Christmas Colors Discover the Christmas custom, story, myth and legend associated with the Christmas Colors. This festive tradition and Christmas custom, with its familiar symbol and meaning, has evolved over time. But what is the history, meaning and origin of the Christmas Colors? This article provides facts and information about the history of the Christmas Colors as a familiar symbol, tradition and Christmas custom.
The Religious History of the Christmas Colors Many symbols, customs and traditions have specific religious significance to the Christian religion and the Nativity of Jesus Christ, including Christmas colors. The most closely associate Christmas colors for the festive season are green and red. Green Christmas colors symbolizes nature, fertility, hope and bountifulness. Red Christmas colors symbolize the Holy Spirit and represents fire and is associated with power and importance. Crimson red also symbolizes the presence of God and the blood of martyrs. White symbolizes purity, virginity, innocence and virtue. It also symbolises holiness and is the Christian color for all high Holy Days of the Church Year, especially the seasons of Christmas and Easter.
The History and Origin of the Christmas Colors Green and Red are the colors which are most closely associated with Christmas. These Christmas colors may have their origins in the colors worn by the characters associated with Christmas. Saint Nicholas illustrated below was a Greek Orthodox Bishop who wore a vestment of red. The modern day Santa Claus is based in Saint Nicholas. The original illustrations of Father Christmas, or Santa Claus actually depicted him wearing a green coat. The pagan god Woden is strongly associated with green and customs surrounding this pagan religion revered evergreens as they were able to survive the winter and represent the renewal of life.
Picture of Saint Nicholas with children
The Meaning of the Christmas Colors The Symbolism of Colors in religion is a fascinating subject and different colors represent many different items of sacred significance. The meaning of the different colors are highly significant in the Christian Religion and are detailed as follows:
White symbolizes Purity, virginity, innocence and virtue. It also symbolises holiness and is the Christian color for all high Holy Days of the Church Year, especially the seasons of Christmas and Easter
Yellow colors symbolize renewal, hope, light and purity. Yellow is the Christian color for the season of Easter when used with white. When taken as an off-white color symbolizes degradation or cowardice
Orange colors symbolize courage, endurance and strength representing fire and flame
Green colors symbolize nature, fertility, hope and bountifulness. Green symbolizes freedom from bondage. Green is the Christian color for the season of Epiphany
Red colors symbolize the Holy Spirit and is the color of Pentecost. Red also represents fire and is associated with power and importance. Crimson red also symbolizes the presence of God and the blood of martyrs. It is the Christian liturgical color for Pentecost and represents atonement and humility
Black colors symbolize death, fear and ignorance and was also used to indicate authority and power. The color black is associated with Good Friday.
Brown colors symbolize the earth, poverty and humility and closely associated with monastic life
Blue colors symbolize heavenly grace. The Virgin Mary is often depicted wearing blue clothing. Blue also represents hope, good health and the state of servitude
Purple colors are always associated with Royalty, Purple togas were worn by the powerful Roman Emperors. The symbolic meaning of the color purple was for penitence and mourning and is the liturgical color for the seasons of Lent and Advent
Christmas Colors Christmas is celebrated worldwide, throughout the Christian population of approximately 2275 million people, but is also celebrated by many non-Christians as a secular, cultural festival. A Christmas custom or tradition is symbolized by a familiar symbol or icon, such as the Christmas Colors, have come to represent the spirit and meaning of this special time of the year.
Christmas Colors
Christmas Colors
Christmas Colors
The history, meaning and origin of this familiar symbol
Old Customs, Symbols and Traditions
Meaning and origin of this traditional Christmas custom
History, Facts and information about customs, symbols and traditions
Meaning, history and origin of traditional symbols
A Religious Christian meaning, Pagan origins or a Modern Christmas custom?
Christmas Colors
Christmas Colors
"Merry Christmas, have a happy and prosperous New Year!"