Although the holiday season is celebrated as a time of joy and good tidings, as proclaimed by Christmas melodies, the stress of the season can also work to promote periods of depression, mental health experts say.Shopping, trimming the family tree, and cooking holiday favorites in the kitchen can often stir memories of years past and of friends and family no longer part of our lives.Knowing how to deal with holiday stress and activities can be important to keeping emotions intact and avoiding the pitfalls associated with depression, according to Bryan Herriman at CHEER Mental Health in McMinnville. Herriman provides some preventive measures that should be considered to help defend against holiday depression.First, it’s OK to remember the past, the good times, and old traditions but don’t try to recreate these times or happenings. Times change and things cannot always be as they once were.