The Many Festive Colours of Christmas
With everything that goes on, you can easily overlook the festive colours of Christmas. Yet, the holiday season is packed full of vibrant hues and tones. All of which serve to represent or symbolize something of the season. The holiday period bursts with artistic impressions from aromatic foods and drinks to traditional gifts and the big man himself.
Rustic Browns and Yellows
Earthy browns and yellows can appear a little vapid and aren’t necessarily the first tones you would think for decoration. Although these hues are excellent when used appropriately on walls, floors and furniture. As far as Christmas goes, you probably associate these colours more with seasonal foods. The earth richness of cinnamon and the rich aroma of ginger is found everywhere during this time of year. You should try this gingersnap cookie recipe as an example. However, these natural tones provide a warm contrast to the cold of the season.
Traditional Reds and Greens
Santa Claus is perhaps the most prolific wearer of red over the holidays. Yet, the image of this particular character is the product of Coca-Cola promotions dating back to the 1920s when the drinks giant commissioned Haddon Sundblom to develop artwork for a Christmas campaign. Since then, red has become the standard colour of the season you see everywhere, usually contrasted with greens. The two colours compliment each other well on traditional holiday items such as gifts, silly sweaters and Christmas trees.
Contemporary Black and White
From the almost offensive onslaught of festive colours during the holidays, a rebellious movement emerges. Contemporary designs for many Christmas items such as gift wrapping, trees and tableware are black and white. While an artistic monochromatic Christmas isn’t everyone’s idea of a warm and festive experience, the shift towards the two tones makes a refreshing change if you want something a little different. White or black Christmas items, such as trees, work well when lit with white LEDs or decorated with complimentary silver and gold.
Classic Silver and Gold
Gold dates back to the beginning of Christmas itself as it was one of the gifts brought to Christ upon his birth. Therefore, gold is a traditional colour for the holidays. The striking colour and reflective properties of Gold-coloured items symbolize the importance of the occasion. It also looks great when paired with other traditional colours such as red and green. In addition, silver, a symbolically important colour, celebrates the changing weather and landscapes as autumn gives way to winter. Bringing with it grey hues of the sky and sparkling white snow.
Sparingly-Used Blues
Blue isn’t a widely used colour for representing Christmas. However, it is widely used to symbolize the association of Christmas with the cold weather during winter. Matched with white and silver, pastel blue hues help create the sense of a magical winter wonderland experience. The kind of experience you might see at a temporary ice rink, a city’s Christmas lights or a paid extravaganza like Disney On Ice. However, some cultures, such as early German US immigrants, previously represented Santa in blue. A tradition continued by Xmas charities.
