WHY NOSTALGIA GIVES US comfort joy and

Bridging a connection to our past and to our people, there’s good reason to treasure our traditions, discovers Kellie Gillespie-Wright

Christmas is decorating the tree as a family, and wrapping gifts while listening to my favourite festive album from 1994. It’s attending Midnight Mass after a few drinks at the pub, and gathering around the TV to watch It’s a Wonderful Life while filling my face with a tub of Quality Street. Well, it is for me, at least; we all have our own traditions that are uniquely special to us. But have you ever wondered why we cling to them so tightly, why they bring us such comfort, and what psychological forces drive us to engage in these activities year after year after year?

Christmas is a time when we all seek comfort, joy, and a sense of belonging. And whether you’ve realised it or not, nostalgia for the past and the repetition of long-held traditions is a crucial part of that. We find solace in the familiar sights, sounds, and activities that have come to define the festive season. From the longing for familiarity to the mood-boosting benefits of ‘anticipated nostalgia’, these customs offer far more than mere surface-level enjoyment. But what is it about repeating these rituals that gives us that warm, fuzzy feeling?