I mean, when you think about it, Christmas is the most biophilic of all the seasons. We put a tree in our living rooms. A literal tree. It doesn’t get much more biophilic than that – whether it’s a real tree or a fake one (a natural analogue). And then we go further, naturalistically draping decorations all around the house – natural forms and fractal forms.
Hyggelig
But more than that, whichever hemisphere we’re in, things tend to get cosy at Christmas. We bring nature indoors certainly, but that process is surely about creating a cosiness, a family space, an inward-looking focus. It’s about protection and refuge – itself a key facet of “nature of the space”. If you’re Danish, then it’s the epitome of hyggelig, that undefinable quality those wise, crazy Scandis love so much.
Mystery
And then there’s presents. Again, in “nature of the space”, mystery is a main element. Sitting under the tree for days, wrapped in fractal-patterned paper, these amorphous shapes are the ultimate mystery to any child – or childlike person of any age.
Circadian Rhythms
But Christmas is so much more than the physical aspects, it’s about feelings. We slow down at this time of year, far more in tune with the rhythms of nature. And we tend to get out in nature far more too. In the southern hemisphere it’s to the beach or lake or river and in the northern hemisphere, wrapped up warm, we walk with family and friends across fields, down lanes, through woodlands, and the colder the better.
