A psychological concept called rosy retrospection bias may also be at play when we reflect on happy childhood memories, making us yearn to return to the place we grew up (and possibly remember our dad’s roasties as better than they really are). “We overemphasise the positive things we remember from our childhoods, and pay less attention to the aspects of ‘home home’ that we may have found difficult or frustrating,” says Moore.

Overall, a sense of soothing predictability is at the heart of what makes something feel like ‘home home’. Going home for the festive season may be comforting precisely because it’s so repetitive, loaded with traditions, rituals and moments that are unique to each family, but rarely change from year to year. From the moment the Ring doorbell alerts you to the arrival of the neighbours for the annual drinks party, to the heated inter-family debate about the monarchy that always kicks off after the Queen’s Speech, the Christmas period tends to tick along to a deeply familiar rhythm.

“Human beings are constantly thinking about how we can manage the future,” says Moore. “If we don’t know what’s about to happen, we have to be alert and watchful – and that can be exhausting. We find routine comforting and relaxing because we can switch off when we feel as though we can predict what’s going to happen next.”

The joy of coming home: this is the psychology behind returning to the nest