Cookie Decorating & The Science of Nostalgia
Date: Tuesday, Dec. 21
Time: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Who: Open to YMCA members and non members alike. All ages welcome.
Location: Eugene Family YMCA Don Stathos Campus | 600 E. 24th Ave
Space: Kalapuya Room
Cost: FREE
Why does the smell of a holiday cookie instantly transport us back in time?
Join us for a festive evening exploring the science of nostalgia and how memories, traditions, and shared experiences support our mental health and emotional well-being. Once dismissed as simple sentimentality, nostalgia is now linked to greater feelings of connection, comfort, meaning, and resilience, especially during times of change or stress.
The holidays can be a sweet season, a hard one, or a little of both. Whatever this time of year brings for you, you don’t have to go through it alone. Staying connected to others is one of the best things we can do for our mental well-being, and tonight we’ll come together as a community to share in some holiday sweetness.
Then get creative. No baking required! The cookies will be ready and waiting, so all you have to do is decorate. Share the stories behind your favorite family traditions and swap memories sparked by a favorite song, scent, or recipe. Cookies hold special memories for so many of us, and tonight we’ll be making new ones together. You’ll leave with decorated cookies to take home, warm memories, and a deeper appreciation for the moments that connect us.
Have a favorite cookie recipe you’d like to share? Bring copies for our Holiday Cookie Recipe Swap!
Come for the cookies, stay for the stories. Hot cocoa and sweet treats will round out the evening.
