Nostalgic Christmas videos go viral on TikTok

Do you feel especially sad when thinking about vacation? Christmas videos and photos of collective childhood memories from the ’80s, ’90s and early aughts are going viral on TikTok—and there’s a reason it’s happening right now.

The nostalgic holiday footage that has gone viral consists of grainy, low-resolution footage shot on VHS camcorders or disposable cameras: children celebrating TV announcements of Snow Day, families browsing now-closed toy stores like FAO Schwarz, scenes from A Charlie Brown Christmas and blink. , tinsel Christmas tree.

The nostalgic visuals combined with classic Christmas carols have won over many TikTok users, especially parents.

“Force your children to live like this.”
“Let’s make sure kids get that experience.”
“Kids today will never know.”
“Is it just me, or do Christmas trees not light up like they used to?”
“I want the holidays to be as magical for my child as they are for me.”
“Everything used to have to be ‘aesthetic’ and it was just magical and joyful.”
“Let your children live Christmas like it was in the 90s.”
“Can we all just recreate this for our kids?”

Why do nostalgic Christmas videos bring out our inner child?

“Feelings of nostalgia tend to increase during times of crisis,” Rachel D. Robnett– says assistant professor of psychology at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. TODAY.com. For example, Robnett says, during an election campaign or a pandemic.

“In psychology, nostalgia was originally a bad thing—a ‘sickness of the mind’ like depression and melancholia, rooted in a combination of homecoming and pain,” says Robnett. “Literature is actually more positive: it seems that nostalgia can be a stabilizing force that makes people feel comfortable. One potential reason is that it reminds us of our true selves, which is associated with increased well-being.”

She adds, “Nostalgia also reminds us of our relationships and community, which is a good way to combat loneliness.”

Universal symbolism—songs we all know and love, traditions, and mass marketing—can make us feel like we are part of something bigger and better.

“We tend to romanticize the past and focus more on the good times than the bad,” says Robnett. “One example is childbirth: if we all remembered how difficult it is, we might not have children anymore.”

Robnett distinguishes the aforementioned “personal nostalgia” (thoughts about positive core memories) from “historical nostalgia.” poeticization of a time period no one has personally experienced this. “Historical nostalgia – for example, when people yearn for life in the 1950s …may be rooted in dissatisfaction with the present moment,” she says.

The current craze for holiday nostalgia on TikTok is likely driven by Generation Z, those born after 1997.

“Gen Z consumes a lot of nostalgic content,” says Robnett. “They seem to see the early 2000s as a lighter, simpler time,” even though many were in diapers back then. Robnett says poor quality footage on social media reminds people of a time when “things weren’t so polished and accurate.”

If you love the vintage vibe and want your kids to experience what you call a “real Christmas”, enjoy!

“There’s nothing wrong with getting lost in Christmas pictures,” says Robnett. “Researchers have found that people who are encouraged to feel nostalgia perceive a stronger sense of social connection and are more likely to seek social support if they are going through a tough time.”