THE COLOUR OF CHRISTMAS:
By Jerry Adesewo
Every season speaks its own language, and Christmas speaks not only through carols and candles, but also through colour. Long before decorations became commercial, colours carried meaning. They told stories. They preached sermons without words. Among the many hues associated with Christmas, white and red stand out as the most enduring—and the most profound.
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Though neither colour is commanded by Scripture, both are rich in biblical symbolism, historical tradition, and spiritual meaning. Together, they tell the complete story of Christmas: purity and sacrifice, birth and blood, promise and purpose.
White: The Colour of Heaven’s Purity
White is often the first colour that comes to mind when we think of Christmas—snow-covered fields, angelic garments, radiant light, and heavenly peace.
In Scripture, white consistently represents purity, holiness, and divine righteousness.
“Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.”— Isaiah 1:18
Christmas marks the entrance of the sinless One into a fallen world. Jesus was not born like any other child. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, untouched by sin, unstained by corruption. White reminds us that the Christ of Christmas was holy from the womb.
Angels who announced His birth appeared in radiant glory. The shepherds were overwhelmed not by noise, but by light. Heaven broke into earth’s darkness clothed in purity.
White, therefore, symbolises:
- the holiness of Christ,
- the peace He brings,
- the cleansing He offers,
- and the new beginning He represents.
Christmas is God’s declaration that light has entered darkness—and white is the visual language of that declaration.
Red: The Colour of Purpose and Sacrifice
If white tells us who Jesus is, red tells us why He came.
At the heart of Christmas is not sentiment, but incarnation with intention. The child in the manger was born to die. The cradle always pointed to the cross.
Red symbolises the blood of Christ, the price of redemption.
“Without shedding of blood there is no remission.”— Hebrews 9:22
Christmas cannot be separated from Calvary. The joy of the manger only makes sense in the shadow of the cross. Red reminds us that the gift of Christ came at a cost—His life for our salvation.
Thus, red stands for:
- sacrifice,
- redemption,
- deliverance,
- and victory through blood.
Christmas is not merely about birth; it is about purpose. Red declares that purpose boldly.
Red as the Colour of Divine Love
Red has also long been associated with deep love and passion, and no season celebrates love more profoundly than Christmas.
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son…” — John 3:16
The giving of Christ was not accidental; it was intentional love in action. God did not send a message—He sent His Son. Red captures that intensity of divine love: love that bleeds, love that sacrifices, love that saves.
In this sense, red is not merely the colour of blood—it is the colour of God’s heart.
Theological Tradition and the Early Church
In early Christian worship and liturgy, colours were used deliberately to communicate theology. Red featured prominently during high holy days associated with Christ’s redemptive work.
Christmas and Easter were never viewed as separate stories, but as one continuous narrative:
Christmas: God comes to us.
Easter: God gives Himself for us.
Red therefore linked the manger to the cross, reminding believers that the incarnation was the beginning of redemption’s journey.
Cultural Imagery: Holly and Symbolism
Long before modern Christmas decorations, holly was used in winter celebrations. When Christianity spread, the Church reinterpreted these natural symbols through Christ.
- Red berries came to represent the blood of Christ.
- Sharp leaves symbolised the crown of thorns.
Thus, even nature was made to testify of Christ’s suffering and victory, blending cultural tradition with spiritual meaning.
Modern Influence and Popular Culture
In more recent history, red became dominant in Christmas imagery through popular culture—most notably through Santa Claus and commercial advertising in the 19th and 20th centuries.
While these influences are cultural rather than biblical, they did not invent the symbolism; they merely reinforced what was already present—red as the colour of Christmas sacrifice, warmth, and giving.
White and Red Together: The Full Gospel of Christmas
White without red gives us innocence without redemption.
Red without white gives us sacrifice without holiness.
But together, white and red preach the full gospel:
White declares His purity.
Red proclaims His sacrifice.
White speaks of peace.
Red announces redemption.
White reveals who He is.
Red explains why He came.
Christmas, therefore, is not merely a celebration of birth—it is a revelation of destiny.
Beyond Decoration to Revelation
Christmas colours are more than decoration; they are doctrine in visual form.
White tells us that heaven touched earth in holiness.
Red tells us that heaven paid the price for earth’s salvation.
The manger was not an endpoint—it was a beginning.
The Child was not just born—He was sent.
And the colours remind us that He came to die so that we might live.
“Unto us a Child is born… and His name shall be called Redeemer.”
AYO NI O.