September often feels like a hinge month. The year bends toward its close, yet the holidays are still a distant promise. For Filipinos, though, September signals something unmistakable: the beginning of the Ber months, when Christmas quietly begins to slip into the atmosphere.
You walk into certain homes, or scroll through a corner of social media, and you may already catch a glimpse of Christmas: a tree standing quietly in a living room, a wreath hanging a little early on a door, twinkling lights softening the edges of the everyday. Some might smile at the thought. Others may roll their eyes, dismissing it as too soon. Yet the practice of decorating early for Christmas is more than an aesthetic indulgence — it is a quietly radical act of self-care.
Christmas carries a weight far deeper than aesthetics. As the first lights flicker to life in September, people are transported into a kind of reverie. They see not just bulbs and wires, but fragments of cherished moments: family gatherings under a tree dressed in tinsel, voices harmonizing in carols, the warmth of food laid out like an offering of love. Christmas lights cast a spell, blurring the ordinary contours of spaces into a dreamscape, making walls glow warmer, corners soften, and the air itself shimmer with possibility.
At its heart, the glow of Christmas decorations is not only about preparing for the season; it is about creating an atmosphere that nourishes joy, wellness, and connection long before December.
BEAT THE STRESS OF THE CHRISTMAS SEASON BY PLANNING AROUND YOUR WELL-BEING.
Why We Crave the Early Glow
Psychologists have long noted that rituals of celebration help anchor us, especially in times of uncertainty. Christmas décor, with its familiar palette of lights, greenery, and warmth, triggers nostalgia, evoking childhood memories of wonder and safety. These cues stimulate the brain’s reward centers, increasing dopamine — a natural mood booster.
There is a healing power in lights, garlands, and ornaments that goes beyond their glitter. Studies in environmental psychology show that surroundings have the ability to affect our moods, with festive environments sparking positive emotions, reducing stress, and even encouraging social interaction. To decorate early, then, is to choose joy before the year ends, to soften life’s sharp edges with a little sparkle.
When placed early in the calendar, these decorations extend the season of anticipation. In a sense, they allow us to “borrow joy from the future.” September’s days may still be warm and humid, work may still feel unrelenting, but a single strand of lights can signal hope — that luminous reminder that something good is coming.
READ: Simple Practices for a Happier You
Decorating as a Wellness Ritual
There is also the practice itself: unboxing ornaments, hanging garlands, placing figurines in just the right corner. The act of decorating can be meditative, slowing down the pace of life in favor of tactile, intentional gestures. Like baking bread or tending to a garden, it invites presence.
Early decorating transforms the home into a sanctuary sooner, creating a sense of order and festivity at once. For families, it becomes an intergenerational ritual — children helping parents hang ornaments, grandparents sharing stories about heirloom decorations. These small acts strengthen bonds, weaving tradition with memory.
And for those who live alone, early Christmas decorating can serve as a form of companionship — a reminder that the home itself is capable of holding joy.
READ: How Writing Can Help You Through Tough Times
Practical Wellness Benefits
Beyond the emotional resonance, there are practical wellness benefits to starting early:
- Stress Reduction: Decorating ahead of time distributes holiday tasks more evenly, preventing December overwhelm.
- More Time for Joy: With the décor ready, the weeks leading to Christmas can focus on connection — gatherings, partying, or simple quiet nights by the tree.
- Creative Expression: Designing a holiday space early allows for thoughtful creativity, whether it’s experimenting with themes or repurposing old ornaments in new ways.
In an age where burnout is common, early Christmas decorating is an antidote: a way of gently reclaiming time, space, and atmosphere for joy.
The Healing Glow
There is a quiet poetry in walking past a tree lit in September. Its glow interrupts the ordinariness of the month, reminding us that wonder is not bound by the calendar. Decorating early is not about rushing time; it is about expanding joy, letting the season of kindness and connection last a little longer.
Christmas, then, is not just about the day itself. It is about how long we allow it to live in us. To begin in September is to stretch joy across the months, to let light linger longer in our homes and hearts. And perhaps, in a world that often urges us to rush, this is the gentlest rebellion of all: to slow down, to savor, to remember that wellness is not only found in diets and routines, but also in wonder, nostalgia, and beauty.
So as you sit before the glow of a string of lights this September, may you be reminded of something simple yet profound: to decorate is to heal. To turn on a light is to declare that joy, memory, and love are not bound by calendars. Christmas can be as long as we allow it to be.
And Christmas decorations — whether a single candle on a windowsill or a grand display of lights — are more than visual adornments. They are signals to the soul, affirmations that joy is not only possible but present. And in the tender glow of those lights, wellness finds a home.
Photo by Sincerely Media on Unsplash
DISCLAIMER
This article provides general information and does not constitute medical advice. Consult your healthcare provider for personalized recommendations. If symptoms persist, consult your doctor.
