To gain a greater appreciation of the colors of Christmas, one should look at them as symbols with religious and social significance. Red is the color of fire, which represents warmth. It is also the color of blood, the essence of life. Traditionally, red is used to represent charity and encourage action or arouse emotion. This symbolism easily applies to the festivities of Christmas. Everyone enjoys the warmth and charity of good fellowship during the season. Christmas is also the celebration of birth and life.
Green is symbolic of hope, youth and life everlasting. This is represented through the use of fir trees and plants that keep their leaves year round. Examples of these are the many evergreen varieties, holly and mistletoe used in Christmas decorations. Used since pagan times to celebrate the winter solstice, evergreens are rich in legend and folklore. Romans exchanged green boughs as a symbol of friendship and peace. Literature reveals a belief in the magical powers of the holly branch as a symbol that wards off evil and promises everlasting life. Mistletoe is the "Golden Bough" used as a charm to bring good fortune. Evergreens are an appropriate symbol for Christmas since Christ's birth brought the promise of everlasting life to mankind. The promise was delivered through the image of the Child, making green a perfect color for symbolizing youth.
Gold is used as the color to symbolize value and goodness. Gold is used in pictures of the Holy Family. It is the color of the halo of light about their heads. It is symbolic for the supernatural as seen in drawings of angels. It is the color of the Star of Bethlehem.
White is seen in nature. It is the color of the freshly fallen snow that colors a deadened earth. It is symbolic of purity -- the purity of the Christ Child and the purity of His mother, Mary.
Each Christmas color - red, green, gold and white - adds depth and dimension to the religious and social meanings of the Christmas season.
A Month of Reflection
9 months ago
