Merry Christmas! Today, apart from churches and homes, markets and malls are decorated with red balloons, Christmas trees and Santa Claus. People had already made preparations for 25th December. Today is a very special day all over the world. Not only the Christian community but people of every community celebrate and party this festival. Commercialization is what has made Christmas so popular. A special color is always seen on this day, that is red color. This color has religious significance on Christmas.
Red is the color of sacrifice
On 25 December, the Christian community around the world celebrates the birthday of Lord Jesus Christ. He is believed to be born in 6 BC but there is no mention of the date on which it happened. Jesus Christ is a symbol of compassion and peace but the red color shows the blood of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ was crucified so this color shows sacrifice and salvation. His birth symbolized the beginning of a new era and the color red was associated with memories of this event.
Why is Santa Claus’s clothes red?
In 1988, historian and author Stephen Nissenbaum “The Battle for Christmas” Name book published. According to this, Santa Claus never wore red color. Till the 19th century, Santa’s look was very simple and he wore clothes like common people. Saint Nicholas, a priest in Myra, Turkey, is considered the first Santa Claus. He used to distribute gifts to children as Santa. Coca-Cola Company made Santa Claus wear a red dress. The company did this to promote its brand in an advertisement. From 1934, Santa Claus started wearing red attire. However, in Scandinavian countries i.e. Northern Europe, even today Father Christmas, who is considered Santa Claus, wears a green coat. Green color is considered a symbol of nature.
The custom of decorating Rudolph the Reindeer at Christmas was done to increase the sales of coloring books (Image-Canva)
This color drives away the cold
Psychiatrist Muskaan says that red color is used on Christmas also because of the season. In fact, it is cold in most countries during December. Snow also accumulates in places like Europe and America. In such a situation, red lights, berries and reindeer decorations shine from a distance. This is the specialty of red color. The wavelength of its visible light is very long. Therefore this color is visible even in rain or fog. Most of the warning sign boards on the roads are written in this color. There is also red warm color, seeing which the feeling of cold goes away.
Identified as the color of festivals
Red is a festive color i.e. the color of festivals. oxford university According to this, red is the color of happiness. This color is added everywhere from festivals to ceremonies. Festivals bring happiness. Everyone is happy and people get filled with enthusiasm after seeing red color. This color boosts the mood. Since this color is associated with happiness and celebration, the carpet of every film’s award function or political event is red. At the same time, the seats of theater and opera house are also red in color.
Christianity in India started from Kerala. The first church was built in Thrissur (Image-Canva)
Christmas was not celebrated on 25 December
According to historians, the festival of Christmas was celebrated on 6 January till the fourth century. This festival was celebrated only in Europe. After the fourth century, western countries also started celebrating Christmas and December 25 was fixed for this celebration. Even today, the festival of Christmas is celebrated in the Apostolic Church of Armenia on 6 January. In the Victorian era, Britain’s Queen Victoria and her German husband Prince Albert started Christmas celebration in England like Germany. He was the one who started the customs of Christmas tree, red berries and gift giving in England.
Red is also an auspicious color in Hinduism.
Red color is considered auspicious in Hindu religion. People make Swastikas in their homes with red colour. Red is the color of Mars which represents energy. It is said that this color increases positive energy in the house. People leave laziness and work hard. Red is also considered the color of wedding day, hence red vermillion is applied on the bride’s request in marriage. The color of Goddess Lakshmi is also red. It is said that Goddess Lakshmi is happy with the women who apply red colored alta on their feet. Like Indian brides, brides in China also wear red colour. There red color is considered a symbol of good luck.
Tags: brain science, Merry Christmas, National Festival, science facts, winter session
FIRST PUBLISHED: December 25, 2024, 13:40 IST
