Christmas Colors

Colors govern some holidays. Saint Patrick’s Day is green. Valentines’ Day is red or pink. The fourth of July and Memorial day is red white and blue. Halloween is orange and black.

And when I was a little girl, in observing the décor of my friend Jesse Weiner’s house in the month December, it was clear to me that Hanukkah was colored blue, white and silver.

I also observed that Christmas was colored red and green—with metallics of either gold or silver.

There was a holiday decorating segment on Good Morning America the other day. Jonathan Adler was the interior designer charged with giving tips and creative ideas. He showcased trees and mantle centerpieces of purple, royal blue and aquamarine. He espoused the beauty of these colors at Christmastime. 

And what I buy into is this—not everyone’s home design and palate coordinates well with red or green. But there are options other than using completely non-traditional Christmas hues in one’s holiday décor.   There is the winter wonderland look—off white ribbon with branches—natural or sprayed, metallics of pewter, brass or bronze and clear crystals. I am not even opposed to hues within the red and green spectrum—like cranberry or brick or lime or avocado. But I just can’t wrap my brain around anything colored blue for holiday decorating.

Blue is just not a Christmas color---no matter what Jonathan Adler says.

And what I know for sure is I have never seen a red or green dreidel. I have never seen a Halloween witch in pink or a green valentine. No one wear turquoise on Saint Patrick’s Day. And Santa does not wear a purple velvet suit nor is Rudolph’s nose teal.  Frasier firs are green as are pines and holly leaves.

And the only appropriate place at Christmastime for  anything colored blue, purple or aqua is as a gemstone—sapphire, amethyst or topaz, set in silver or gold, and wrapped as a present under my tree.