Unwrapping the wonders: the science behind Christmas magic
As December rolls in, the air starts to fill with the scent of pine, glow of twinkling lights, and a sense of wonder. For centuries, the ‘magic’ of Christmas has enchanted people of all ages, but science offers fascinating explanations for some of the season’s most beloved phenomena.
The warm golden glow of Christmas lights is more than just decorative — it has a measurable effect on the brain[1]. Research shows that exposure to warm light, such as the amber tone of fairy lights, stimulates the brain’s production of melatonin[1]. This hormone is associated with relaxation and sleep, helping to create a calming atmosphere[2]. Evolutionary psychologists have suggested that this effect may be tied to early humans’ reliance on fire for safety and warmth, making the soft flicker of warm-toned lights especially comforting. Additionally, repetitive patterns of light, such as twinkling, engage neural circuits associated with focus and rhythm2, heightening feelings of peace and joy during the holiday season.
Holiday scents like cinnamon, pine,and vanilla also engage the brain in remarkable ways[3]. Smell is the only sense that bypasses the thalamus — a region of the brain involved in processing sensations. Instead, smell (olfactory) information bypasses intermediary processing centers including the thalamus and travels directly to the olfactory bulb. The olfactory bulb, in turn, establishes a direct connection with the limbic system, a brain region integral to regulating emotions, memory, and behaviour[4]. Perhaps this explains why the sharp, resinous smell of pine can evoke memories tied to decorating Christmas trees.While, sweet spices like cinnamon activate regions associated with reward and nostalgia. These chemical processes may explain why holiday scents feel deeply personal and emotionally charged.
Even Santa’s fantastical overnight delivery of billions of gifts invites scientific curiosity. To achieve this feat, Santa would need to travel approximately 1,800 miles per second, surpassing the speed of sound by 8000 times[5]. Physicists theorise that concepts like time dilation — where time slows down at near-light speeds, as predicted by Einstein’s theory of relativity — could enable his journey[6]. Alternatively, wormholes — hypothetical passages through spacetime — could allow Santa to traverse vast distances in an instant[7]. While playful, these ideas ground the magic of Santa in the awe-inspiring possibilities of physics.
This holiday season considers how the lights, scents, and stories that captivate us are deeply rooted in the science of perception, memory, and physics. By understanding the brain’s response to these stimuli, we can appreciate that the true magic of Christmas lies at the intersection of wonder and science.
[1] www.beasleyandhenley.com/lighting-up-joy-unveiling-the-psychology-behind-christmas-lights-and-their-transformative-impact-on-your-mood/
[2] https://doi.org/10.1038/379540a0
[3] www.frostbeardstudio.com/en-uk/blogs/news/the-link-between-scents-and-nostalgic-memories
[4] www.greymattersjournalvc.org/blog-3-1/a-scent-is-worth-a-thousand-words-the-neuroscience-of-smell-and-memory
[5] www.towerfast.com/press-room/santa-claus-science-physics-christmas
[6] https://journals.le.ac.uk/index.php/pst/article/view/4270
[7] www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/the-physics-of-christmas-wormholes-and-other-tricks-santa-might-use-to-get
Edited by Hazel Imrie
Copy-edited by Bavishya Tata
