Saint Nick is not here yet, but even though the winter holidays haven’t started officially yet, we can already talk about the aroma of holidays, fir tree scent and red.
All holidays bring about joy and smiles; but there is something more to the winter season, that “something” that makes them spectacular, grand and warm: the light and color. Both are equally responsible for the gripping contrast between the cold outside and the warmth in the hearth.
Light is an essential element of Christmas (symbolizing birth and redemption), as well as the New Year (fireworks create a festive atmosphere, marking a new beginning full of hope). As for colour, red is by far the most important colour of the season. Everything, from Santa Claus’s cloak to the ornaments around the house and in the tree, is a display of regal, festive red. Red symbolizes blood (with all its implications: sacrifice, danger, but also rebirth, life, fire and energy). The obsession with red started (in the case of the Western civilization) in the time of the Roman Empire when red was the herald of the empire. During the middle ages, red remained a symbol of power and of the nobility, as well as a mark of the Catholic Church.
Therefore, light and red mustn’t be absent from our homes during Christmas. Another traditional element (in both Romania and the foreign context) is the Christmas Tree. Originating in ancestral, pagan beliefs, decorating the Tree renders not only color, but also a fresh and marvelous scent to the atmosphere.
But how do we decoarte the house? In principle, anything is worth experimented in the field of Christmas decorations: you can opt for a “multicolor” decor, a colorful Christmas Tree and various ornaments. But there is also the option of using two dominating colours (like red and gold, for instance). Red and gold are both warm, you may decorate the tree with gold garlands and red and gold globes. Perfumed candles can decorate the fireplace or a simple low table.
This year, chromatic tendencies are quite bold, experimenting a classy and glam look, combining black with gold. But if you wish to keep the tradition, you can always go for a combination of red and white (or silver). There are infinite options, but the winter outside already looks magical and full of snow!