5 scientifically proven reasons why we love the New Years so much

1. Gifts make us happier

It's nice to receive and give gifts, but have you ever wondered why people do it at all? Anthropologists have an answer.

From a rational point of view, the ritual seems to be a waste of time and energy. However, it has existed since ancient times. 1. J. Sherry. Gift Giving in Anthropological Perspective / Journal of Consumer Research
2. A. Komter, W. Vollebergh. Gift Giving and the Emotional Significance of Family and Friends / Journal of Marriage and Family to strengthen social bonds. This is how our ancestors demonstrated that a person is so important to them that they are ready to give him part of their funds, that is, almost a fraction of themselves. The gift was supposed to remind the person who presented it.

Perhaps this is why when we spend money on others we feelE. W. Dunnlara, L. B. Aknin, M. I. Norton. Spending Money on Others Promotes Happiness / Science ourselves are much happier than when we buy something for ourselves.

2. Holiday rituals reduce anxiety

Do not rush to strictly judge people who spend every New Year in the same way - the researchers have found a perfectly reasonable explanation for this.

Everyday life is filled with all kinds of uncertainties: we are forced to constantly solve new problems, adapt to changes, strive for something, set goals and achieve them. These are all continual sources of stress.

On holidays, however, a person always knows what he will be busy with. For example, decorate a Christmas tree, eat Olivier salad, listen to Jingle Bells and re-watch "Irony of Fate." Life on days like this is filled with very predictable rituals that operateA. W. Brooks, J. Schroeder, J. L. Risen et al. Don’t stop believing: Rituals improve performance by decreasing anxiety / Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes on us soothingly.

3. Joint feasts give a feeling of unity with loved ones

When family or friends get together in a festive setting, cooking and eating are transformedR. Katz. Passing the Salt: How Eating Together Creates Community. Honors College Capstone Experience / Thesis Project from a banal procedure to a whole ceremony. Joint actions help to establish a bond between loved ones, make it easier to communicate, strengthen a sense of belonging. Research shows 1. K. D. Vohs, Y. Wang, F. Gino et al. Rituals Enhance Consumption / Psychological Science
2. K. D. Vohs, Y. Wang, F. Gino et al. Rituals Enhance Consumption / Harvard University's DASH, even dishescooked and eaten together tastes better.

In our ancestors, the same unifying role was played by gathering near a common hearth. Perhaps that is why people continue to meet at the table for almost any reason.

4. Home decoration improves mood

If you want to create a New Year's atmosphere at home early, don't hold back. The point is, what a holiday decor can doPeople Who Put Up Christmas Decorations Early Are Happier, Says Expert / Unilad you are happier.

5. New Year's atmosphere reminds us of childhood

New Year is not for nothing called the holiday of childhood, because it is closely related to our past experience.

One small study confirms Maureen's words. In 2015, a group of Danish scientists using functional MRI discoveredA. Hougaard, U. Lindberg, N. Arngrim et al. Evidence of a Christmas spirit network in the brain: functional MRI study / BMJ A "Christmas network" in the brains of people who celebrate this holiday.

Scientists have found that our perception of the New Year's atmosphere is associated with memories of past holidays. If they were positive, the person will experience pleasant excitement. Otherwise, the smell of tangerines and pine needles, songs about a small Christmas tree and films with Macaulay Culkin will not cause him positive emotions. It is not surprising that during the experiment, areas of the brain that bind 1. K. Oba, M. Noriuchi, T. Atomi et al. Memory and reward systems coproduce 'nostalgic' experiences in the brain / Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience
2. F. S. Barrett, P. Janata. Neural responses to nostalgia-evoking music modeled by elements of dynamic musical structure and individual differences in affective traits / Neuropsychologia also with nostalgia.

Of course, the conclusions of the Danish experts require further confirmation. However, their discovery fits well with modern science about emotions, which are believed to be influenced byL. F. Barrett. How emotions are made: The secret life of the brain environment, well-being of the person and his past experience.

Andrey Vdovenko