Do you really know? Why do we associate red and green with Christmas?
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Dec 7, 2025 Discover the fascinating origins of Christmas colors like red and green, tracing back to holly's sacred role in ancient winter solstice celebrations. Explore how Coca-Cola's 1930s advertising shaped the modern image of Santa's red suit. Uncover the religious meanings tied to these colors, with red symbolizing Christ's blood and green representing eternal life. Plus, learn about other traditional Christmas hues like gold and blue, reflecting themes of purity and gift-giving. It's a delightful mix of history, culture, and festive spirit!
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Natural, Religious, And Cultural Blend
- Red and green became linked to Christmas through a mix of natural symbolism, religious meaning, and later popular culture.
- Holly's evergreen leaves and red berries offered pre-Christian winter symbolism that merged into Christian and commercial traditions.
Holly's Ancient Midwinter Role
- Arielle Eckstut recounts holly's role in pre-Christmas winter solstice celebrations because it stays green through winter.
- People used holly as a symbol of protection and prosperity in midwinter rituals.
Coca‑Cola Shaped Santa And Colour Trends
- The modern image of Santa in a red suit was popularized by Coca-Cola's 1930s advertising illustrations by Haddon Sundblom.
- That campaign helped cement red (paired with green tree decorations) as dominant Christmas colours in American culture.
