Christmas – The Other Sides That You May Not Know About

BY KEHINDE OWOEYE

Christmas – Oh! you think the season is meant for merriment and celebration of Jesus Christ’s birth? Is it just about singing of carol songs as usual, and the belief that a child was born to save the World?

You may not be wrong but would you know other things attributed to the Jesus’ birth that people are celebrating as Christmas? Well …

Some say that the season of Christmas is ”as snug as a bug in a rug”. And truly, people feel comfortable and happy whenever they see Christmas on air, even if things are not rosy.

The name Christmas brings joy to the people’s heart; even so, with the colors ascribed to it.

Many people know that red, white, green and gold as colours are assigned to Christmas but few or no one knows that Purple and Blue are associated with it.

But the question is, why is it so? Why should all those colours be associated with Christmas?

Research has shown that each colour and the meaning comes from the Western/ Northern European traditions and customs, with Christmas in the middle of winter and it’s dark and cold.

However, each color brings beauty to the face of Christmas as the meaning is concern.

As for green color, Eckstut says,” It solidified in our collective imaginations the red of Santa’s robes with the green of fir trees and Holly and pointsettia that we already had in minds”.

Providing further insight, in the “Colors of Christmas”, the site https://www.whychristmas.com/customs/colors-of-christmas.shtml  said:

“The Red color of Christmas were the apples on the paradise tree. They represented the fall of Adam in the play.

Moreover, Red color of Holly berries, which is said to signify the blood of Jesus Christ when he died on the cross. It is also the color of Bishop robes. These would have been worn by St. Nicholas and then became Santa’s uniform!”

Another Christmas colour, the “Gold” is the color of sun and light, very important in the dark winter. Gold was also one of the gifts brought to the baby Jesus by one of the wise men and traditionally it’s used to show the star that the wise men followed.

White is also a associated with the season, and it is often related to purity and peace in Western cultures. White paper waters were also sometimes used to decorate paradise trees. The wafers symbolized the bread eaten during Christian communion when Christian remember that Jesus died for them.

Blue is severally affiliated with Mary, the mother of Jesus. In medieval times blue dye and paint was more expensive than gold. So it would only be worn by Royal families and rich people. Mary often painted wearing blue to show she was very important.

During advent, Purple is used in most churches for the color of the altar cloth (in the Russian Orthodox).

In reference to the Biblical quote ” Luke 2 vs 3-22″ Christmas comes with good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.

In addition, the season is a period of purification and expectations.

In an interview, a Jewelries dealer, Can Agiuku, said that ” Christmas is a season of joy and celebration”.

” Christmas is a special season that people travel from one place to another to see their relations” Ame Oluwasola mentioned.

According to Deconess Elizabeth Gbemisola Adubi,  Christmas is a date, time or season set aside to celebrate our Lord Jesus Christ.

In addition to, Christ is the reason for the season and Christ brought Salvation to us.

“Christmas is a day set aside to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, it is also a day a child was born unto the World and the Government shall be upon his shoulder and his name shall be called wonderful, counselor, everlasting father and Prince of Peace”, said Oluwabusola Esther.

READ ALSO: FPI Set To Admit Students Into New HND Programmes

Thus, Christmas is an interesting season for people to show love and exchange of gifts to one another.