There is a sense of warmth that transcends just the heat, but rather coexists with the feeling of comfort and vulnerability.
Whether it’s with friends on a cabin trip, under the stars, or in the backyard on a patio, sitting by the fire creates a space that many have associated with a deep sense of comfort.
Fire emits heat to cold bodies and illuminates the night sky. It has been a source of energy for centuries. Its importance in our world mostly surrounds its practical use. However, it transcends practicality and plays a role in our emotional lives.
Many have felt that being in the presence of a crackling fire makes them more vulnerable and more likely to initiate deep conversations. This experience has been referred to as “The Campfire Effect.”
Most of the deeper, more meaningful conversations I have experienced in my life have almost always taken place in the presence of a fire. My friends and I sat outside, surrounded by a campfire that we spent hours trying to keep alive. Our faces were shadowed by the night, but a flicker of light shone in our eyes, or a smile appeared on our faces as we watched the orange fire roar to life.
Perhaps that is why people feel more comfortable opening up to one another—because they feel more at ease sharing truths that have been hidden.
Fire has been a source of comfort and protection since the early days of human existence. Early humans used fire to keep themselves warm, protect themselves from predators, and cook food. Even in prehistoric times, fire has shaped our history and spanned generations.
As a result, humans today tend to feel a similar affinity for fire, which helps them feel safer and more protected in its presence. This extends beyond a physical fire, as evidenced by online videos of fireplace ambience that garner millions of views.
In a 2014 study conducted by Christopher Dana Lynn, a professor of biocultural medical anthropology at the University of Alabama, it was found that watching a hearth fire or campfire reduced blood pressure. The study concluded that blood pressure decreased when individuals were shown fire with sounds like crackling, which enhanced the effects of empathy, altruism, and a sense of community.
Even some therapists have found that watching flames flicker and dance sporadically can help individuals achieve a deeper sense of calm, which may be therapeutic.
When we do end up camping somewhere, for example, in a cabin, there are other ways to keep warm. They can sit inside their heated cabins or put electric heaters outside.
However, most choose to create a comforting atmosphere cultivated by fire. Camps use fire to create bonds, share stories, and foster a sense of community—youth sitting by a campfire, sharing scary stories, and ultimately building connections in those moments.
The importance of fire as a place for sharing stories transcends just this century, but is found in cultures all over the world.
Indigenous storytellers utilized fire for various reasons. Whether it was for hunting, conducting a “cultural burning” to clear underbrush, or sharing ancestral stories, fire has long been a symbol of life, renewal, and gathering.
In a way, we are moths to a flame, drawn by the warmth, community, and emotion that this almost miraculous phenomenon evokes.