The Story Behind Red and Green as Official Christmas Colors

Every Christmas, red and green are everywhere, on decorations, lights, Santa’s suit, and even in the food we eat. But have you ever wondered how these two colors became the official symbols of Christmas? 

The story goes beyond just tradition. It’s a mix of ancient customs, religious meaning, artistic choices, and clever marketing.

How it started

Long before Christmas was celebrated, red and green were already tied to winter celebrations. The winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, was a time to celebrate the return of longer days and new life. 

People used evergreen plants like holly and ivy, which stayed green even when everything else seemed dead and dry, to mark this time of renewal. Holly, with its bright red berries and shiny green leaves, was especially important. 

During the Roman Saturnalia festival, which honored Saturn, the god of agriculture, people decorated their homes with holly. It was believed to bring luck and keep evil spirits away. These beliefs carried on and influenced early Christmas traditions.

The Christian Connection

When Christianity spread, it didn’t completely erase these old customs; instead, it gave them new meanings. For example, holly became a powerful symbol in Christianity. The green leaves were said to represent the crown of thorns that Jesus wore during his crucifixion, while the red berries symbolized his blood.

The color green, representing evergreens, also came to symbolize eternal life in Christian teachings. Because of this, red and green were used in Christmas art and decorations.

Medieval art and Christmas scenes

By the Middle Ages, red and green were commonly seen in Christmas art. For example, artists often painted Mary wearing red robes and surrounded by greenery. These colors became a key part of the way people viewed Christmas, especially in church stained glass windows, which were filled with red and green scenes of the Nativity.

The Victorian touch

The popularity of red and green as Christmas colors grew even more during the Victorian era. Many Christmas traditions we still follow today, like decorating with holly and evergreens, became widely popular thanks to Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol. 

Christmas cards were also introduced, and they often featured holly and other natural designs in red and green. This made the colors even more recognized as the official Christmas palette.

Santa and Coca-Cola

In the 20th century, Coca-Cola played a huge role in cementing red and green as Christmas colors. In the 1930s, the company launched a series of ads with Santa Claus wearing a bright red suit. 

Though Santa had been shown in red before, Coca-Cola’s ads helped make his red outfit famous around the world. The ads often featured green backgrounds, creating the perfect red-and-green Christmas image we know today.

Today, red and green are everywhere during Christmas – from decorations and gift wrap to clothing and food. Advertisers use these colors to make us feel warm, happy, and nostalgic because they know how much people connect with them.

A Celebration of Culture and Tradition

So, why red and green? These colors represent a mix of culture, history, religious symbolism, and tradition. The next time you see a red-and-green Christmas tree or a holly wreath, remember that these colors have a long history. 

From ancient Rome to today, red and green have been a part of Christmas celebrations all over the world.