Exploring the Fascinating History Behind the Traditional Colors of Christmas
Some people’s idea of a perfect Christmas is a tree laden with colorfully wrapped presents. For others, Christmas is a time to spend with loved ones in commemoration of Jesus’ birth. Some may picture Santa descending a chimney, filling stockings that have been meticulously hung.
It’s likely that if you had to depict what Christmas means to you, you’d use the colors red and green more than any others. Red and green have been the classic Christmas colors for centuries. And you probably do not know why.
Though modern holiday symbols like Christmas trees, Santa Claus, and Rudolph all have similar hues, they weren’t the original motivation. We need to look far further back in time if we want to discover their origin.
There are several widely held hypotheses as to why and how the colors red and green have been so strongly connected with Christmas, but no one knows for sure. Red and green are commonly associated with Christmas because many Christians think they were motivated by the birth of Jesus. In the same way as evergreen trees retain their lush green color throughout the winter, the color green can be seen as a symbol of Jesus Christ’s unending life. Red, like black, is symbolic of the blood Jesus Christ spilled for our sins.
The Symbolism and Origins of Red and Green Colors for Christmas
The use of red and green at Christmas has been traced back to the 1300s, when churches staged Miracle Plays to teach the Bible’s message to an uneducated population.
The Paradise Play was a well-known Christmas Eve Miracle Play. It was a retelling of the biblical account of Adam and Eve in Paradise. Those who are familiar with the tale know that God warned Adam and Eve against grabbing a bite from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. They ignored warnings and were consequently expelled from paradise.
To symbolize the Tree of Good and Evil, churches would bring in pine trees during the winter while apple trees were dormant and attach fruit to their branches. People then began doing the same thing in their own houses, which led to the creation of the Christmas tree and the adoption of the traditional Christmas color scheme of red and green.
A lot of historians think the use of red and green stretches back far further than that. The ancient Roman festival of Saturnalia was referenced; it was held annually from December 17th to the 23rd in honor of Saturn. Sigillaria, or miniature figurines, would be hung from the branches of evergreen trees and holly would be used to adorn Roman dwellings for the holiday. The evergreen foliage and crimson berries eventually became symbols of the holiday season.
Thinking of going beyond the traditional red and green for your holiday decorations this year? If you’re looking for some wonderful, non-traditional Christmas color schemes, check out the online article 15 Spectacular Christmas Palettes Beyond Red and Green. Can you rank your favorites from best to worst? If you want to decorate in a new way this year, why not swap your go-to items with a friend or relative?