Caroling is good for you … Perhaps Buddy the Elf said it best, "The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear." A study found that singing Christmas carols together isn’t just a great holiday tradition – it’s also good for you. Singing – especially with other people – releases feel-good hormones, helps you bond with people, and just lifts your spirits. So sing along to some Christmas songs – it’s good for you!
Holiday spending … In 2023, U.S. consumers, on average, are expected to spend $875 on gifts this holiday season, according to the National Retail Federation (NRF). However … most people end up spending twice that. A survey by Deloitte found that U.S. consumers will actually spend around $1,652 for the 2023 holiday season.
Do you get the same gifts every year? There’s a reason. A survey found that the majority of respondents say they have a traditional gift they either give (61%) or receive (64%) every year during the holidays. Many of these gifts lean toward the practical. Here are the Top 10 Recurring Gifts to Give or Receive:
- Candy/chocolate – 47%
- A gift card/money – 46%
- Something homemade – 44%
- Makeup/beauty products – 37%
- Books – 34%
- Self-care items – 33%
- A toothbrush – 32%
- Skin products – 31%
- Underwear – 30%
- Pajamas – 30%
There’s a reason we can’t stop watching all the corny Christmas movies … Most holiday movies are cheesy and predictable – and that’s exactly why we watch them. "You would almost be disappointed if they weren't a little cheesy and predictable, because that's why you're there. You're there to have a feel-good movie," says Dr. Pamela Rutledge of the Media Psychology Research Center. "This lowers stress, and it reinforces feelings of hope and renewal and all of those things that Christmas is supposed to bring."
A message from Santa … about consent. A Santa in Miami put a little girl on his "nice" list for refusing to sit on his lap – because she didn't want to get that up-close-and-personal with a stranger. The jolly old elf posted a video saying, “I said, 'This is her body, and she’s in control of her body. I asked if she wanted to sit on my lap, and she said, 'No,' and I said, 'Way to stand up for yourself.'"
Three-year-old Adley's mom, Katie Love, replied, “I was so surprised Santa took the time to tell my daughter it was her body and her choice whether she wanted to sit on Santa’s lap. He could have brushed her off or even made her feel bad!” She added that she was “so proud” of her daughter for taking “control of the situation” and using her voice. Watch the video below.