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18 The Colors of Christmas

The Colors of Christmas

There are several colors which are traditionally
associated with Christmas. This site uses Red,
Green and Gold. But why do we have them and
what do the colors represent?
Most the colors and their meanings come
from the western/northern European traditions
and customs, when Christmas is in the middle of
winter and it's dark and cold.

Green

Evergreen plants, like Holly, Ivy and Mistletoe
have been used for thousands of years to
decorate and brighten up buildings during the
long dark winter. They also reminded people
that spring would come and that winter wouldn't
last forever!
The Romans would exchange evergreen
branches during January as a sign of good luck.
The ancient Egyptians used to bring palm
branches into their houses during the mid winter
festivals.
In many parts of Europe during the
White is used by most churches as the color of although there has never been any proof of this!
middle ages, Paradise plays were performed,
Christmas, when the altar is covered with a A lot of Churches have midnight services on
often on Christmas Eve. They told Bible stories
white cloth (in the Russian Orthodox Church Christmas Eve, although not every church will
to people who couldn't read. The 'Paradise Tree'
Gold is used for Christmas). have a mass or communion as part of the
in the garden of eden in the play was normally a service.
pine tree with red apples tied to it.
Now the most common use of green at Blue In many Catholic countries such as
France, Spain and Italy, the midnight mass
Christmas are Christmas Trees.
service is very important and everyone tries to
The color blue is often associated with Mary, the go to a service.
Red mother of Jesus. In medieval times blue dye and In Victorian times, it was very
paint was more expensive than gold! So it would fashionable to go carol singing with small
only be worn by Royal families and very rich
As mentioned above, an early use of red at handbells to play the tune of the carol.
people. Mary was often painted wearing blue to
Christmas were the apples on the paradise tree. Sometimes there would only be the bells and no
show she was very important.
They represented the fall of Adam in the plays. singing! Handbell ringing is still popular today.
Blue can also represent the color of the
Red is also the color of Holly berries,
sky and heaven.
which is said to represent the blood of Jesus The Tradition of Mistletoe
During Advent, purple and sometimes
when he died on the cross.
blue is used in most churches fort he color of the at Christmas
Red is also the color of Bishops robes.
altar cloth (in the Russian Orthodox Church red
These would have been worn by St. Nicholas is used for advent). []
and then also became Santa's uniform! Mistletoe is a plant that grows on range of trees
including willow, apple and oak trees. The
Traditions of Christmas
Gold tradition of hanging it in the house goes back to
Bells the times of the ancient Druids. It is supposed to
possess mystical powers which bring good luck
Gold is the color of the Sun and light - both very
to the household and wards off evil spirits. It
important in the dark winter. And both red and Bells, especially Church Bells, have was also used as a sign of love and friendship in
gold are the colors of fire that you need to keep traditionally been associated with Christmas for Norse mythology and that's where the custom of
you warm. a long time. In the Anglican and Catholic kissing under Mistletoe comes from.
Gold was also one of the presents churches, the church day starts at sunset, so any
When the first Christians came to
brought to the baby Jesus by one of the wise service after that is the first service of the day. Western Europe, some tried to ban the use of
men and traditionally it's the color used to show So a service on Christmas Eve after sunset is Mistletoe as a decoration in Churches, but many
the star that the wise men followed. traditionally the first service of Christmas day! still continued to use it! York Minster Church in
Silver is sometimes used instead of (or In churches that have a Bell or Bells, They are
with) gold. But gold is a 'warmer' color. often rung to signal the start of this service. the UK used to hold a special Mistletoe Service
in the winter, where wrong doers in the city of
In some churches in the UK, it is
York could come and be pardoned.
traditional that the largest bell in the church is
White The custom of kissing under Mistletoe
rung four times in the hour before midnight and
comes from England. The original custom was
then at midnight all the bells are rung in
that a berry was picked from the sprig of
celebration. Mistletoe before the person could be kissed and
White is often associated with purity and peace In the Catholic Church, Christmas and when all the berries had gone, there could be no
in western cultures. The snow of winter is also Easter are the only times that Mass is allowed to more kissing!
very white! be held at Midnight. It's traditional that at both The name mistletoe comes from two
midnight Masses, the church and altar bells too Anglo Saxon words 'Mistel' (which means dung)
White paper wafers were also sometimes used to in many cases are rung while the Priest says the
decorate paradise trees. The wafers represented "Gloria" (Gloria in excelsis Deo). and 'tan' (which means) twig or stick! So you
could translate Mistletoe as 'poo on a stick'!!!
the bread eaten during Christian Communion or Having a Mass at Midnight at Christmas Not exactly romantic is it!
Mass, when Christians remember that Jesus died dates back to the early church, when it was Mistletoe was also hung on the old
for them. believed that Jesus was born at midnight,
English decoration the Kissing Bough.