Is Navy Blue a Christmas Color?
With the holiday season approaching, people around the world begin to think about decorations, gifts, and traditions surrounding Christmas. Many of these traditions involve choosing specific colors to adorn houses, wear, and other festive accessories. Among these colors are the classic green, red, gold, and… navy blue?
Understanding the Tradition:
Most people associate certain colors with Christmas, mostly due to historical and traditional reasons. The colors gold, silver, and emerald green are often intertwined with European traditions, linked to various Christian and magical connotations. Red becomes synonymous with Christmas due to its correlation with the papal coronation colors. According to the Pope’s habit of wearing purple during prayer, the symbolism of three colors – orange, rose, and papal robes – led people to distinguish red as significant. Navy blue, to many eyes, seems incompatible with such festive traditions; yet…
Historic Context of Navy Blue during Christmas
- 1700-1800’s: Military influences on colors. Soldiers, especially Britain’s 1st, 42nd, 92nd, and US 47th Regiments, wear navy blue throughout the Eighteenth and Early Nineteenth Centuries. Coincidentally, festive events start gaining popularity – a precursor to modern-Christmas decor. The influence of both navy blue being worn as a fashion statement at social gatherings and as traditional uniform shade can logically link itself to Christmas preparations.
- Notable associations:
- The naval victories in War of American Independence (1796)
- Impressive victory at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1803 leading to increased prestige,
- Mid-Victorian Era (Mid- 1800’s): Industrialization creates new demands: Color dyes, textiles emerge. 1850/60 shows navy blue textile growth increases in the home and holiday setting, spreading through America, Europe – & even the Soviet Union (the USSR’s postal services adopt a blue package in response).
- *Key Dates and Patterns:
| Dating | Tradition/Holiday | **Inspirations/Guidelines | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ‘1859 | *Nobel Prize Winner Emile Pasteur’s Navy Blue, awarded by Red Cross Society for outstanding acts | This Navy Blue wins over Victorian England and Germany | A strong bond ties between society and blue is forged – red, more reserved symbol, and in ’61 becomes Russia’s |
| *Blue with White stripes becomes the Flag of Russia ’61 by Imperial Russia decree, which has strong Christian ties’ | and Germany by adopting blue symbols. Germany uses this in celebration | The once-rigged and studded Red Cross 1899 |
| Events | Why it works? | | The End/Connection |
:)| Pope ’61 – Laying Foundation- Red crosses in white Background; later used for St-Gall-Galleria Swiss Red Cross Association’ 😐 The Russian and Polish influence in Russian Imperial History is reflected & by Red
Cross with Navy Blue flags in |
’88: | 8th Infantry Brigade in Washington, an official navy outfit; with Red and Whites; then | An active Part of tradition in this time! |
‘The navy Blue Uniform changes 88 to Red or 9, with silver trim from ’96/190 | Adaptively and with | – Navy Blue
- Aussie Naval Force, introduced Navy blues as standard | Australian, American |
Uniform in
Cultural influence | " | influence in European naval traditions"
the early 1860 – Navy Blue adopted for formal naval uniform.
Adapting it to Traditions: 1866
The development of silk fabrics, specifically for luxurious purposes, adds gloss and color to new traditions emphasizing navy and blue in ornaments, linens, china, velvet, and silverware decoration.
More than Two Colors: Blending Artistry
Before 1600s ‘tainted red’, emerald/verdian, scarlet, bright blue navy and in a festive combination; later red over white crosses 1876/84/1993, 90-92, then red cross + navy navy red or navy and blue green; some with golden/silver trims 19-60’s.
The Early Modern Era from 1945 onwards. As cultural norms change:
o American _Flag and its representation of US military, Blue with** Red
_Note: [The End/Connection?]
| 20thCentury’s | Global Events | Impact |
——|—————- |——————————————————————-| |
1871 | 1872 | Russian |
1845
1851 – | |
188|
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– navy
1869 – | Russia |
197|
186/190 | America &&
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1937|| – |
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1957 |
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**Adaptation + Connection+ and Influence/ Red/ Navy with
*** +
2018 | **Bridgestone, US to 150 ***
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