Origins of the Colors of Christmas

Subject: Origins of the Colors of Christmas Thu Nov 06, 2008 2:12 pm

The colors most closely associated with the Christmas season are: red, white and green. Some say that this is because of the red and green plants of wintertime contrasting with the white snow.

Red: means love and reflects our warmth and love for each other. It is also the color that is considered the greatest excitement. As a religious symbol it stands for fire, blood, and charity. The holly berries and poinsettias are two winter plants traditionally used as Christmas decorations.

Green: means hope and the eternal longing for spring and all the promises of the future. Green is the symbol for nature, youth, and the hope of eternal life. It is for this reason that Christmas is a feast of hope, with a newborn child as its central symbol. Holly, pine trees, ivy, mistletoe are all plants closely associated with Christmas.

White: means purity and is represented by the crystalline form of water and the snowflake. White is the religious symbol which stands for light, purity, joy and glory. White is seen in the robes of Christmas angels, and in Santa’s beard, as well as in Christmas snow and snow flakes.