the emotions that Christmas music evokes, making them complex and truly dependent on the person listening.
Although the memories associated with Christmas can make the sounds of the holidays feel emotionally complex, the music of Yuletide is a representation of thousands of years of joyful winter traditions. Despite the varying emotions of so many, these tunes carry throughout time and are often found alongside communities coming together. Christmas music still acts as a way for people to come together in joy even in times of darkness. It is vital not to let the traditions of joy get overshadowed by anxiety as we remember the child-like wonder that Christmas has the ability to bring.
Citations
Dougher, Sarah. “Professor Shares Why Christmas Music Is Therapeutic.” Biola News – Biola University Blogs, 4 Dec. 2020, www.biola.edu/blogs/biola-news/2020/professor-shares-why-christmas-music-therapeutic.
Berard, Adrienne. “This Is Your Brain on Christmas Music.” University Advancement, 2017, advancement.wm.edu/news/2017/this-is-your-brain-on-christmas-music.php.
Taylor, Derrick Bryson. “Why You Love (or Love to Hate) Christmas Music.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 24 Nov. 2023, www.nytimes.com/2023/11/24/arts/music/christmas-music-brain-impact.html.
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