Have you ever wondered why the colors of Christmas are green and red? This is a question asked by children and adults alike every year as people contemplate the meaning of this festive time. The answer is not only surprising, but also has a long, rich history which includes pagan rites, biblical passages, and more. The standard explanation for why Christmas colors are green and red can be found in many sources, especially ones that centered around Christianity. These explanations typically state that these two colors were selected because they symbolize life and death respectively. Despite these ideas about the symbolism of Christmas colors, there are many other explanations that could be considered. For example, one of the first known references to the color green is found in mythology where it was associated with vegetation. In addition, green was also a color used in decorations to represent summer and spring. Due to this, it is likely that the use of green as a part of Christmas decorations began in that area as well. It wasn't until the 17th century that people began to associate the color green with Christmas. This is when the first Christmas cards were created and it was also during this time period that the wearing of green garments was considered significant. During this time in history, green was also seen as a symbol of life, especially on St. Patrick's Day and May Day. Therefore, it is believed that the use of green in Christmas decorations began as a way to celebrate these holidays as well. In addition, green was seen as a symbol of fertility and used by pagans during the spring festival of rebirth. Therefore, the use of green may also be associated with this idea as well. The idea of fertility is also further supported in some Christmas traditions like kissing under the mistletoe.