4 Ways to Paint the Town Red This Christmas
Joy marked the occasion. So we painted the town red.
Born the first day of December, I enjoy celebrating my birthday in the same month as Christmas.
Every year my special day proves fun-filled and momentous.
But where did the expression “Let’s paint the town red!” originate? And how exactly does one go about it?
Painting the Town Red
I found a plethora of answers for painting the town red. 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 when the Friday’s celebrate. For my birthday, keep in mind the glitter and sparkle of painting the town red.
Entourage of Red Painters
Besides the birthday girl, yours truly, the entourage of red painters this year included my husband, son, daughter, grandson, and mother-in-law.
No doubt, we’re a wild and crazy bunch. So we snapped a picture and I wrote a poem to go with the occasion.
The people who joined my birthday bash, 
they made December 1st a smash.
An empty chair reminded us of one,
a working son-in-law who missed the fun.
Painting the town red with Italian food,
nothing like a celebration crew.
So here’s to parties and candles and such,
this girl wants to say, “thank you very much.”
The Red Blood of the Lamb
A powerful Bible story describes “much 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.
It gave protection from the final plague God brought on Pharaoh and the land of Egypt for refusing to release His people from slavery. Every firstborn male, 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. So the Lord instructed His people to celebrate the Passover every year.
Red for Christmas
Years 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 cannot touch those in Christ.
“But [you were actually purchased] with precious blood, like that of a [sacrificial] lamb unblemished and spotless, the priceless blood of Christ” (1 Peter 1:19 AMP).
In December, my birth month, we also celebrate the birth of Jesus. Joy marks the occasion.
Because when we celebrate Jesus coming, we also celebrate Calvary’s cross and the resurrection.
4 Ways to Paint the Town Red This Christmas
- Join God’s celebration crew.
- Spread the glad tidings of Jesus birth.
- Share the good news of the gospel.
- Proclaim that much blood was spilt to give us life.
Let’s paint the town red!
Last week’s Giveaway Winners & Christmas Giveaway
The winners of Talking to Jesus: A Fresh Perspective on Prayer: Pam McNabb & Norma Gail Holtman. Congratulations! I will contact you both for a mailing address.
Today, we start 3 weeks of CHRISTmas. And another book giveaway, a Christmas anthology. I’m honored to be one of the contributing writers with 2 pieces in Merry Christmas Moments. (Stories about the Wonder of Christmas.)
Enter giveaway: Subscribe to this blog. Already subscribed? Share this post on social media and tag me.
© 2017 by Karen Friday, All rights reserved
Photo credit of “joy” sign goes to my son, Caleb.
City image & other photo text courtesy of Adobe Spark.
Sometimes I participate in these link ups:
Meghan Weyerbacher/Tea and the Word, Lyli Dunbar/#FaithOnFire, Crystal Twadell/Fresh Market Friday, Crystal Storms/Heart Encouragement, Meg Gemelli/GRITupAndGo, & Married by His Grace/Salt & Light.
I think you are right painting the town red should be synonymous with telling people about Christ and what he did for us because of our sins. So sharing the gospel with others is the perfect way to paint the town red.
Thanks, Tona, for stopping by and commenting. Yes, much blood was spilt when Christ died for us. Let’s paint the town red! Merry Christmas!
This is beautiful Karen as always you have given us a message that uplifts and inspires…thank God for the blood of Jesus!!! xo
Marla, thanks sweet friend! So glad to be in God’s celebration crew alongside you. You’re a woman who spreads the joy of not only the Savior’s birth but also the message of His blood! Merry Christmas and blessings! Oh, and let’s paint the town red! 🙂
How fun is this? And I love the analogy of the story of the Passover to painting the town red. Happy birthday Karen! 🙂
Marcie, thank you! Oh, how powerful is the blood of the Lamb. Grateful for passover blood! Let’s paint the town red with the good news! Hugs!
Painting the town red has a whole new meaning when thinking about the blood on the doorposts, later celebrated as the Lord passing over our sins! I will now think of this phrase differently! Good message!!!
Thank you, Becky. Appreciate you reading and commenting. Absolutely it’s a powerful message…the blood of Jesus makes us new and whole. When we celebrate Jesus coming to earth as a man, we also celebrate Calvary’s cross and the resurrection. Blessings and Merry Christmas!
Love the concept of painting the town red. I need a little kick in the butt to get myself into the true spirit of Christmas, and remembering who Christ is and what He has done is definitely the way to do it!
Brittany, thanks for taking time to stop by and comment. Yes, we all need that kick sometimes because this world distracts us often from the meaning of CHRIST-mas. Let’s paint the town red!
I’m glad you had a good birthday. I liked the link between painting the town red and Passover, and yes, we should paint the town red by sharing what Jesus has done!
Thanks, Lesley. And yes, let’s join God’s celebration crew, spread the glad tidings of Jesus’ birth, share the good news of the gospel, and, of course, paint the town red! Woohoo! Hallelujah! 🙂
What a fun post! Love the analogy! (I’m big on analogy’s. I think they’re just the coolest.)
Thanks for this, Karen! Blessings to you and yours this Christmas. <3
Visiting from Recharge 🙂
Rachel, I love analogies also, we’re kindred spirits. 🙂 Thanks for commenting. This was a fun post but also sobering to think of the much blood spilt by our Savior. Blessings and Merry Christmas!
I like YOUR ideas for painting the town red!!! Neighbors at Meg’s today.
Thanks, Susan. So grateful not only for Jesus coming into the world as the Messiah but also for “Passover blood” provided. Merry Christmas!
Happy belated birthday!! So neat all the different ways you connected the concept of the “painting the town red.” Thank You, Jesus, for coming and shedding your blood for us!
Thanks so much, Bethany! Yes! Praise Jesus for His work on the cross and the empty tomb. We celebrate glad tidings AND good news! Merry Christmas!
Love this new concept of painting the town red. Truly an uplifting and inspiring post. There is great power in the blood of Jesus. May we paint every area of our life with it. Thank you for sharing it with us.
“May we paint every area of our life with it.” Amen, Lureta! It can’t just be about CHRISTmas, the glad tidings only start there. I pray we also become the entourage of God’s red painters with the good news of the gospel and the power of the blood of Christ! Merry Christmas!
Well, you’ve just splashed joy into my day, Karen! I’ve heard this phrase for years and never really understood it fully. If there’s ever a time to live it, it’s through the Christmas season. Merry Christmas friend!
Awe, thank you, Crystal. Love this, “splashed joy into my day.” This way of looking at painting the town red certainly puts a new spin on an old adage. But I enjoy those new spins. Because when it’s all said and done, painting the town red is absolutely a celebration and what more to celebrate than Jesus himself! Merry Christmas!