Many people buy excessive Christmas gifts, ornaments, trees, house decorations, and more. We have a friend who engages in this Christmas spirit, and I have permission to use her name, Linda Lugar, from Carmel, Indiana. Linda has three Christmas trees, multiple teddy bears under the trees, and life-size Santas. Also, her Christmas collection of Spode dinnerware features the holiday tree. Why do Linda and many others embrace Christmas in this enthusiastic way? In fact, there are neuropsychological underpinnings.

1. Identity. Any collector sees her or his collection as an extension of themselves. It showcases their values, interests, and passions.
For Linda, the Christmas collection reinforces her role as a festive, nurturing, and celebratory person, which I can confirm. The Santas, for example, symbolize warmth and joy—qualities that Linda embodies and projects.

2. Emotional........

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