I crave a fireplace when the outdoors is too cold and unwelcoming for my tastes. Unfortunately, the closest I get to one is at a local restaurant when I’m lucky enough to snag a fireside table. Otherwise, I rely on random tabletop lights and a few well-placed light strands left over from Christmas.
I’m not alone in my desire to enjoy a toasty fire, and there’s history and evolution behind it, according to the following story from Cleveland Clinic.
-Marie Elium
Whether it’s under a starry sky on a summer night or as the snow falls in the winter, many people enjoy the simple pleasure of sitting fireside. But why is that?
“Sitting by a fire is a multi-sensory experience. We listen to the sound of the fire crackling, feel the warmth against our skin, inhale the aroma of the fire. All of these things help us to feel very comforted and relaxed,” says Susan Albers, PsyD, a psychologist for Cleveland Clinic.
Dr. Albers says it is deeply rooted in our evolutionary history, so it’s no surprise that many of us are drawn to the flames. But it’s not just our ancestral past that plays a role. One study found that sitting by the fire as it crackles can lower blood pressure.
“And that can make a person feel more relaxed and at ease. It can also make us feel nostalgic. Maybe it reminds you of camping as a kid and eating s’mores, or sipping on hot chocolate with your family at Christmas.
All of these experiences and memories can trigger the release of feel-good chemicals in the brain, whether they’re serotonin, dopamine or endorphins. All of these are pleasure chemicals that help us to feel good and boost our mood,” says Dr. Albers.
There are other ways to get that comforting experience if you don’t have a fireplace at home. Options include playing a video of a fireplace on your TV, lighting some candles or hanging up some twinkling lights.
