Ever wonder the origins of how red and green became the colors of Christmas?
There are a couple of different explanations for the adoption of red and green as traditional Christmas colors, however the one that's most accepted - there are even classroom lesson plans based on it - is the first one that we'll look at. This story is based on historical fact and tends to be the more logical of the two tales.
THE PARADISE TREE
The idea of a Paradise Tree takes us back to the 1300s, at which time Adam and Eve's Day was celebrated on December 24th each year. Due to the explosive number of people who were illiterate, local churches often presented plays, which they utilized as a learning tool for the general populace. These were labeled, "Miracle Plays," since they touched on issues of religious importance.
The Paradise Play, which was presented on December 24th, related the story of Adam and Eve, and their plight in the Garden of Eden. Of course, props were needed and, since there was no way to provide an apple tree in the middle of winter, it was decided that a pine tree with apples tied to its branches would have to serve as the Tree of Good and Evil, in the center of the garden.
Since this idea worked so well, it became a popular prop for local churches, and the idea spread, until this version of the Tree of Good and Evil was the commonly accepted prop whenever the play was performed. Soon, churches everywhere had adopted this tradition and included it in their celebration each year.
The Paradise Tree was so popular in Germany, that private citizens began to erect pine trees in their homes during the holiday, decorating them with red apples, as the church folks had done for their Miracle Play. Before long, the tradition was so widespread, that the modern-day Christmas tree tradition was born, and the official colors of the Christmas season became green and red - green for the pine tree and red for the apples - the combination of which represented the Paradise Tree, which made its debut in the 14th century.
Eventually, the Paradise Tree was also decorated with small white wafers - symbolizing the Holy Eucharist - to remind people that, while Adam and Eve were responsible for the fall of mankind, the birth of the Christ Child would - in effect - reverse the final result of the fall through the eventual suffering and death of Jesus.
The second tale offers a far different explanation of the history of the seasonal colors. There's no factual evidence that can be found for it, as opposed to the story of the Paradise Tree, but appears, rather, to be a school of thought or philosophy that has been adopted by some over the years.
HOPE AND BLOOD
In this scenario, the color of green is said to symbolize the hope that was given to us through the sacrifices of Jesus, and is exemplified by the color of the evergreen trees, which remain alive and green throughout the year.
Red, on the other hand, is believed to represent the blood of Christ, which was shed for all humans in order that they might be saved. When combined with the color green, this duo is said to express the hope of being redeemed through the sacrifices of Christ.
This is a wonderful sentiment, and, on the surface, appears to be quite logical. However, if that were the case, it would seem more appropriate to attach the seasonal colors of red and green to the Easter holiday rather than to Christmas, since Easter focuses on Christ's suffering, sacrifice and redemption of mankind - thereby offering hope to those who came after Him.
There are slight variations of this particular tale, but the foundation is always the same; and when it's presented, it's generally offered as a personal commentary or belief that's held by a particular individual, rather than a factually based set of traditions.
Whichever the case, red and green have been bedfellows for 700 years and aren't likely to be separated, at this point - at least, not in the foreseeable future.
