It simply doesn’t feel like Christmas without having the halls (or whatever wall and counter space you do have) decked out in red and green Christmas decorations. But wait a minute: Why are red and green considered to be the traditional Christmas colors in the first place? And who made that decision? Well, that’s the golden question that so many people have Googled in search of answers. To save you from a super deep dive into the history of Christmas, we did the digging for you to explain the symbolism of Christmas colors, and why red and green are such a big part of one of the year’s most-anticipated holidays. After all, if you hang your festive Christmas ornaments up each year, don't you want to know the meaning behind their color palette? (And if you're looking to mix things up this year, we have plenty of blue Christmas decor ideas and rose gold Christmas decorations right here too!)
Why are red and green the traditional Christmas colors, and when were they first used to signify the holidays?
Red and green might be best known for their association with Christmas, but as it turns out, they were first linked to a different holiday: the winter solstice. (The history of the Christmas tree has roots in the winter solstice too.) Centuries ago, ancient Celtic people believed that holly plants brought beauty and good fortune in the middle of winter. As such, they’d regularly outfit their homes with the red and green plants as a way to promote a prosperous new year.
Over time, the Celtic habit of putting up red and green holly transformed into hanging red and green decorations as a whole. And thus, the idea of decking the halls with the merry colors became a passed down, well-known tradition across the world.
Are red and green religious Christmas colors?
It goes without saying that there are people all over the world who want to keep Christ in Christmas. As a result, one of the most-asked questions regarding the colors of the holidays revolve around whether or not they’re religiously significant. While many people flock to the colors each and every year solely out of habit and style sense, some Christians believe the hues (and, more specifically, the holly wreaths they’re derived from) to be symbolic of Jesus’ crown. Where the red berries represent Jesus’ blood, the spiky holly leaves are said to embody the crown of thorns that encircled his head on the cross.
Who made Christmas colors red and green in modern history?
By now you’re likely assuming that the only answers are Jesus and the ancient Celtics, but get this: Another big reason why red and green are such a major part of the holidays is thanks to—wait for it—Coca-Cola.
An advertising poster by Haddon Sundblom shows a young boy surprising Santa Claus.
In 1931, the cola company hired Haddon Sundblom, a Michigan-born illustrator, to bring Santa (not someone dressed up as Santa) to life in magazine ads. The result was a jolly, bearded man decked in red and white (his red outfitclosely matching Coca-Cola's red shade), surrounded by verbiage bordered in green. Sundblom’s ads—which showed Santa drinking co*ke, delivering presents, and interacting with children—ran from 1931 to 1964. And although there were many illustrators and cartoonists who drew Santa before these ads ran (like Thomas Nast of Harper's Weekly), these were the images that changed the way Americans imagined Santa and Christmas as a whole.
“It solidified in our collective imaginations the red of Santa's robes with the green of fir trees and holly and poinsettia that we already had in our minds... [As a result] this particular shade of red and green came to signify Christmas,” co-author of Secret Language of Color Arielle Eckstut tells NPR.
A drawing of Santa about to go down the chimney with a red bag of toys, by Thomas Nast for Harper’s Weekly, January 3, 1874.
What other Christmas colors hold religious symbolism?
While red and green top the charts during the jolliest time of year, gold, blue, and white often follow suit. Gold symbolizes the gift from the three wise men, blue represents Mother Mary and the rich blue robes she was often seen in as a result of her wealth, and white links to the purity of Jesus himself.
FAQs
Red is the blood of Jesus Christ, and green is the evergreen tree, representing eternal life as it stays this hue throughout the winter. These two colors also represent the leaves and holly berries embodying the crown of thorns on Jesus' head on the cross.
What do red and green symbolize? ›
Red is a color of vigor and energy. It represents passion, urgency and grabs instant attention. It can also cause you to feel hunger, which is why it is used in food and beverage logos. Green, on the other hand, is a color of peace, rejuvenation, nature, cleanliness, and fertility.
What are the top 3 Christmas colors? ›
The top 3 Christmas colors are red, green, and white. But there are many other colors that you can add to bring sparkle to your Christmas decorations. Each color has a special meaning and plays an important role in representing what this holiday is all about.
Who came up with the colors for Christmas? ›
The artist was Haddon Sundblom, and his ads were such a hit that co*ke continued working with him for decades. Eckstut says, "It solidified in our collective imaginations the red of Santa's robes with the green of fir trees and holly and pointsettia that we already had in our minds. ...
Are red and green the only Christmas colors? ›
Red and green are the classic Christmas colors, but they're not the only hues associated with the holiday—and each one has its own special meaning, says Randaci. It's definitely something to keep in mind when choosing Christmas ornaments and other assorted holiday decor.
Why did Santa change from green to red? ›
In 1902, Santa graced the cover of "The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus" dressed in green. But red eventually won out. Depictions from illustrator Norman Rockwell helped establish red as the color Santa donned best. Coca-Cola also affirmed Santa's signature red suit.
What does the green color of Christmas signify? ›
Sawaya says that most Christians believe red symbolizes the blood of Christ's crucifixion. And when it comes to the classic color combination, green represents renewal and eternal life through Jesus, whose birth is celebrated on Dec. 25.
What color does Christmas mean in church? ›
Advent / Christmas
For the Christmas season, beginning Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, white is used, or sometimes gold. That lasts through Epiphany (January 6), or, in some traditions, through the Sunday thereafter (Baptism of the Lord Sunday).
What are the forbidden colors red green? ›
A rainbow of impossible colors
There are three main types of “impossible” colors: Forbidden colors. These are colors our eyes simply cannot process because of the antagonistic way our cones work, for instance “red-green” or “yellow-blue.”
What is the most important color of Christmas? ›
Red has long been a powerful color associated with fire, spiritual awakening, and the blood of Jesus Christ, whose birthday is celebrated on December 25. Christmas trivia fans know that holiday is believed to have evolved from old pagan traditions.
Red & green
You can't go wrong with this classic combo. Red and green complement each other perfectly, bringing a festive feel to any space.
What is the most famous Christmas color? ›
Santa, festive trees, twinkling lights… ribbons and bows in red, green, and gold? It's no secret the most popular Christmas colors are red and green.
Who decided red and green are Christmas colors? ›
An Ancient Roman Winter Festival
Homes were decorated with candles and evergreens including holly. The red berries and green leaves became associated with Saturnalia celebrations, and many of these traditions were absorbed into Christmas celebrations in Europe with the advent of Christianity.
Was Christmas originally green? ›
The original British Father Christmas, as depicted in 17th century, sported a beard, but it wasn't white, and his clothing colour was green, not red. And we can thank Scandinavian myths for his reindeer pulled sled, though the red nosed reindeer leader, 'Rudolph', was another American advertising creation.
What is the story behind the Christmas colors? ›
The history of Christmas colors actually goes further back in history than Christmas itself. The red and green color scheme that we now associate with Santa, decking the halls, and all things Christmas was originally tied to a winter holiday, a holiday that predates the celebration of Christmas—the winter solstice.
Why is red green and white used for Christmas? ›
Greens were used as decorations in Roman Days at Saturnalia, the harvest god, to remind him to bring back the daylight at the Winter Solstice. Red was the color of St Nicholas' chasuble and in paintings of him. White is the color for purity as in the Holy Family. You may not like it but, they represent Christ.
Why are Christmas Colours red and white? ›
In 1931, the cola company hired Haddon Sundblom, a Michigan-born illustrator, to bring Santa (not someone dressed up as Santa) to life in magazine ads. The result was a jolly, bearded man decked in red and white (his red outfitclosely matching Coca-Cola's red shade), surrounded by verbiage bordered in green.
What does a green Christmas mean? ›
A Christmas with no snow on the ground, the opposite of a White Christmas.
Why does Santa Claus wear red? ›
But before Moore's poem and Coca-Cola's advertisem*nts, there was the original St. Nicholas. He was the Bishop of Myra in the 4th century and his traditional robes were red and white. Nicholas was known for his generosity and kindness towards children.
