Let’s Paint the Town Red for Christmas and the New Year

Red

Joy marked the occasion. So we painted the town red. Red

Born the first day of December, I enjoy celebrating my birthday in the same month as Christmas. Last year, my special day proved fun-filled and momentous.

But where did the expression Let’s paint the town red! originate? How exactly does a person and her friends go about it?

I found a plethora of answers. Here’s a few.

  • From Google, “go out and enjoy oneself flamboyantly.” Synonyms: celebrate, have a party, live it up, have a ball.
  • “… go on a drinking bout; get drunk. Some believe it refers to setting something on fire” (The Free Dictionary).
  • Violence. Dating back to the 1800’s, an article in The Phrase Finder, “The allusion is to the kind of unruly behavior that results in much blood being spilt.”

It’s sad a phrase of merriment is associated with drunkenness and violence.

Still, there’s no unruly behavior going on over here. For my birthday, keep in mind the glitter and sparkle of painting the town red.

Painting the Town Red

Red
With my husband birthday night.

Besides the birthday girl (yours truly), the entourage of red painters included my husband, son, daughter, and son-in-law. A wild and crazy bunch, no doubt.

On the way to dinner reservations my husband, Mike, presented me with a gift. A Christmas necklace containing multi-colored lights. The push of a button sent red lights scooting around the rope or blinking in place.

One stipulation. He asked me to wear it to dinner. Resting in off mode unless one of our expectant table guests arrived or excused themselves to the restroom. Who wouldn’t want to join the fun table?

The necklace demanded attention.

Just the kind of attention a girl needs on her special day. A decadent dessert with candle called for more red lights. It was my birthday for goodness sakes. So, I did what any party girl would do. Pushed the button and smiled.

An elderly gentleman used a menu to block secretive gestures to his wife about their dinner neighbors. The we-had-a-blast night ended. All fun things come to an end or do they?

Strictly For Research

Deciding to test a theory, I wore my newfangled necklace (lights on) the next day. I hit the road to run a a few errands in town. Would it bring smiles? What comments and conversations would evolve?

Red
My dentist office and local bank.

First stop, a dentist appointment. A place for smiles. I know. No one enjoys the dentist. But hey, they work to keep our smile front and center.

Everyone fancied the necklace and mentioned purchasing one for each of the staff. There you go. The dentist can be a happy place—sort of.

Next, the bank for a deposit. Honestly, concern for security cameras while sporting flashing red lights made me apprehensive.

But the crew enjoyed my festive necklace. I took their picture and the bank’s cameras probably snapped mine.

Red for Christmas

A powerful Bible story describes blood being spilt to paint the town red. In Exodus 12, the Israelites put blood from a lamb without blemish on two doorposts and the panel above the door of each house. The Lord’s Passover.

Protection from the final plague God brought on Pharaoh and the land of Egypt for refusing to let His people be released from slavery. Firstborn males, people and animals, would die.

“When I see the blood I will pass over you and I will not destroy your firstborn children when I smite the land of Egypt” (Verse 13, TLB ).

After that fatal night, Pharaoh let the people go. The Lord instructed them to celebrate the Passover every year.

Red, KarenGirlFriday.comYears later, a perfect Lamb without spot or blemish once again provided passover blood. Jesus, God’s Son, willingly gave His life and blood for spiritual death to passover God’s children. Physical death may strike, but spiritual death can’t touch those in Christ.

The blood of the Lamb on the doorposts of our hearts.

“But [you were actually purchased] with precious blood, like that of a [sacrificial] lamb unblemished and spotless, the priceless blood of Christ” (I Peter 1:19 AMP).

In December, my birthday month, we celebrate the birth of Jesus. Joy marks the occasion. No research required. God the Father smiled.

When we remember Christ’s birth, we also rejoice in Calvary’s cross and the resurrection.

[bctt tweet=”Joy to the world. Good news. A Savior is born! #Christmas #blog” username=”inspireafire @FridayKaren”]

Carry the good news into the new year. Let’s paint the town red!

Karen Friday

Whether the spoken or written word, Karen thrives in moving an audience to experience laughter, tears, surprise, and deep reflection. She not only possesses an affection for words (just ask her family), but she also cherishes God’s Word. Karen is an award-winning writer who has published both devotions and articles with a mission to know Jesus more and make Him known. She contributes to several national sites while she works on her first non-fiction book. In the blogging world, she is referred to as “Girl Friday” where she shares a central message: you are never far from hope. And she considers her life as a pastor’s wife and women’s ministry leader a sacred calling. Karen and her husband Mike reside in East Tennessee and have two grown children and two grandchildren. The entire family is fond of the expression, “TGIF: Thank God it’s Friday.” They owe Monday an apology. Connect with her blog community, Hope is Among Us.

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6 comments

    1. Thanks, Dee. Let’s carry the good news into the New Year and paint the town red! Woohoo! So thankful for the blood of the perfect, spotless Lamb! Blessings!

  1. Loved this story and all your stories !!!! Thanks for your encouraging words. You make my day brighter. Continue praying for me as I pray for you. ????????????????????????????????❤❤❤

  2. Happy birthday Karen! (I’ve got a December bday too.) Thanks both for the reminder that being silly here on earth is good for the soul and that Christ’s sacrifice allows us an eternity it heaven.

  3. Thank you, Kim. Happy birthday to you! December birthdays rock! 🙂 I’m so grateful for silliness and celebrations. And I’m thankful for the blood of the Lamb painted on the doorposts of our hearts. Happy New Year!

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