Do the holidays get real stressful for pets?

[Hawkee]

Since the holidays have begun my cat has now gotten a personality problem this week and I don't know why my cat has gotten a personality problem? Every time someone makes loud noises or someone raises their voice my cat freaks out and also another habit my cat has just started to do is meow all the time and sometimes he will start meowing and yowling as early as 6AM and wakes my mother up. The personality problems my cat has started having began after my mom put up the Christmas tree and every time he sees the Christmas tree he will go near it and hide as if he's in trouble. Another thing that annoys me about my cat since he developed this personality is that any loud noises that he hears freaks him out and he gets nervous and hides under Mom's bed. I seem to think that the holidays have made my cat nervous and freaking out but i've never knew that the holidays can get stressful for pets. What is the reason for my cat's new personality?
Bestie