presents under the tree
Terri Webster Schrandt

Sunday Stills Monthly Color Challenge: Festive Red and Green, Feeling the JOY of Advent

welcome sign
Christmas Welcome

For December’s monthly color challenge, we will explore the traditional red and green colors we tend to see in abundance during the holiday season.

Do you decorate your home or yard for the Holidays? If you have followed my blog for any length of time, you know I love decorating my house for any occasion. Christmas is no exception, and I tend to go overboard. Here’s what’s on my Christmas tree this year.

Christmas decor
ornament
Aero’s Memorial Ornament; Try not to cry…

Why the Colors Red and Green are Displayed During the Holiday Season

According to The Fact Site and Country Living:

In Christianity, red is often associated with the blood of Jesus on the cross, and green with the eternal life of Jesus, like an evergreen tree.

Looking Like Christmas
Looking Like Christmas

Some people claim it comes from holly bushes, as they thrive at that time of year. Ancient Celtic people believed that holly plants, with their red berries and dark green leaves, brought beauty and good fortune during the winter solstice.

frozen holly
Frozen Holly

“The holly bears a berry as red as any blood, and Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ to do poor sinners good.” -Traditional English carol

Joy is the Theme for the Third Sunday of Advent

The third Advent candle is called “the Shepherd’s Candle,” and the shepherds’ section of the Christmas story is very much about joy. This one is pink to celebrate the joy (and fear) the shepherds felt as they witnessed the angel appearing to them while tending their flocks.

advent candles
Lighting the Pink JOY Candle

The shepherds served as witnesses to Jesus’ birth and emissaries of joy.

“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” ~ Luke 2:10-12

Holly leaves with berries signify joy (red) and peace (white).

holly berries

In Biblical terms, having joy means being happy about something good that has arrived or is coming. Like hope, it has a long-term view of life, emphasizing the good that will come. However, it has a component of great happiness, rejoicing at the good news. Source

Several images from my archives are featured as “last chance photos” for the Lens-Artists Challenge this week, which brought me joy. Also sharing for Johnbo’s Cellpic Sunday.

A Joyous, But Cautious Overflow

Many bloggers have heard of the devastating flooding in Washington State and have asked me if we were affected. The atmospheric river doused the Pacific Northwest with several inches of rain, causing widespread flooding and snowmelt. Here on the Eastern side of the state near Spokane, we have not experienced the catastrophic flooding. But our mountain snow has all but melted, increasing the flow of water into the local rivers. The Spokane River, which is also fed by snow run-off from Idaho’s mountains, is running high. The local dams, including our very own Nine Mile Dam, are currently letting out water.

water falls
Rare Winter View of 9 Mile Falls

Here is the ultimate last chance photo I added, showing our town’s namesake, Nine Mile Falls. Despite the reason for the overflow, it is always a pleasure to see our waterfall this time of year. Please pray for snow!

holly border

Sunday Stills Photo Challenge Reminders

The Sunday Stills weekly-themed photo challenge is easy to join. You have all week to share and link your post. Please use your own original images, whether new or from your archives.

  • Remember to title your blog post a little differently from mine.
  • Please create a new post for the theme or link to a recent one.
  • Entries for this theme can be posted all week.
  • Comments on my posts are always appreciated!
  • Tag your post “Sunday Stills.”
  • Don’t forget to create a pingback to this post so that other participants can read your post.
  • I also recommend adding your post’s URL to the comments.

If you are participating in the photo challenge, I look forward to seeing how you interpret this week’s color challenge theme! Creativity is encouraged, so please share your own photographs (old or new), poems, original short stories, and music inspired by the theme. Join me next week as we explore the Winter Solstice and the final day of Advent.

menorah

Whether you celebrate Hannukkah, Advent, or simply recognize and wish for hope, peace, and joy, may you find these in your hearts this season.

*(A-I generated Menorah)

“Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day.”
~ Henri Nouwen

graphic

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107 comments

  4. Terri,

    I love your Christmas pictures, and the Scripture verses point out the “reason for the season” very well. I understand that the Northwestern part of the country is due for some wintery weather over the next few weeks. Hopefully, the snowpack will build up. I don’t have many good examples of Christmas colors except for a glance of our Christmas tree, used as a backdrop for a picture of Mortimer. Have a Blessed Christmas. Joe

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    • Thank you, Joe! Some snow schedule today, but fingers crossed we get more and it sticks. Our 9 Mile Falls should never flow in winter and this is the second in a row since we’ve been here. Great shot of Mortimer! Have a wonderful and very Merry Christmas!

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  6. Such a lovely post, Terri. My favourite photo is the frozen holly, but the tribute to Aero is beautiful. The weather seems so tempestuous this season. Awful for those in peril. Have a wonderful time with your grandkids. I’m sure they’ll love your decorations xx

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  12. Aero’s ornament brought tears to my eyes. As one who lived with pets for decades, I couldn’t help it. I’m glad you have escaped the flooding, but the rising river is ominous. And the photo of the dam. Yikes! As I write this, Vancouver is currently experiencing another rainstorm and my heart breaks for the people of Abbotsford and Chilliwack in the Fraser Valley, as well as for the people in Washington. The flooding they’ve all experienced is just horrible!

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  17. Thank God you’re safe, Terri. Reading this post reminds me of what our priest said last Sunday, saying, “live Christ, and share Christ.”

    Also, I’m praying for those affected by the flood. Stay safe, Terri.

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  18. A beautiful seasonal post, Terri. I loved that ornament with Aero. I’m glad to hear you haven’t been directly affected by the floods. And that photo of 9 Mile Falls is stunning! Happy holidays. 💙

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  21. What a beautiful and festive post, Terri. The Aero’s memorial ornament, is lovely and so touching. I’m glad you and your family are safe, and I hope you get your snow. ❄️☃️💗

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  22. I didn’t realise Washington State had been affected by flooding, Terri. Devastating at any time of the year, but more so at this time of the year. We get lots of flooding here in the UK, and this December we’ve already had over a month’s worth of rain. I hope we have a few dry weeks, especially over the Christmas holidays.

    I love Aero’s memorial ornament. Did you make it yourself or order it online? Your Christmas decorations look very festive.

    Holly has always been my favourite plant because I’ve always associated it with Christmas. My grandparents and parents would always put holly behind pictures for Christmas. It’s a tradition I’ve carried forward.

    Is your Christmas decorating done, or is there still more to do?

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    • Godd morning from rainy Eastern Washington, Hugh! The flooding was worse in the coastal areas but our rivers are filling fast. We’ve officially lived here 5 years, and no winter has been a repeat of the other! We need the snowpack in the mountains.
      A company I discovered online makes these pet ornaments. My daughter had one made for her dog, Gideon, who was Aero’s brother. I wish we had more holly growing here. It’s hardy and beautiful. Sounds like a nice tradition for decoration. And, yes, I’m done. When the grandkids get here, it will be festive here in the house! Thanks for stopping by and hope you are enjoying the joy of the season!

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  24. An inspiring post this week Terri….It’s so refreshing in our commercial secular world to see your beautiful words referencing the real meaning of the Christmas season. May the Joy of the Lord fill your heart xx

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  27. I am so glad you are safe. Thank goodness! We have family near Snoqualmie, and we are delighted they are safe.
    I enjoyed your red and green photos and all the information. Thank you my friend!
    ❤️💚🎄💚❤️

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  29. I like your festive flair for Christmas and Advent Terri, especially the wreath on your door and the ornaments. We both like plaid, so yes, I like the red-and-black plaid ornament – it’s very unique and I also like the memorial ornament for Aero. That’s very special and a nice way to remember a cherished pet. You were lucky not to be part of this horrible flooding. The waterfall always looks so nice. The few hours of above-freezing temps helped get rid of the ice in the driveway … now we await the Arctic Blast to take a hike and that happens Tuesday, albeit briefly.

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    • Thank you, Linda! I kind of went all out this year, since we’re home and the grandkids are coming! It was a lot of work. But I’ll keep it up until Epiphany, Jan 6th. 😁

      I’m glad I added some new ornaments, especially the two with our pups. I also bought a bison ornament. Snow is expected by the weekend!

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      • Grandchildren will be fun for Christmas. Buffalo plaid and a bison ornament … that sounds like a great combo for the tree. Next year I hope to put up the tree and more ornaments around the house. I did the ceramic bear tree last year, but I have to get back to decorating more. I used to go all out, but figure it’s just me now, but I have to change that mindset. You’re looking forward to snow and I’m looking forward to the rain to clear the snow/ice away. 🙂

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  37. Hi Terri, it’s good to know that you’re okay. Thank you for the explanation of why red and green is used. I didn’t know about it although I love Christmas decorations. We are not decorating this year as we are travelling. But I’m loving the decorations, here in Australia. I’ll try and share the pictures and link it here.

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    • Hi Smitha! Enjoy those decorations in Australia. Its hard to wrap my brain around Christmas “in July,” at least weather-wise. We didn’t decorate the last 2 Christmases due to travel. Glad you enjoyed the info. I look forward to your festive decor! And maybe a picture you’ve painted?

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      • I agree…Christmas in July doesn’t feel like Christmas. In fact, when I heard of it being celebrated here in Summer, I was uncertain about how it would be. But it’s 17 degrees Celsius in Summer here, so it’s beautiful weather. I may have a picture I painted sometime ago, I’ll share that and all the decorations here. Happy celebrations to you, Terri. XXX

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  42. A beautiful festive post, and I’m glad you weren’t affected by the flooding, Terri. Your memorial ornament! 💖😢 Love the frozen holly shot as well.👌

    My pagan German ancestors invented most of these traditions, so I’m very much into the decorating, and I can’t get enough of all the festive light displays. 🤩 Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas! ✨

    https://thedogladysden.com/festive-reds-and-greens-sundaystills-photography/

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  43. Your photos are so festive, Terri! I love the frozen holly one – one for Hallmark! I’m glad you enjoy decorating for holidays. I should hire you. And I’m glad you didn’t have any flooding. I’ve been watching the news and worrying about my WA friends and relatives. Stay safe as another storm heads our way.

    And above all, Happy Holidays!

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  46. Terri, thank you for this wonderful entry to the Lens-Artists challenge this week. I also want to thank you for the many beautiful images you shared this year. This post, in particular, is so enlightening to me. As an on-and-off practicing Roman Catholic, I enjoyed reading the background about the red and green colors and everything about the Advent. That Christmas ornament with Aero is so touching. Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones!

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    • Thank you ever so much, Egidio! Your photography is very inspiring and I’ve really enjoyed getting to know you from your blog! Though I’m a Christian, I enjoy learning and sharing the world religions and faiths. I also learned a lot about Advent while researching for my posts. God reaches us in perfect ways. Merry Christmas to you and yours!

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  47. The Falls are stunning, Terri. I’m glad to hear you weren’t affected by the floods. The field behind us is prone to getting waterlogged but there’s a man made sort of gully down the side to collect the overflow.

    I love Aero’s memorial ornament ❤️ although it did bring a tear to my eye, thinking of the dogs that have been in my life, and your festive colours are lovely. Have a great week!

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