Christmas music is undoubtedly one of the best parts of the holiday season. Whether it’s hearing classic tunes like “Jingle Bells” and “Deck the Halls” in the mall, singing along to Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” or listening to Michael Bublé croon “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas,” it’s tough not to feel a little bit of holiday spirit when the music is playing. But what is it about these songs that make them so enduringly popular year after year, and why does hearing them make us feel so good?
Nostalgia and memories: Why our brains light up to holiday tunes
One reason that classic Christmas music remains popular is that it taps into our nostalgia. Many of us have fond memories of listening to these songs during family get-togethers or while decorating the tree, and hearing the same tunes year after year can bring back those warm feelings of coziness and comfort. Plus, because they are such a widely recognized and consistent part of the holiday season, hearing them can create a sense of tradition and familiarity that is comforting in its own right.
The science behind our love for Christmas music
However, there’s more to the appeal of classic Christmas songs than just nostalgia. In fact, there’s some science to suggest that music can have a powerful effect on our brains and emotions. For instance, a 2011 study published in the Journal of Consumer Research found that background music can enhance the “emotional congruence” of an experience – in other words, the music can influence how we feel about what we’re doing. The study found that when people listened to Christmas music while shopping for holiday gifts, they were more likely to report feeling a sense of warmth and generosity towards others, as well as being more willing to spend money on gifts. The researchers theorized that the music helped to prime people for the holiday spirit, making them more inclined to act in ways that aligned with the emotional feel of the season.
Another area of research that sheds light on the power of Christmas music is the study of music and the brain. Some recent studies have found that listening to music can stimulate the release of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which is associated with pleasure and reward. In fact, a 2013 study published in the journal Nature Neuroscience found that listening to music activated multiple areas of the brain that are associated with reward response, including the nucleus accumbens, the ventral tegmental area, and the hypothalamus. So not only does Christmas music tap into our emotions and memories, but it can also create a literal “feel-good” response in our brains.
Of course, all of this research doesn’t explain why some Christmas songs enjoy enduring popularity while others fall by the wayside. While it’s tough to pin down an exact formula for what makes a Christmas song a classic, there are a few common threads that many beloved tunes share. For one thing, many classic Christmas songs have a simple and catchy melody, with lyrics that are easy to sing along to. Additionally, many of these songs have memorable hooks or choruses that make them instantly recognizable, such as the opening “jingling” of “Jingle Bells” or the soaring chorus of “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!” By capturing the essence of the holiday season in a simple and straightforward way, these songs keep us coming back year after year for that reliable dose of holiday cheer.
In short, the enduring appeal of classic Christmas music is a result of a combination of factors, from its ability to tap into our emotions and memories to the feel-good response it creates in our brains. Listening to these songs can evoke feelings of nostalgia, comfort, and generosity, while also giving us a sense of tradition and familiarity during the hectic holiday season. So whether you’re jamming out to “Feliz Navidad” or tearing up during “Silent Night,” it’s safe to say that you’re not alone in feeling the powerful pull of Christmas music.