Pop quiz:
- Were red and green always Christmas colors?
- Did Coca-Cola advertising reinvent red-clad Santa as we know him today?
If you answered “yes” to both, you are correct.
Red and green are also, coincidentally, complementary colors and look fantastic together year-round, on upholstery, wallpaper patterns, rugs and décor.
Traditional Christmas colors of red and green emerged with the pagan era of the Winter Solstice celebrations, where holly played an important role in Roman times. Ancient Celts believed holly protected against evil spirits, while the red berries represented the hope that comes with spring.
Christians adopted this tradition, displaying swags of greenery, wreaths, and of course, evergreen trees. Some believe red symbolizes the blood of Christ, while green represents renewal and eternal life through Jesus.
And did you know Jolly St. Nick wasn’t always portrayed in a red coat and hat? 19th c. Santas wore blue or even tan coats, and were gaunt, monk-like, and not always cheery. Today’s twinkling and merry Santa persona first appeared in 1931 when the Coca-Cola Company commissioned illustrator Haddon Sundblom to create new a Santa for holiday Coke ads. Modern, jolly Santa in his warm red attire is here to stay.
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