History and meaning of red and green

It’s the most wonderful time of the year – at least for Christmas lovers Anyway.

If you count yourself among them, then perhaps you have already chosen a Christmas tree, hung garlands and had a red and green holiday. decorations put on public display. After all, it’s the season.

Have you ever wondered why these particular shades—along with other Christmas colors like gold, white and purple—became associated with December 25th?

Very similar to orange and black symbolize Halloween, and red, white and pink – Valentine’s Day, Christmas has its own set of symbolic shades, and come for christmasthey can often be seen on everything from jewelry to holiday cards.

To explain the origins of these holiday hues, TODAY.com spoke with a couple of experts about why these colors are so important to our lives. Christmas holidaysdecorations, lighting, wrapping paper and just about everything else associated with the holiday season.

You might be surprised to learn that these colors are partly rooted in… Christianitynature and coca cola. Yes, you read that right – a soft drink.

Read on to learn about the meaning and history of Christmas colors, and by the time you’re done, you’ll have a new understanding of red, green, and gold.

Christmas colors and symbols

Meaning of red color

“No one knows exactly how red and green became the iconic color scheme of Christmas.” Laurie Sawayacolor strategist at The Land of Color and an expert in colorimetry, or the art and science of color, tells TODAY.com. “Theories abound.”

Sawaya says most Christians believe the color red symbolizes the blood of Christ’s crucifixion. And when it comes to the classic color combination, green symbolizes renewal and eternal life through Jesus, whose birth is celebrated on December 25th.

According to Sawayi, from a color psychology perspective, red demands visual attention and conveys dynamic, strong and confident feelings. Take Coca-Cola’s iconic 1930s advertising campaign for example: Santa’s bright red suit is just one example of this festive hue being used to grab everyone’s attention during the chaotic holiday season.

In fact, you might be interested to know that Coca-Cola is largely responsible for our modern image of Santa Claus.

According to soft drink manufacturerBefore 1931, Santa was depicted in a variety of ways, including a tall and thin man, as well as a tiny, scary-looking elf.

However, in 1931, Haddon Sundblom, an illustrator for Coca-Cola, created a round, jolly Santa Claus for an advertising campaign, and the image stuck. The bright red jacket-clad Santa in Sundblom’s drawings later became the basis for our modern interpretation of Santa Claus.

Green color meaning

Bob RichterThe vintage lifestyle expert and author of A Very Vintage Christmas and A Very Vintage Holiday says it’s hard to separate red and green because they “really are a typical Christmas color combination.”

“The best example of this is holly and ivy, which remain vibrant and abundant in the winter when other shrubs and trees have shed their leaves,” he tells TODAY.com. “Some say the holly is the child of Christ and the ivy is his mother Mary.”

The roots of holly and ivy being brought into the home go back to the Celts, who, according to Richter, used it to ward off evil spirits. “It was the Celts and/or Pagans who began bringing greenery to honor the changing seasons and bring life into their homes during the cold winter months.”

Christians eventually adopted this tradition, displaying the color green through wreaths, garlands and decorations. evergreen trees.

As for holly, Sawaya adds that it “symbolizes good luck, protection and prosperity in the new year.”

Many believe that modern commercialism has cemented red and green as the classic Christmas color palette. “Part of the magic of red and green is that each enhances the other because they are on opposite sides of the color wheel, making them complementary colors,” Sawaya told TODAY.com.

The meaning of gold color

Glittering gold is associated with Christmas because, as the story goes, the Three Wise Men brought gold, frankincense and myrrh to the “Christ Child.”

“Because gold is associated with great financial value, it is the color of prosperity and abundance,” says Richter. “Adding gold to your home for the holidays is a way to celebrate those gifts and invite more of them in.” Perhaps the most luxurious holiday color, it is often found in bows, ornaments, candlesticks and other sparkly decor.

“Gold can also be a metaphor for the Star of Bethlehem,” Richter adds.

Gold really has a way of making a holiday gathering feel instantly festive. As Sawaya notes, “Gold enhances the feeling of celebration and extravagance that many experience as the holidays transition into the new year.”

White color meaning

“Christmas is associated with the birth of Jesus, and the color white corresponds to God’s promise of eternal life, as well as the purity, hope and goodness that represent the life and death of Jesus,” says Sawaya.

Religious affiliations aside, the color white is naturally associated with freshly fallen snow in winter. For this reason, Richter adds that white decorations can be left out throughout the season, from cotton batting reminiscent of snowy landscapes to white lights that create an inviting glow.

“Even if white winter snow doesn’t cover where you live, it’s ubiquitous in decorations and greeting cards,” says Sawaya. “After all, you can dream of a white Christmas anywhere.”

The meaning of purple

“Purple is the color of royalty, and many (Christians) associate it with the King of kings, Jesus Christ,” Richter says. This explains why we often see the color purple during Advent, the four weeks before Christmas.

“Every week a purple candle is lit to symbolize the coming of Christ,” Richter continues. “Of course, adding the color purple adds richness to holiday decor and also creates a feeling of celebration and wealth.”

Purple has long been considered a regal and royal color because, as Sawaya explains, before 1856, purple dyes and pigments were rare and only the richest could afford them. Everything changed when chemistry student William Perkin, while working on a treatment for malaria at King’s College London, stumbled upon a method for producing a purple dye.

“The world and the color purple will never be the same,” says Sawaya. “Even though Perkin’s discovery democratized the color purple, it continues to be associated with wealth, royalty and mystery. No other color conveys the peculiarity and essence of sacredness as well as purple.”