If you find yourself humming along to the holiday music while browsing stores this month, the reason may be more than a catchy beat. Music can impact our well-being — a biological response backed by research. “There are so many benefits from hearing music. It helps our mood and regulates our emotions and nervous system,” says New York-based musician and music psychologist Brittany Anjou. “It’s been used in spiritual practices, ceremonies and rituals throughout history. We know it improves our lives. The evidence is endless.”
When it comes to Christmas music, how it affects you depends on your personal memories and holiday associations, especially those from childhood.
“There’s also evidence that the music you experience when you’re younger, up to your teens, stays with you for life,” Anjou adds. In fact, a study published in 2015 showed that familiar sounds are more likely to trigger vivid memories than almost any other sense, including familiar sights.
“If you have good memories of the December holidays and certain holiday songs, hearing them can bring out that childlike sense of positivity and take you right back to being a kid,” says Dr. Samantha Saltz, MD of Doctor Sam - Child, Adolescent & Adult Psychiatrists in Boca Raton.
Even if you don’t celebrate Christmas, the holiday season “usually does have a magical kind of feel,” says Saltz. “Many elements of Christmas music are cultural, meaning that while it’s not part of your religion, holiday music expresses a sense of inclusion and connection. Most of us grew up listening to the same holiday songs, so it’s nostalgic, familiar and promotes cultural bonding.”
It helps that as the years have passed, holiday music has moved away from traditional religious themes and now trends more toward catchy, secular tunes. As Billboard pointed out in a 2022 feature story on holiday music, most modern Christmas songs are filled with lighthearted or fictional imagery like Santa and reindeer, focusing more on fun than faith.
Consider Mariah Carey’s hit, “All I Want For Christmas Is You.” Released in 1994 and featured on the soundtrack of the modern classic holiday movie “Love, Actually,” the song continues to break records, including the longest-running No. 1 holiday song and topping Billboard’s list of the 100 Greatest Holiday Songs of All Time.
Of course, there’s the flip side. For those with difficult memories tied to the holidays or who feel melancholy during the season, hearing Christmas songs can generate negative emotions. “Ultimately, music is linked to memories. So, if a sad memory occurs when a certain song plays — maybe someone passed away or something traumatic happened — that can obviously trigger a sense of sadness,” Saltz explains.
“If Christmas music stirs that kind of upset,” says Saltz, “you can always turn it off. Although you probably will encounter it at some point if you go into a store or the mall.”
Which brings us to the two ways we take in music, Anjou explains. The first is the music we choose to listen to, whether at home or in a performance setting. The second is the music we hear in our environments, often referred to as “piped” music, which is played in elevators, supermarkets and other public spaces.
The good news? “Christmas music probably can promote the Christmas spirit to a certain extent,” says Anjou. She cites a 2022 Danish study that explored whether Christmas music has the same calming effect as classical music, which is known to reduce blood pressure and improve quality of life. Although the study involved only 10 participants, researchers observed a slight decrease in blood pressure and a small improvement in mood. The study, published in the National Library of Medicine (NIH), concluded: “We recommend that one plays Christmas music throughout December to reduce stress levels and bring us whole-skinned and in high spirits through the Christmas season.”
Here’s the not-so-good news: Christmas music is not necessarily healthy for your wallet. A 2005 study by Washington State University found that consumers exposed to Christmas music and seasonal scents — such as pine or cinnamon — spent more than those who weren’t. This applies not only to Christmas music, but all types of music in consumer environments, says Anjou.
“What music subconsciously does is signal to consumers that it’s time to shop. When a wine store plays French music, they sell more wine. When an Italian restaurant plays Italian music, they sell more food. The list goes on. The point is that when a product is paired with music, you sell more because it evokes a mood psychologically. So, while Christmas music can potentially lower our blood pressure, it also promotes consumerism.” In other words, those hoping to stick to a budget shoud consider doing their holiday shopping online from the quiet of home.
If you find Christmas tunes irritating, you can simply change the radio station or step out of the store. However, if you’re experiencing the holiday blues or feeling isolated, Saltz recommends leaning into holiday music by joining a caroling group, a chorus or a holiday sing-along. “Humans by nature are social creatures,” Saltz explains. “Music gives people a way to connect through lyrics and gives them a sense of togetherness.”
“When you feel depressed or withdrawn, you want to engage in what’s called ‘opposite action,’” Saltz continues. “If you want to be alone, do the opposite. Encourage yourself to get out and be with people. Joining a chorus, attending a service or getting together to sing with people can provide a sense of community and camaraderie and can help us feel more connected and less alone.”
Fresh Tunes For The Festive Season
• Kelly Clarkson’s “You for Christmas”
While Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” has topped the charts for the past two decades, she’s getting a decent run for her money from Kelly Clarkson’s 2024 single, “You For Christmas.” Released in September, the peppy, upbeat tune is bound to be a modern holiday favorite.
• Frank Sinatra’s “Ultimate Christmas”
A collection of Ol’ Blue Eyes’ holiday classics has been rereleased in a double-album collection entitled “Ultimate Christmas,” which includes songs like “Silent Night,” “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and “The First Noel.”
• Jimmy Fallon’s “Holiday Seasoning”
Everyone’s favorite nighttime host has released “Holiday Seasoning,” an album of lighthearted holiday singles featuring Fallon and various A-list collaborators like the Jonas Brothers, Justin Timberlake and comedian Will Ferrell.
• SiriusXM’s Radio Hanukkah
If you’re on the road, tune into SiriusXM’s Radio Hanukkah. The annual seasonal channel plays traditional, contemporary and children’s Hanukkah songs, plus reflections and retellings of the story of Hanukkah.
• Calum Scott and Christina Perri’s “Kid At Christmas”
Just in time for holiday preparations, this enchanting track — co-written by the talented duo — blends nostalgia with the magic of the season, viewed through the eyes of adulthood. Its cheerful melody and heartfelt lyrics inspire listeners to rediscover their inner child, reminding us all that it's never too late to embrace the joys and wonders of Christmas.