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Many people have favorite rituals for wrapping up the holiday season. Behind the fun and nostalgia of purposefully closing out the year lies a wealth of health benefits.

Participating in holiday traditions such as celebrating Christmas, the New Year, and Thanksgiving—or performing simple everyday rituals such as taking morning walks or following bedtime routines—can meaningfully boost mental and physical health.Rituals Versus HabitsAt first glance, rituals and habits appear similar, but they are fundamentally different at their core.We had a problem loading this article. Please enable javascript or use a different browser. If the issue persists, please visit our help center.