As Halloween ends, Fort Myers residents are debating whether to start Christmas decorating before Thanksgiving, with some citing studies linking holiday decorations to increased happiness. Lily Bomgardner and Emma Gakacs shared their thoughts, saying, “My roommates and I were just talking about this the other day. We think we should decorate not the week of Thanksgiving, but the week before Thanksgiving.” With Thanksgiving still approaching, some residents feel like Christmas is already here. Breanna McQuillen and Elena Camelli noted, “The decorations are lingering in my closet, waiting to come out.” However, not everyone agrees with early decorating. McQuillen and Camelli emphasized, “I respect Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is its own holiday and deserves its own thing.”Ariella Vanhara, a clinical assistant professor of social work at Florida Gulf Coast University, explained the science behind holiday decorations and happiness. “There are some different studies out there that look at increased happiness associated with it. And a lot of it does look at like different brain structure and behaviors and positive moods reported by people,” she said.Vanhara further elaborated, “Your brain produces different types of dopamine, and so it helps to produce happiness and increases that level. And so when you’re around the different holiday season, especially if it triggers happy memories and it associates with more happier times.” DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.
As Halloween ends, Fort Myers residents are debating whether to start Christmas decorating before Thanksgiving, with some citing studies linking holiday decorations to increased happiness. Lily Bomgardner and Emma Gakacs shared their thoughts, saying, “My roommates and I were just talking about this the other day. We think we should decorate not the week of Thanksgiving, but the week before Thanksgiving.”
With Thanksgiving still approaching, some residents feel like Christmas is already here. Breanna McQuillen and Elena Camelli noted, “The decorations are lingering in my closet, waiting to come out.”
However, not everyone agrees with early decorating. McQuillen and Camelli emphasized, “I respect Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is its own holiday and deserves its own thing.”
Ariella Vanhara, a clinical assistant professor of social work at Florida Gulf Coast University, explained the science behind holiday decorations and happiness. “There are some different studies out there that look at increased happiness associated with it. And a lot of it does look at like different brain structure and behaviors and positive moods reported by people,” she said.
Vanhara further elaborated, “Your brain produces different types of dopamine, and so it helps to produce happiness and increases that level. And so when you’re around the different holiday season, especially if it triggers happy memories and it associates with more happier times.”
DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.
