The surprising science of backyard bonfires

Here’s why: Bonfires are more than just celebratory; they’re therapeutic.  

• Neuroscientists have found that low, rhythmic sensory stimulation — like flickering flames — can induce a meditative state. Some people call this “being in the flow,” and it can boost overall mental health and reduce cognitive fatigue.
• Bonfires are also inherently soothing. In one study, participants watched a video of either a bonfire, a forest, or a conference room. The people who watched the bonfire were evaluated as being calmer afterward vs. the other groups (yes, even those who did virtual forest-bathing). Another study suggests that bonfires can even lower blood pressure, with their distinctive scent contributing to the chill-out effect.
• The warmth, the crackling sounds, the soft light is a total sensory experience (bonus points for ‘smores) that can help you sleep better at night. Bonfires deliver light in a way that is dimmer and warmer than typical overhead lighting or the LED screens so many of us watch. Backyard fires don’t interfere with melatonin production and our circadian rhythms the way those other sources do. That means you can drift off more easily when in bed.

There’s also the unadorned joy of gathering in the dark with others, outdoors under the stars. When I show up at my neighbor’s bonfire every year, with a locally made rhubarb pie, a bag of marshmallows, and a bottle of wine, the first thing I do is hug my neighbors. We grab camping chairs and watch the sun dip behind the mountains. The smell of the freshly mown grass, the lilacs in full bloom, and the robins chirping their goodnights to one another makes the evening feel like a Disney fairytale. 

Within minutes of the fire being lit, I feel a palpable shift happening. Here’s why: Sitting by a bonfire, according to research, creates shared experiences around a visual focal point, which can build feelings of emotional connection, belonging, and community. Some mental health organizations even use bonfires as a regular part of group therapy. 

At my neighbor’s bonfires, I’ve noticed that as the flames shot higher, every single person was engaged in real conversation. In our virtual age, talking like this has almost become a lost art, but here it happens — a small community, bonding over a bonfire, with no one checking their phones. It makes me think, I need more of this. We all do.