Thanks to the Daily Mail for telling me what I already know…Great Christmas music puts me in a great mood, while Kenny G. Christmas music makes me want to tear down lights, stockings and Christmas trees everywhere.  Music really sets the holiday mood.  Just ask a scientist.

Do you have a favorite Christmas song? How about one you can’t stand - and I don’t just mean the cats and dogs doing Jingle Bells. Most of us do and researchers say that music is powerful enough to affect our feelings to such a degree that it can even influence how much money we'll give to charity.

Scientists from Japan had male and female students fill out a questionnaire describing their musical tastes and emotional experiences brought on by music. Each participant was then played a song they really liked, followed by a song they said they disliked, with each song being followed by a period of silence.  Each person was also given money and the discretion to share it or keep it.  You can probably take it from here.

People were found to share more money after hearing a song they liked, and be stingier after hearing a song they disliked. Researchers note, "Preferred music promotes altruistic behavior, whereas disliked music is associated with selfish behavior, and what differentiates these behaviors is the emotional response dictated by the listener's musical preferences." (Daily Mail)

Scott Brinegar/Disney Parks via Getty Images
Scott Brinegar/Disney Parks via Getty Images
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