Where did red and green, the dominate
colors of Christmas, originate? Some attribute them to the Miracle Plays
popular in the 1300's. Year after year, in the December 24th dramas
of Adam and Eve, actors tied red apples to green trees to represent the Garden
of Eden. Although tastes in literature changed, the visual remnants of red and
green carried over from the creation pageants into Christmas dramas and
celebrations.
Studying the symbolism,
Christians recognize red, a visual emblem of Christ’s blood shed for
forgiveness. Green can denote both eternity and new life essential for Christian
growth.
Fashions change, and now there
are other Christmas colors. My favorites are the luminescent, sparkling hues of
white and gold. I think of heaven filled with light, reflecting golden tints of
sunshine. I think of Jesus who is light and life. And I think of angels as
being light, airy, white and gold. In all likelihood, when these beautiful
beings looked at the sheep, they didn’t see snowy white wool. They must have
seen wool covered with the debris of the world: dirt, straw, leaves, weeds,
cockleburs—completely symbolic of spiritually impure men contaminated by the
world’s immorality.
Hovering between heaven and
earth, angels surrounded by the glory of the Lord brought the message. The
Savior, born to forgive us and restore us to spiritual purity, had come.
Because of Christ’s sacrifice, coats of sheep and the lives of men will become
pure, golden, the color of light and the color of Christmas.
Lord, Thank you for the Christmas
colors which remind us of you and your love. Amen.
© 2012 V. Colclasure
No comments:
Post a Comment