Red and green are synonymous with Christmas and have been for centuries. This distinctive complementary colour duo adorns everything from wreaths, to wrapping paper, to elf costumes. But why red and green? There are many theories, but the most popular goes back to Roman times when the holly plant, with its prickly green leaves and crimson berries, was used to celebrate the Saturnalia Festival. Each year, during the darkest days between December 17-23, Romans paid tribute to Saturn – the god of agriculture, creation and time. Garlands of holly decorated their homes and enhanced the gifts that they exchanged with one another.
Holly grows as a hardy evergreen bush or tree with its waxy, serrated leaves and small red berries. One strong characteristic of the plant is how vibrant its colours remain in cold climates. Although the berries are poisonous to humans, they provide food and shelter for some bird species. Celtic people believed holly held magical powers and wore wreaths made from the plant on their heads to ward off evil spirits. Christianity soon adopted wreaths, with their thorns and berries, as a symbol of Christ’s birth and death. The holly leaves are similar to Christ’s crown of thorns, the berries – drops of blood.
Red, in part, signifies love, passion and joy. Green suggests birth, growth and harmony. Christmas is a time when the two colours help reinforce both Christian ideologies and family values.