First published November 14, 2018.
Some households have the tree up before the Halloween pumpkins have gone soft; others hold out until December. If you are one of the early decorators, there is a reassuring idea doing the rounds every autumn: putting up Christmas decorations early may make you happier. The short answer is that it can lift the mood of people who love the season, mostly through nostalgia and anticipation. But the claim rests on expert opinion rather than a dedicated happiness study, and it does not apply to everyone.
Where the "early decorators are happier" idea comes from
The claim spread widely from November 2017, when psychoanalyst Steve McKeown shared his views with the UK site UNILAD. His comments were picked up by newspapers, TV stations and lifestyle sites around the world, and they resurface almost every year.
McKeown's argument was about meaning rather than measurement. He suggested that the familiar ornaments, lights and rituals act as a doorway back to childhood, a time when Christmas felt magical and adult worries had not yet arrived. In his words, decorations are "simply an anchor or pathway to those old childhood magical emotions of excitement."
He also noted that the motives can vary. For some, decorating early is a way to relive happy memories; for others it may be a way to make up for holidays that were difficult or lacking when they were young.
Nostalgia and anticipation: why decorating feels good
Two familiar psychological ideas help explain why many people enjoy an early start.
Nostalgia
Revisiting fond memories tends to bring comfort and a sense of connection. Unpacking a box of ornaments collected over decades, each with a story attached, is an easy way to trigger that feeling.
Anticipation
For many people, looking forward to something is a large part of the pleasure. The weeks of films, music, lights and get-togethers before Christmas can feel as enjoyable as the day itself. Decorating early stretches that run-up, giving more time to savour it.
Ritual and togetherness
Decorating is also a shared ritual. Families often repeat the same steps each year: the same playlist, the same ornament placed last, the same argument about tangled lights. Repeating familiar traditions can give a sense of continuity and belonging, especially in a year that has felt unsettled. Starting early simply gives that ritual more room, and can turn a rushed chore into an evening people look forward to.
What a 1989 study found about decorated homes
There is one piece of genuine research often linked to this topic, and it is about neighbours rather than happiness. In 1989, psychologist Carol Werner and colleagues at the University of Utah and Temple University published a study in the Journal of Environmental Psychology titled "Inferences about homeowners' sociability: Impact of Christmas decorations and other cues."
They showed 58 undergraduates photographs of the outside of homes, some decorated for Christmas and some not, and asked them to guess what the residents were like. Strangers rated the decorated houses as belonging to friendlier, more open people who were more involved with their neighbours. The effect was especially large for households that had themselves reported low contact with neighbours: decorations made them look far more sociable than they described themselves.
So the study shows that decorations send a friendly signal to passers-by. It does not show that people who decorate are actually friendlier, or happier.
PA
Myths and facts about decorating early
"Science has proven early decorators are happier"
Not quite. The widely shared claim comes from expert commentary. No large study has tracked decorating dates against measured happiness.
"An undecorated house means unfriendly neighbours"
The 1989 study found that strangers assume this, which is a different thing. People skip decorating for countless reasons: travel, money, faith, grief, a new baby, or simply preference.
"Christmas starts earlier every year"
There is some truth here. Retailers have pushed Christmas stock earlier for decades, a trend known as "Christmas creep". In the United States, early shopping campaigns date back to the early 1900s, and many stores now put out Christmas goods in September.
When the season is hard
For plenty of people, December brings pressure, loneliness or grief rather than excitement. If early decorations bring you comfort, that is a good reason to enjoy them. If they feel like an obligation, or stir up painful memories, it is fine to wait, scale back or skip them. If low mood around the holidays is persistent or heavy, talk to a doctor or someone you trust.
Tips for an early start that you will still enjoy in December
- Decorate in stages. Start with lights or a wreath and add more over the following weeks, so the season keeps building.
- Lean into the memories. Bring out ornaments with stories behind them and share those stories with family or friends.
- Mind the tree. A real tree cut in early November may not last to Christmas; an artificial or potted tree suits an early start better.
- Be a considerate neighbour. Put outdoor lights on timers and avoid shining them into other people's windows.
- Use it to connect. If decorations signal friendliness, as the 1989 study suggests, a wave or a chat over the garden fence can turn the signal into the real thing.
Whenever you choose to bring out the tinsel, the best reason is simply that it makes the season feel like yours.
Sources: Mental Floss: putting up Christmas decorations early; Improbable Research: Werner, Peterson-Lewis & Brown (1989); GBH News: 3 Christmas questions as answered by science; Wikipedia: Christmas creep. Featured image credit: New Line Cinema; second photo: PA.
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