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John McCarthy
Professor Erin McLaughlin
Multimedia Writing and Rhetoric 13300
15 November 2016
Religion Facilitates a Merry Christmas
Have yourself a merry little Christmas. This famous saying in Frank Sinatras song is
sung every year as the Christmas season approaches. However, this little saying, like many songs
used during Christmas time, hints at one of the most basic aspects of Christmas happiness.
Throughout the entire month of December, music, movies, stories all tell society to have a very
merry Christmas, a joyful Christmas, a holly jolly Christmas. With this upbeat culture, Christmas
is a time for friends and family to gather and enjoy the Christmas season. But is Christmas the
most wonderful time of year? For different groups, Christmas can be a cause for unhappiness and
a catalyst for stress. The mom, who doesnt have enough money to buy her children gifts,
stresses over the need to find a source of income. The salesman, who works overtime to bring in
an expected Christmas revenue, spends countless of late nights working long past closing. The
person who doesnt celebrate Christmas must endure more than a month of listening to peoples
heartfelt passion for the holiday. When looking at Christmas from a broader lens, there are two
groups that have different experiences of Christmas religious and non-religious. Most
Americans can relate to one of these two groups. A persons worldview obviously has an impact
on the way a person views their Christmas experience. With regards to happiness, these two
groups have different understandings of what leads to happiness. Many studies that try to
quantify happiness use the idea of subjective well-being as a method of measurement because it
measures life satisfaction. Subjective well-being (SWB) is defined as a persons cognitive and

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affective evaluations of his or her life (Albuquerque). Although there is some agreement
between the two groups on things that lead to happiness, the differences can lead to a different
experience of Christmas. But, to what extent does the religious experience of Christmas lead to
more happiness than a non-religious experience of Christmas? A religious experience of
Christmas capitalizes on the benefits of Christmas and helps negate the negative aspects of
Christmas. Religion promotes reflection and the act giving and demotes materialism. The
religious experience defines concrete ways to shift from a focus on materialism to that focuses
on appreciation and improving relationships through an accumulation of the ideas of inclusion,
family, and generosity.
Faith establishes concrete characteristics that help to define a certain way of life
ultimately leading to happiness. Religious groups and organizations have specific rituals and
practices that help the religious worship in a specific way. These healthy characteristics help give
a person a defined meaning in life an easy answer to the question of the meaning of life. In
Michael Mutzs Christmas And Subjective Well-Being: A Research Note he notes aspects for
religious people that are reinforced through the involvement of their faith, including but not
limited to, compassion, charity, forgiveness, renunciation of violence as well as of indulgence.
These aspects of faith are deepened through participation in religious activities such as services,
prayer, and volunteering (Mutz). In a different study that deals with the purpose of life and how
it affects the relationship between happiness and religiosity, Naser Aghabaei compares religiosity
and subjective well-being to find a link between the two. The findings of the experiment
reaffirmed that of previous studies where people who lived by religious values like, humanity,
compassion, and love lived better than those who use religion to gain something socially
psychological (829). So, people who practiced their religion were happier. Anne Berthold and

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Ruch Willibald in Frontiers in Psychology compares life satisfaction and the character strengths
of religious people, non-practicing religious people, and non-religious people. The strengths that
are tested include characteristics like gratitude, kindness, and forgiveness (876). This study
aimed to reaffirm the correlation between practicing religion and subjective well-being
(satisfaction). Results found that by practicing religion, participants greater life satisfaction,
stronger character strengths, and better evaluation of the meaning of life (Berthold; Willibald
876). With the evidence of three studies, there is obviously a correlation between faith and
happiness. Characteristics like compassion, charity, and kindness are promoted by a religion and
contribute to the happiness of an individual.
Social connection through religion also creates a strong social climate that leads to a
feeling of inclusion. Many psychological studies have found that the feeling of inclusion has a
direct relationship to ones life satisfaction. Religion creates an easily accessed and welcoming
social group where an individual can feel included. In Randell Collins religious research, he
discusses the importance of aspects of religion that are involved with sociological controversies,
most notably membership. He argues that religious rituals create a community that facilitates
membership (5). These ceremonial rituals put a certain pressure on individuals to be moral and
conform to the aspects of religion that bring happiness (Collin 6). The religious practices have
four outcomes: feeling group solidarity, creating symbols, igniting emotional energy that leads to
moral action and establishing standards for good and bad (Collin 6). When people partake in
religious activities, they create this sense community that provides them with moral common
moral standards and understandings. For instance, the catholic church has the sacraments like
baptism, confirmation, and reconciliation to help deepen a relationship with God. It builds a
sense of family through the idea of church. In fact, the Catholic Church coins the term Catholic

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which means universal. This sense of a universal family helps the practicing or non-practicing
Catholics feel part of something greater. In another study examining the effect of attendance
with a religious service and happiness, Rodney Stark and Jared Maier examine the social
relationship effect (123). The effect argues that religious attendance is superior to the intensity
of belief (Stark; Maier 123), because social interaction and relationships develop at religious
events. Interestingly, the study found that people that who felt close to God were twice as
likely to be happy. Although feeling close to God, doesnt explicitly measure belief, it could
be perceived as a nearness to God where this nearness is a type of social relationship which
ultimately steers people away from loneliness (Stark; Maier 124). People may also want to
partake in religious rituals because the rituals are a mark of high social status (Collin 8) which
only furthers motivation to practice religious beliefs. The practicing religious would have a
social status superior to that of their cohorts leading to a more stable social life and a feeling of
inclusion. Daro Pezs experiment supports this claim when his finding showed that, High
frequency of participation in ritualized family celebrations increased positive well-being
Satisfaction with rituals had an impact on positive affect, satisfaction with life and positive
family climate, while participation frequency was more relevant for social support and lower
loneliness level (373). Religious participation leads to greater subjective well-being by creating
a family for the participants, developing positive relationships for the individual, combating
loneliness, and increasing the feeling of inclusion.
When looking at the happiness of Christmas, one aspect that leads to greater subjective
well-being is the use of reflection. Reflection after the Christmas season allows an individual to
better appreciate their festive experiences. In a 1987 article for the New York Times, Carole
Garibaldi lists some of the little things that lead to a happy Christmas, The pleasures of

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Christmas include the sound of the familiar carols, the taste of fruitcake, plum pudding and
marzipan, the sights of colored lights flickering and glowing. After Christmas is over it gives a
person time to think and reflect (31). The pleasures of Christmas are familiar for most people
when they enjoy a delicious meal or intricate light displays. But those who are happiest take the
time to reflect and appreciate the holidays. The Christmas season is constantly filled with events,
traditions, and social gatherings. The happiness of these events and special times will dissipate
without taking the time to reflect and note the positives aspects of the season. Garibaldi voices
her personal experience, In January, I must retreat, be alone, find a new perspective Mankind
has always gone from feasts and festivals into periods of fasting and meditation. After Christmas
is the realization of the passage of time (31). By reflecting on the Christmas season, she can
enjoy the little parts of Christmas that would normally get passed over in the rush of Christmas.
Reflection adds meaning to the appreciation of the festive rituals of Christmas.
Not only does reflection help develop a merry Christmas but also the act of giving brings
many individuals great joy. According to Tekle Shanka and Brian Handley, when individuals
give it helps to develop and solidify the relationship with the recipient. The act of giving has two
motivations. First, giving forms social networks based on feelings of moral obligation
(Shanka; Handley 360). Second, giving happens to exercise power or influence, along with their
potential to express friendship or solidarity (Shanka; Handley 360). Giving at Christmas
parallels these two classifications of giving. Obviously, Christmas focuses on giving gifts which
can compare to giving to express friendship or solidarity, but the season also pushes for giving of
time through volunteering activities. Virginia Bentz, as referenced in Squeezing Stress from the
Season, discusses the influence of volunteering on a childs perspective of Christmas. She says,
Volunteering their [the childrens] time to help others will help them understand that the

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holidays arent only about getting gifts, attending parties, and eating holiday treats. spending
time being a part of others Christmas experience allows for a greater appreciation of ones own
Christmas. This gift of time through volunteering classifies as the giving because of moral
obligations. Christmas helps to fulfill this moral obligation. Giving during Christmas would, in
this case, help to strengthen familial relationship, and create fond memories within the family.
These relationships can further be strengthened if families were to volunteer their time together
(Bentz). They would appreciate their own Christmas more and increase their collective
subjective well-being.
Although many aspects of Christmas lead to happiness, materialism leads to a stressful
and unhappy experience of Christmas. The financial situation of Christmas can lead to many
stressful experiences. Many families feel financial pressure when buying gifts for family or
friends because they will go into debt to purchase expensive gifts (Kasser; Sheldon 315). Others
find that Christmas shopping itself is a stressful reality because they must find the perfect gift for
an important person in their life (Scarlett). In other cases, it is less a financial burden and more
the burden of decorating for Christmas and leaving preparations till the last minute that causes
stress (Scarlett). Some people even stress about deciding who they want to spend the holiday. In
one study, 11% of people said they would rather spend the holiday with their friends (Scarlett)
which can create a conflict of interest within a family. These stressful situations are created by
focusing on the monetary aspects of Christmas. Sadly, people stress over traditions whose sole
purpose is to strengthen relationships and bring people together. Giving gifts should be a positive
aspect of Christmas. Michael Mutz supports this idea when he finds in his experiment that, In
the aftermath of Christmas, subjective well-being is not particularly positive, but again
converging to its annual mean level. This finding may suggest that it is particularly the Pre-

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Christmas hustle and not the Christmas holiday itself that has caused the short-term decline in
well-being. Buying gifts, making money for the holidays, and going into debt all lead to
financial stress during the Christmas season. However, obviously not all people that focus on the
material aspect of Christmas are unhappy and there are other reasons why people might be
unhappy during the Christmas season. First, for those who focus their entire lives on money,
fame, and power celebrities and large business owners money brings them happiness because
it brings them comfort (Kasser; Sheldon 325). Mutz also proposes the idea the people may be
less happy because of the weather or overindulgence in unhealthy actives like food, television, or
a lack of exercise. But ultimately when considering causes of unhappiness during Christmas, a
materialistic worldview would only hinder the problem.
Non-Religious people dont have as happy of Christmas because they dont have a
religious experience. Religion provides a way to capitalize on the happiness of Christmas and to
negate the negatives of Christmas. This is the result of a greater appreciation for the holiday
season. Sadly, reality seems to be like Mutz argues, organized commercialism has become
sacred, and the religious experience of Christmas has lost a good deal of its sacred character.
Religious thought allows for an exception of this organized commercialism and focuses on the
experience of Christmas. His study found that Christians were the exemption to feeling
depressed before the Christmas season (1). Aspects of religion like family and spirituality are
core aspects of the Christmas season, people with these types of experiences meet the dominant
social expectations of the season, thus may be happy (Kasser; Sheldon 324). Religious aspects
like compassion, charity, gratitude, and kindness, which are promoted by religion, are also key
aspect towards a western expectation of Christmas. People are expected to be generous and
gracious towards other people during Christmas time. Because the religious are already fulfilling

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their social expectation, they do not have the same social strain as non-religious people where
they may not practice these attributes through rituals. A religious view of Christmas also changes
the focus of the season from materialism to appreciation. Like Garibaldi said in her article,
slowing down after Christmas gives a person to reflect on the positives of Christmas. Religion
again facilitates this by encouraging people to take the time to slow down and be quiet prayer.
A non-religious person could have a harder time slowing down because they dont have
something concrete like prayer to fall back onto and reflect. This doesnt rule out the fact that
non-religious people have their own way to meditate. With regards to inclusion, religion, and its
practices, can make an individual feel like a member of a family. In Michael Schmitts study,
where Christians and non-Christians were tested for their mood and sense of inclusion when
there was or lack thereof a Christmas display. Results showed that when non-Christians and noncelebrators were in the presence of a display, their mood decreased (Schmitt; Davies; Hung;
Wright; Fraser 1021). This seems to be due to these groups feeling out of place or reminded that
they do not celebrate Christmas with practicing Christians. This only self-perpetuates the
problem of unhappiness for non-celebrators and increases the feeling of inclusions of celebrators,
because they know they are part of the socially accepted group. Religion promotes this sense of
inclusion with the large group of people that are a part of the Christmas celebration. Religion
facilitates a happier Christmas because it provides concrete ways to be happy during Christmas
and concrete ways to avoid the negative aspects of Christmas.
A happy Christmas includes all the little things like setting up a Christmas tree, caroling,
watching the same Christmas movie years after year, eating a Christmas dinner, and visiting with
family and friends. However, the stress of Christmas can at times be overwhelming with the
financial strains and the feeling of exclusion. Religion makes for a happier Christmas experience

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because it promotes and the same characteristics promoted by Christmas - giving, compassion,
family, etc. Religion helps to keep the focus on the appreciation of the season where without a
non-religious understanding of the season leads to a materialistic view. Rituals, prayer,
ceremonies, and genuine gifts all help add to the appreciation of the holiday. This change in
focus also manifests through the improvement of relationships through the social family that
religion provides as well as the focus on giving to others. Encouraging people to have a more
religious experience understanding of Christmas could help lead to greater happiness. People
dont have to be religious, but switching the focus from money to the idea of developing
relationships and appreciation of the season would reduce stress and lead to an improved
subjective well-being.

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Works Cited
Aghababaei, Naser Purpose in life mediates the relationship between religiosity and happiness:
evidence from Poland Mental Health, Religion & Culture, vol. 17, no. 8, 2014, pp. 827831.
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Albuquerque, Brian. "Subjective Well-Being" Positive Psychology UK, n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2016.
http://positivepsychology.org.uk/pp-theory/happiness/106-subjective-well-being.html.
Berthold, Anne, and Willibald Ruch. Satisfaction with Life and Character Strengths of NonReligious and Religious People: Its Practicing Ones Religion That Makes the
Difference. Frontiers in Psychology 5 (2014): 876. PMC. Web. 25 Oct. 2016.
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Christmas makes us anxious; Financial worries make Christmas a stressful experience for many
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Collins, Randell. The Four M's of Religion: Magic, Membership, Morality and Mysticism
Springer, vol. 50, no. 1, 2008., pp. 5-15.
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Garibaldi, Carole "The Happiness of Christmas is made of Fragile Moments." New York Times
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Kasser, Tim, and Kennon M. Sheldon. "What Makes for a Merry Christmas?" Journal of
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"'Mindfulness an Excellent Strategy to Manage the Stress of Christmas' Claims Ontario
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Mutz, Michael Christmas And Subjective Well-Being: A Research Note Applied Reasearch in
Quality of Life, 2015, pp. 1-16. http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11482-015-94418.
Pez, Daro Merry Christmas And Happy New Year! The Impact Of Christmas Rituals On
Subjective Well-Being And Family's Emotional Climate Revista De Psicologa Social,
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