----- Original Message -----
From: Steve Collins <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2000 12:54 PM
Subject: Re: red and blue
My understanding is that read [sic] and
> green used to be the colours of royalty, and therefore were given to Mary
as
> Queen of Heaven, and that also is where the tradition of red and green at
> Christmas came from.
Surely the red & green of Christmas long predates Christianity ? Yuletide is
the feast of the midwinter solstice when the branches of evergreen trees and
their and berries (usually red) are used to symbolise the hope that life
will return to earth now that the days have stopped shortening once more.
The early Christians saw the symbolism with delight and took it over.
I have always understood red and gold (also purple) were the colours of
kingship / imperial power and that green was the "fairy" colour and to be
used cautiously and NEVER to be put on babies lest they be "changed".
BMC
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