Why does major sound happy and minor sound sad/scary (in general)?

Obviously, there exceptions, but I have always wondered why we associate music in a minor key with sadness and music in a major key we associate more with happiness. This is seen in almost every genre of music.

Is it just because western music has traditionally attached sadness and heaviness with minor and we’re used to it? But then why was it attached to that in the first place? And why does it continue? I cannot listen to a song in a major key like this and think “sadness”. Just doesn’t work.

For me, the most sentimental sounding songs are the ones that constantly switch between minor and major, such as “Le Jardin Feerique” by Maurice Ravel.

Just something I was thinking about.