The Colors of Christmas

When I think of the colors of Christmas, I think of the traditional colors of green and red. When I think of Christmas trees, I think of a real fir tree that everyone had when I was growing up. I remember when they started to make artificial Christmas trees, which I might add, looked dreadful. The die-hard real tree people were known to say, "I will never have an artificial tree. Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without a real tree". Now, not many homes have a "real" tree. The artificial trees are beautiful. They are simple to assemble, as most of them already have the lights attached and ready to plug in. They come in a variety of colors and sizes. I have downsized to a simple 4-foot snow tipped tree that takes approximately 5 minutes to assemble. It doesn't have the meaning a tree used to, it simply brings the glow of Christmas into my living room. 

 

A "White Christmas" is what we are the most familiar with. The song, "I'm dreaming of a White Christmas" expresses how important it is to have snow for Christmas. To wake up Christmas morning to a light snowfall just makes it magical. 

My former community is having a "White Gift Sunday" at their Church service today. I am not really sure of the details, but I think the church community will bring a white gift to the service. These gifts will be given to a chosen charity; this year it is the local food bank. Times are tough for so many and what a wonderful gift to nurture others during their time of struggle. 

Different colors of Christmas are now becoming significant for causes and beliefs at Christmas. A "Blue Christmas" describes the feelings of sadness or loneliness that some people have during the festive season. It is an emotionally challenging time for those who are grieving the absence of loved ones or reflecting on difficult past experiences. Blue Christmas is a gentle reminder that not all celebrations need to be celebrated, a quiet reflection can be just as meaningful.  

Blue Christmas coincides with the winter solstice. The solstice marks the longest night of the year. From that day forward the days start to lengthen and symbolizes the return of light and hope. This phenomenon aligns with Blue Christmas - a moment to reflect on the darkness and look forward to brighter days ahead. Blue Christmas offers a space of healing. 

At the Shoppers Mall there are two "Purple Christmas Trees". The trees are adorned with blank purple feathers, hearts and butterflies. People are encouraged to write the name of their loved one and hang it on the tree as a reminder of those "Gone too Soon". The trees are in honor of those who have passed due to drug harm or substance related deaths. These beautiful trees are up the entire month of December as a reminder they are never forgotten.  

I am going to add "Pink Christmas". I have never done this in my life, and I am pretty excited to be joining my fellow teammates as the volunteers that will be wrapping gifts at the mall. The Waves of Hope will be helping raise money for CNIB. We have a very devoted volunteer who was recently blessed with a guide dog. Getting a guide dog is not an easy process and the training for both the dog and owner is intense. It just tugs at my heartstrings as I watch them work together to maneuver in this world. They are a reminder just how much a guide dog opens up the world for someone who has vision impairment. I feel honored to be part of making a difference for those who don't see the world like I do. It will be a wonderful day for the Waves of Hope to "Pink up Christmas" and be part of raising money for the CNIB all at the same time. So, just for today, it will be a very "Pink Christmas" at the mall.  

I hope this post was meaningful and spoke to you in some small way. If you need to grab onto a Christmas color to get you through the festive season, do it. Christmas emotions are varied. It can be a time of joy by helping others and making a difference. It can also be a difficult time for those dealing with the grief and sadness of missing someone, remembering how things used to be, or are going to be. It is okay to feel the way you feel. During this Christmas season, if you have a personal struggle, remember, you are doing the best you can, don't expect anything more from yourself.