Christmas is a time of giving, joy, and cheer for many around the world. No matter what belief people have, the feeling of joy that comes with the season is a universal feeling. People are happier and this joy spreads to others, creating a happy feeling for many. This “Christmas cheer” can be attributed to psychological reasons influencing people yearly.
While thinking about the holidays, many associate the time with good times, such as the feeling of waking up and seeing the presents under the tree, baking goods, or seeing family. The association with joyful activities and nostalgia from old memories can cause people to generate that feeling of happiness. Religious movements and beliefs also can influence these feelings because people have a set of values that they follow such as giving and promoting charity. While some people may have negative associations with Christmas, it is common for people to be more inclined to feel the cheer that comes with the holiday.
One study shows an increased trend of donations and giving during December versus other months of the year. Mathias Ekström studied over 50 million donations of a Swedish market’s recycling charity program. He found that donations increased by about 14%. He dedicated the reason to seasonal altruism. Altruism is the practice of selfless concern for the goodness of others. There might be a couple of reasons behind this. First, taxes on charitable donations can be written off. Since taxes usually aren’t due till the beginning of the year in most countries, people will wait to donate until the last minute. Another big reason for increased donations may be due to reciprocal motives. In the US, ⅔ of gifts given are religious or educational and people feel they need to return the favor of giving. This may cause an increase in general donations. Because charities are more exposed during December, people are faced with more opportunities to give as well. In sales, there is an average of a 32% discount on giving costs so because the cost of donations goes down with sales and lower deposit rates, donations increase.
Social norms influence behavior. Conformity, or compliance with standards, may cause people to feel like giving is a standard “law” during the holiday season. This universal understanding causes the donation trend to increase during Christmas and the end of the year. While there are always exceptions, the general consensus is that Christmas is a time of giving and joy. Making sure to enjoy the time with family and friends and promote peace and positivity is crucial in helping spread Christmas cheer.
Sources
Bruno, Kayla-Hope. “Why is Everyone so Happy During Christmastime?” Andrews University, 12 August 2022, https://www.andrews.edu/life/student-movement/issues/2023-02-22/ideas-why-is-so-everyone-so-happy-during-christmas.html. Accessed 17 December 2024.
Ekström, Mathias. “Seasonal altruism: How Christmas shapes unsolicited charitable giving.” ScienceDirect, Elsevier, 29 July 2018, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0167268118301811. Accessed 15 December 2024.
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