Christmas needs a new color scheme. The neon green, red, and tacky gold that have plagued advertising campaigns for the last few decades are an eyesore, at best. I used to quite enjoy Christmas, and the holiday season. But the consumerism-fueled take on the holiday, and the inability to escape the horrible marketing campaigns that plague every billboard, advertisement and store aisle have left a bitter taste in my mouth.
As an art major, allow me to share some insight with you on the dynamic of color. Now, I know that Christmas colors; red and green, are indeed, classified as what we like to call complementary colors. They fall exactly across from each other on the color wheel, their differences making the other pop out even more. But that doesn’t mean I have to like it.
Many other color groups are classified as complementary, such as purple and yellow, or blue and orange. But can you imagine a blue and orange holiday??! Maybe this is just me throwing a bit of shade towards our Boise State rivals, but the thought of those together makes me want to hurl. Complementary colors definitely pop out, yes. They’re excellent for posters when used in moderation. But to see those colors used again and again is an eyesore. They’re not meant to be used excessively, only to briefly catch viewers’ attention. The last thing I want to do is to take home holiday decorations that render my front room into a living advertisement campaign.
In fact, I would believe that this is why so many become irritated with the Christmas advertisements that pop up as early as October. The Christmas colors are already intense on the eyes. Having to see them everywhere for months on end, would begin to drive even the most holiday-loving individuals a bit crazy.
Other holidays have much more pleasant color schemes. The orange and black of Halloween complement each-other, while not being too aggressive. The analogous shades of Valentine’s Day and Thanksgiving fall close together, creating a nice gradient that doesn’t scream at your eyes. Why does Christmas have to use the colors it does? Who was in charge of that?
I’m aware that the symbolism of Christmas trees is where we get the pine green from, as well as holly plants and poinsettias. I can tolerate the red and green together, as long as they’re muted. But when advertisements crank up the saturation and pair neon green and bright red together, that’s where my problem comes in.
I have multiple solutions to this dilemma. I do enjoy the colors red and gold together. I think they symbolize warmth, especially in a time where the weather is beginning to frequently get colder. I think the colors red, gold, and white would represent the falling snow of the season, and the warmth we find within it. Dark green could occasionally be used as an accent, but the turn would shift over mostly to those three colors, which would be an easy fix, and one that could slowly be accomplished within a few years.
My other color solution is a bit more drastic. The colors white, silver, gold, and various shades of blue have often been used as colors of Christmas and Channukah, as well as winter. I think these colors group nicely together, and it would be an original take, since blue is rarely used as a color for other holidays. The colors would represent the atmosphere of winter and be pleasant to look at.
Overall, maybe this is a bit excessive. There’s a good chance the color change will never happen, and I will be doomed to have my eyes attacked each time I glance over at a Walmart seasonal section. But I know that I do not stand alone in this opinion. Maybe we embrace the color scheme because it is tradition, or maybe because we can’t imagine another option, but I believe change can come if we want it to. This year, consider decorating your home in colors that you like, not just because they’re the only seasonal options available. If the bright green and red upset you, find other solutions to celebrate the holidays. Perhaps if advertisers begin to see a public change, they will follow suit.
Dani Moore can be reached at [email protected]