Greetings and best wishes for Christmas from all of us at Wonderopolis! What thoughts come to mind when you think of Christmas? For some, it’s the sight of beautifully-wrapped presents sitting under the Christmas tree. Others think of the special moments spent with loved ones, celebrating the birth of Jesus. Some may even imagine Santa Claus sliding down the chimney, where stockings are carefully hung.
If you were to express your mental images of Christmas through a drawing, it is likely that you would use two crayons more than any others: red and green. For many centuries, red and green have been the customary colors associated with Christmas. But how did this tradition come about?
Although Christmas trees are green and Santa’s suit as well as Rudolph’s nose are red, these modern holiday decorations and characters were not the inspiration behind the colors we now associate with Christmas. To trace their origin, we need to go back much further in time.
While no one knows for certain how and why red and green became closely connected with Christmas, there are several popular theories. Many Christians believe that red and green were influenced by the life of Jesus, whose birth is celebrated on Christmas. For instance, green represents the eternal life of Jesus Christ, just as evergreen trees stay green throughout the winter season. Similarly, red symbolizes the blood shed by Jesus Christ during his crucifixion.
Some scholars trace the tradition of red and green at Christmas back to the 1300s, when churches would present Miracle Plays, religious plays that aimed to teach a mostly illiterate public who could not read the Bible.
One well-known Miracle Play performed on Christmas Eve was titled The Paradise Play. It recounted the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Those familiar with the story know that God instructed Adam and Eve not to eat the fruit from the Tree of Good and Evil. However, they disobeyed and were subsequently banished from paradise.
Since apple trees were not fruitful in winter, churches would bring in pine trees instead and attach apples to their branches to symbolize the Tree of Good and Evil. Over time, people began to adopt this practice in their own homes, leading to the tradition of the Christmas tree and the use of red and green as Christmas colors.
Many historians believe that the use of red and green goes even further back in history. They point to the ancient Roman celebration of Saturnalia, which honored the god Saturn and took place annually between December 17 and December 23. During this celebration, Romans would adorn their homes with holly and place small figurines called sigillaria on the branches of evergreen trees. Eventually, the evergreen leaves and red berries came to symbolize the joyful and festive season.
Give It a Try
We hope you had a vibrant Christmas! Make sure to explore the following activities with a friend or family member:
Looking to get creative with your holiday decorations this year? Check out the article “15 Spectacular Christmas Palettes Beyond Red and Green” for some unique color schemes. Share your favorite palettes with a friend or family member and try something different this year!
Have you ever thought about the colors associated with other holidays? Discuss the color schemes of Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Easter with someone you know. Why do you think certain colors are linked to specific holidays?
Feeling up for a challenge? Create your own holiday! Pick a date, decide what you’re celebrating, and choose colors to represent your new holiday. How will you choose which colors to use? Share your holiday idea with friends and family and invite them to celebrate with you!
For more information and inspiration, check out these sources:
– http://www.whychristmas.com/customs/colors-of-christmas.shtml
– http://www.colorcombos.com/the-importance-of-christmas-colors-article.html
– http://www.mainlinemedianews.com/articles/2013/12/09/main_line_times/opinion/doc52a1ef749b269540114458.txt?viewmode=fullstory
– https://suite.io/nicole-skutelnik/12f72k3
– http://www.express.co.uk/life-style/top10facts/547268/Top-10-facts-about-Saturnalia
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