7 Ways Holiday Traditions Boost Your Memory
Most of us have long-lasting memories when it comes to our childhood holidays. Some of these memories are quite predictable. They’re tied to traditions that have been passed down for generations—just their occurrence evokes emotion and thus, remembrance. While others may stick in our minds because they’re just the slightest bit out of the ordinary. An unexpected guest, a turkey left in the oven too long, a missed flight.
Memories are strengthened not because of what we do but how we do it. Meaning, many times the simple action isn’t enough for our brain to get to work cataloguing the details away. To make moments and anecdotes -- even data -- memorable, your brain must set it apart and offer some sort of significance.
This is exactly what happens when you’re remembering a holiday tradition. As your brain gets to work storing these special moments away this holiday season, take a moment to notice why these memories are so easy to make (and hold onto!). Then, you can apply these 7 memory boosting factors to other things you may want to remember.
Here’s how holiday traditions boost your memory –
Less Anxiety
Every day life is hectic and full of unknown factors. However, during the holidays we know exactly what to do and what is expected from us. Having holiday traditions means there’s an order to how things get done and this provides a relaxed sense of control, structure, and constancy.
Research shows that the act of remembering is made easier when we’re feeling calm. This sense of ritual and order is an easy way for us to feel less anxious and allows our brain to get to work snapping memorable “photos” to tuck away for later.
Special Meals
Most holiday traditions wouldn’t be complete without a festive meal. Not only does creating ritual around your food help it to taste better, but these meals can help to tether important memories to your consciousness.
The role of smell is the main reason food is able to create this tether. There’s a close connection between your olfactory system and the part of your brain responsible for memories. Studies have even found that damage to a “memory center” in the brain can impair your ability to smell.
Putting a Twist on the Normal
A big reason our childhood memories are so unforgettable is that, many times, something extraordinary was accompanying the mundane. We may have been to a department store many times…but never to see a jolly old man in a red suit. We ate dinner every night…but never with a beautiful gold menorah shining bright.
This twist on our usual routine isn’t always extravagant but it IS outside the expected. And this is the perfect set of circumstances for making memories last.
Gist Memories
Because of the repetition of holiday traditions, oftentimes we form a “gist memory,” which means our brain uses all the information it has about that particular occurrence to create a composite. We may not remember the specific time or all the peripheral details, but we’re still able to draw upon the “gist” to access the information needed.
Learning to draw upon our composite memories can be a useful skill to have, especially if we’re put on the spot in a conversation or need to practice quick recall.
Reminiscing
Another reason our holiday traditions are so memorable? We spend time thinking about them. This is called reminiscing and it has a stronger impact on your brain than you might think. In fact, reminiscence therapy is often used with dementia patients to help maintain their access to memories and improve their quality of life.
Essentially, a holiday get-together may be exciting enough that we want to continually replay the details in our mind. However, this practice of “watching things back” can be applied to other, less thrilling aspects of life, too.
Peak-End Rule
According to the Nobel Laureate Daniel Kahneman, when we evaluate past experiences, we remember the best moments and the last moments. This is called “Peak-End Rule.”
Generally, our family holidays are chock-full of good times – delicious food, funny conversations, relatives you haven’t seen all year, and presents. Because the peaks are plenty, we forget less.
Document and Revisit
Finally, we love documenting our holiday traditions. Whether for our family photo albums or an Instagram post, that big holiday soiree will likely result in a photo or two. Research shows that to remember specific details of a major event, it’s helpful to revisit what happened as soon as possible and then regularly afterwards. What better way to do that than with images and videos?
The more you reinforce a memory, the longer it will be accurately etched in your brain. Utilizing new senses to do this (i.e. looking at a photo or listening to a recording), makes it so the frequent revisiting isn’t boring, but fun!
Experts say, rehashing a memory in your mind a few times every day for a week will improve your long-term recall of any event.
There are so many reasons to value your holiday traditions. Research indicates that these rituals offer positive psychological benefits, help us have fun, unite us with our friends and family, and give a break from our everyday lives. But they also allow for powerful and long-lasting memories. And it’s the creation of these holiday memories that could unlock the blueprint for making more memories all year long!
Written by the wonderful Beth Berger for Team Wintersoul.