By Savannah Celeste
The Christmas Spirit is a feeling unlike any other. The ability to celebrate the birth of Christ surrounded by family, friends and homemade meals is unmatched. Even though many people have probably felt this “Christmas Spirit”, they may not have realized that this feeling is heavily influenced by the human brain.
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that the body makes and the nervous system uses to send messages between the nerve cells. It also impacts the way people feel. According to WebMD, “Dopamine plays a role in how we feel pleasure. It's a big part of our unique human ability to think and plan. It helps us strive, focus, and find things interesting.” It is also said that dopamine is largely connected to reward-driven behaviour. Considering Christmas is all about celebrating Jesus, time with family and giving gifts, it is no surprise that the dopamine in our brain is affected, thus creating “Christmas Spirit!”
Serotonin is another neurotransmitter that the nervous system uses to send messages between the nerve cells. Serotonin is sometimes referred to as the “happy chemical” because it plays a large role in emotions and moods. This is one aspect of why people are so happy during Christmas. Things like time with family, singing Christmas carols, and going to a Christmas Eve Service trigger your serotonin. In addition to moods and emotions, it regulates appetite and digestion as well, so when you are enjoying your grandmother’s homemade pies at Christmas dinner, you are making your serotonin very happy!
Though the Christmas Spirit is impacted by the brain, there is a much larger picture to be seen. Christmas is a time that connects generations, people, and hearts. Though everyone may not celebrate it the same way, it is inspiring to see the human race unified over a season that reveres Jesus, generosity, and relationships.
Christmas is one of the best, if not the best, times of the year! During this Christmas season, when you watch a beloved Christmas movie with your best friend or sing a happy carol while cooking with your grandmother, think about how your brain aids your Christmas Spirit, and in the famous words of Burl Ives, “Have a Holly Jolly Christmas!!”
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