Why Are Red And Green The Color Of Christmas?

Why Are Red And Green The Color Of Christmas?

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Globally, red and green are famously the colors that represent Christmas.

Whenever we see these two colors together, we automatically associate it with the holidays.

But why are there only these two colors and where does the association come from?

While no one knows for sure the origin of red and green during Christmas, there are many theories.

In this article, we will look at the possible reasons why they are the colors of the season.

Why is red and green associated with Christmas?

Christmas is the time of year where we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, but over the decades, exchanging gifts and spending time with family and friends has become more and more intense.

There are simple associations that make us think of these colors, Santa's outfit is red and a green Christmas tree.

But the use of these two colors appears even more.

In Christianity, it is taught that the red color represents the blood of Jesus when he was crucified, and that green represents Jesus' eternal life like an evergreen tree.

Some claim it comes from holly bushes, with red berries and dark green leaves as they thrive at that time of year.

Holly bushes are used to make wreaths that we hang on our doorstep during the holiday season, so they are a common sight this time of year.

There are plenty of links and stories that are supposed to be the reasons for the color choices on Christmas.

Some believe that color comes from more commercial influences.

Where did red come from in relation to Christmas?

Although red is the dominant color used at Christmas, it is still said that Coca-Cola was the one who made it the main color.

In 1931, Coca-Cola ads became more popular in magazines, especially as the holidays approached.

One of the first ads was delivered to illustrator Haddon Sundblom, with instructions for creating an ad featuring Santa drinking Coca-Cola.

Sundblom wants to create an image of real Santa, not someone dressed like Santa Claus.

This is a turning point in history because the illustration of Santa Claus is so lifelike that it becomes a representation of real Father's Christmas.

Santa wears red and since then, Coca-Cola has continued to advertise with its red branding and thus becomes a Christmas-related color.

Why is green associated with Christmas?

The association of green into Christmas doesn't have a defining moment as important as red.

Many associations go back to the flora and the concept of bringing evergreen trees indoors at Christmas.

The first document about bringing a tree into the house was in Roman culture when they celebrated the Saturnalia.

This ceremony honors Saturn and is held from December 17 to 23.

Tradition involves home decoration with holly and evergreen trees, which will be decorated with small drawings.

This is one of the oldest examples of trees being brought indoors during winter to decorate a home.

Green is widely associated with Christmas because we decorate our homes with trees, holly and mistletoe.

What other colors have been used at Christmas in history?

Victorian Christmas cards show that many different color combinations were paired when Christmas arrived.

The Victoria card uses a combination of colors such as red and green, red and blue, blue and green, blue and white.

The original decorations will come from natural elements found at that time of year on flora and fauna, which are available in a variety of colors.

Many species are still reflected today at Christmas such as snow, ice, robins, holly and mistletoe.

Santa Claus is even depicted wearing clothes of different colors, from red to green and blue.

It wasn't until 1931 when Christmas started to become a more commercial holiday and this was when greens and reds became the defining colors.

Like other holidays, Christmas has its traditions and its bonds.

Some are more recent than others but red and green have been the colors of Christmas for hundreds of years.

It seems that due to the commercialization of the holiday, it has resulted in these two colors being the most prominent around Christmas.

Like orange and black at Halloween, red and green have become the representative colors of that time of year.