Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Intro
Every year we celebrate several holidays, which all have colors of representation. Myself and others are probabaly curious as to how we came up with the colors that represent certain holidays. When we see red and green we automatically think Christmas, or red and pink we think Valentine's Day. As children we are taught these color schemes that represent certain holidays, but never taught why or who came up with these colors. With the research I have done, its been accounted for that many of these holidays deal with Christian religion. The history of each holiday can explain why we have chosen red and green to mean Christmas or orange and black to mean Halloween.
Roses
Roses are the most popular flower given out on Valentine's Day. These flowers most dominant colors happen to be pink and red.
Valentines Day Colors
Red: Being one of the most dominant colors during Valentine's Day, it hold the meaning of love and passion. This color is used to represent the love men had for the woman that they we're marrying.
Pink:Symbolizes sweetness, affection, and understanding. Also, a color that represents love and affection for a significant other.
Pink:Symbolizes sweetness, affection, and understanding. Also, a color that represents love and affection for a significant other.
Valentine's Day
This is another holiday in which we celebrate the greatness of a saint. St. Valentine was a priest in Rome. It was said by Emperor Claudius II that single men made better soldiers than married one with kids. During this time period, St.Valentine; being a priest, still married those men who wanted to be married. When Emperor Claudius found out about his actions he sentenced St. Valentine be put to death. This holiday and it's traditions celebrate the love we have for that someone special.
Source:History.com
Source:History.com
Shamrock
These all are three leaf shamrocks that Ireland uses to represent the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This is why the color Green is used during St.Patrick's Day
St. Patricks Day Colors
Green is the basic color that we assoicate with St.Patricks day. The color green is used because most of Ireland's land is all green. Also, the shamrock which has been used to represent the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is green.
St. Patricks Day
St.Patricks Day has become a very popular holiday in America, where most people probably don't know why we celebrate it. This holiday is to celebrate a great saint; Saint Patrick he was originally from Britain and when he was 16 he was captured and taken to Ireland. His six years in Ireland made him become very religious. When Saint Patrick went back to Britain he became a priest. The people of Ireland fascinated him so much that he decided to go back and convert many of the people to Christianity. This Holiday is celebrated all over the world, but only for one day. As for Ireland this is a five day celebration of the saint.
Easter Colors
Purple: Is the color of royalty and is the color that Jesus was wearing when he was crucified.
Yellow: Is the color that lit up the world when Christ rose from the dead. Yellow is also the color of many flowers that bloom during the spring time.
Green: Is the color of the grass that we see once the snow has melted and Spring begins. Green also means hope.
Pink: Means fresh beginning.
Yellow: Is the color that lit up the world when Christ rose from the dead. Yellow is also the color of many flowers that bloom during the spring time.
Green: Is the color of the grass that we see once the snow has melted and Spring begins. Green also means hope.
Pink: Means fresh beginning.
Easter
The name Easter was originally derived from the word Eostre. Eostre was the ancient Greek goddess of spring. It was believed that every year, Eostre returned to Earth after a long, cold winter and brought along with her the light and warmth of Spring. Thus, ancient Greeks held pagan festivals to welcome Eostre and herald the onset of spring.
The Pagan festivals always coincided with the vernal Equinox on the 21st of March every year. Though the Greek were not fully cognizant of why and when spring comes, they believed Eostre must be pleased to ensure that she returns year after year. The festivals were lavish feasts that celebrated the booming of new flowers, the chirping of birds, butterflies, and sunshine and in general the feeling of rejuvenation that is inherent of spring.
The Christian church however, changed the Pagan festival from a celebration of spring to a celebration of the resurrection of Jesus. In 325 A.D. the church also changed the date of the festival. The festival was no longer held on the spring equinox. Instead, as per the Church Council of Nicaea henceforth it was to be held on the very first Sunday following the full moon on or after the vernal equinox. Thus, today Easter is celebrated on different dates every year and can occur as early as March 22nd or as late as April 25th. When Christ was crucified, he then came back to earth and gave light and beauty to the world.
SOURCE:http://www.historyofeaster.info/
The Pagan festivals always coincided with the vernal Equinox on the 21st of March every year. Though the Greek were not fully cognizant of why and when spring comes, they believed Eostre must be pleased to ensure that she returns year after year. The festivals were lavish feasts that celebrated the booming of new flowers, the chirping of birds, butterflies, and sunshine and in general the feeling of rejuvenation that is inherent of spring.
The Christian church however, changed the Pagan festival from a celebration of spring to a celebration of the resurrection of Jesus. In 325 A.D. the church also changed the date of the festival. The festival was no longer held on the spring equinox. Instead, as per the Church Council of Nicaea henceforth it was to be held on the very first Sunday following the full moon on or after the vernal equinox. Thus, today Easter is celebrated on different dates every year and can occur as early as March 22nd or as late as April 25th. When Christ was crucified, he then came back to earth and gave light and beauty to the world.
SOURCE:http://www.historyofeaster.info/
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Monday, November 30, 2009
Halloween Colors
The colors Orange and Black are the two dominant colors that are used during the celebration of Halloween. The color orange was decided apon due to the celebration of autumn. Orange is the most prevelant color during the fall season. It also has been concluded that the color orange repesents endurance and strength. As for the color black, it is more of a dark/evil color. Halloween has been known to be a holiday of the dead. Also, since Halloween is celebrated after dark, the color black repesents both death and darkness.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Halloween
Halloween is the one of the oldest holidays still celebrated today. It's one of the most popular holidays, second only to Christmas. While millions of people celebrate Halloween without knowing its origins and myths, the history and facts of Halloween make the holiday more fascinating.
Halloween is on October 31st, the last day of the Celtic calendar. It was originally a pagan holiday, honoring the dead. Halloween was referred to as All Hallows Eve and dates back to over 2000 years ago.
All Hallows Eve is the evening before All Saints Day, which was created by Christians to convert pagans, and is celebrated on November 1st. The Catholic church honored saints on this designated day.
Halloween culture can be traced back to the Druids, a Celtic culture in Ireland, Britain and Northern Europe. Roots lay in the feast of Samhain, which was annually on October 31st to honor the dead.
Samhain signifies "summers end" or November. Samhain was a harvest festival with huge sacred bonfires, marking the end of the Celtic year and beginning of a new one. Many of the practices involved in this celebration were fed on superstition.
The Celts believed the souls of the dead roamed the streets and villages at night. Since not all spirits were thought to be friendly, gifts and treats were left out to pacify the evil and ensure next years crops would be plentiful. This custom evolved into trick-or-treating.
SOURCE:http://www.halloween-website.com/history.htm
Halloween is on October 31st, the last day of the Celtic calendar. It was originally a pagan holiday, honoring the dead. Halloween was referred to as All Hallows Eve and dates back to over 2000 years ago.
All Hallows Eve is the evening before All Saints Day, which was created by Christians to convert pagans, and is celebrated on November 1st. The Catholic church honored saints on this designated day.
Halloween culture can be traced back to the Druids, a Celtic culture in Ireland, Britain and Northern Europe. Roots lay in the feast of Samhain, which was annually on October 31st to honor the dead.
Samhain signifies "summers end" or November. Samhain was a harvest festival with huge sacred bonfires, marking the end of the Celtic year and beginning of a new one. Many of the practices involved in this celebration were fed on superstition.
The Celts believed the souls of the dead roamed the streets and villages at night. Since not all spirits were thought to be friendly, gifts and treats were left out to pacify the evil and ensure next years crops would be plentiful. This custom evolved into trick-or-treating.
SOURCE:http://www.halloween-website.com/history.htm
Holly Berry
Holly is used throughout the Christmas season, because of it's colors. This plant has both colors, green and red,which are used to represent Christmas.
Evergreen Tree
This is a picture of an Evergreen tree, surviving through the winter. The evergreen tree is used during Christmas usually as a Christmas Tree, that we decorate. This tree represents eternal life. The color green,as well, represents eternal life and this is why we use the color green to represent Christmas.
Christmas Colors
The colors that we see most during the Christmas holiday, are red, green, and white. It has been said that the American culture uses the color green because it represents eternal life. Eternal life is associated with the eternal life of Christ, after he is born. Also, the evergreen tree is associated with the color green, as well as eternal life. The evergreen tree is a tree that lives all year long. As for the color red it is used to symbolize the blood of Christ that he splits to redeem ourselves of sin. The color white is used to represent the purity of Christ.
Christmas
Christmas is one of the major holidays that is celebrated every year in America. This holiday, like many others, has many items that symbolize Christmas as well as colors. red, green and white are the dominant colors that we use during this holiday. Christmas is a religious holiday in which it's believed that our savior; Jesus Christ was born. Considering, the religious background of Christmas, the colors that were chosen to represent Christmas are based on the religious aspect of this holiday.
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