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
Symbols in Christianity
Why did red and green become Christmas colors? ›
Green, for example, represents the eternal life of Jesus Christ, just as evergreen trees remain green the whole winter long. Likewise, red represents the blood shed by Jesus Christ during his crucifixion.
What does 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 three traditional colors of Christmas? ›
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.
What does red green and white symbolize at Christmas? ›
White, represents His purity - the Bible says we can become White As Snow when following Jesus. Green, represents His ever present and ever lasting love, like the ever-green trees which are constant throughout the year. Red, represents His blood and the enevitable reason He was born - to save the world.
Who decided green and red were Christmas colors? ›
The History of This Classic Christmas Color Combo
It actually started centuries ago, when the colors were used to commemorate a different holiday. Ancient Celtic peoples revered red- and green-colored holly plants for being evergreen and believed holly was meant to keep Earth beautiful during the dead of winter.
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 color does Christmas mean in church? ›
White. “Christmas is about the birth of Jesus, and white aligns with God's promise of life everlasting and the purity, hope and goodness that Jesus' life and death represent,” Sawaya says. Religious tie-in aside, white is a color that's naturally linked to the freshly fallen snow in winter.
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 does a green Christmas mean? ›
A Christmas with no snow on the ground, the opposite of a White Christmas.
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.
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.
What is the primary color of Christmas? ›
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.
What is a Christmas color other than red and green? ›
Colors like red, green, white, blue, silver, and gold have been considered Christmas colors for centuries because of their historical roots during the season. Other colors like black, beige, and pastels are taking a more modern stance on the scene.
In what country did the tradition of putting up a Christmas tree begin? ›
Germany is credited with starting the Christmas tree tradition—as we now know it—by the 16th century when sources record devout Christians bringing decorated trees into their homes.
Where did Christmas originate? ›
The first time the birth of Jesus Christ was attributed to the date December 25 was in the 4th century, according to early Roman history. Early celebrations of Christmas are thought to have derived from Roman and other European festivals that marked the end of the harvest, and the winter solstice.
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.
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.
