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. And since it’s my birthday, I smile if I want to…smile if I want to…smile if I want to.
But where did the expression “Let’s paint the town red!” originate? And how exactly does one go about it when celebrating?
Painting the Town Red
I found a plethora of answers. Here’s a few:
- From Google, Go out and enjoy oneself flamboyantly; 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 that 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. Besides the birthday girl, yours truly, the entourage of red painters include: my husband, son, daughter, son-in-law, grandchildren and mother-in-law. No doubt, we’re a wild and crazy bunch.
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.
Jesus, God’s Son, willingly gave His life and blood for spiritual death to passover God’s children. @FridayKaren #celebrate #Christ Click To Tweet“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 and God, the Father, smiles. Because when we celebrate Jesus coming to earth, we also celebrate Calvary’s cross and the resurrection.
When we celebrate Jesus coming to earth, we also celebrate Calvary’s cross and the resurrection. #Christ @FridayKaren Click To TweetLet’s join God’s celebration crew; spread the glad tidings of Jesus; share the good news of the gospel, and proclaim that much blood was spilt to give us life.
Let’s celebrate! And let’s paint the town red!
Link up is open! @FridayKaren looks at how to paint the town red at Christmas by joining God's celebration crew, spreading glad tidings, and proclaiming that much blood was spilt to give us life. JOIN us and share your blog. Click To Tweet
Incarnation, crucifixion, resurrection–inseparable truths that all find their place in every holiday (holy-day) we celebrate. Thank you for connecting the dots, Karen!
And I’m wondering if there’s an error on the timing of the link up? The post and the tweets say the link is open, but it’s timed for tomorrow.
I am so sorry! I just corrected the error. Thanks, Michelle!
Yes, Michele, love all the inseparable truths you mention for the Holy-day. Awesome way to word our celebration! Appreciate you commenting. 🙂
Let’s join God’s celebration crew!
This is beautiful, Karen! I’m thankful for these reminders of what this season is truly about amidst the commercialism and the many distractions. Yes, let’s paint the town red!
Thank you, Stacey. Consumerism and busyness attempt to rob us of real joy and celebration during Christmas.
Let’s join God’s celebration crew; spread the glad tidings of Jesus; share the good news of the gospel, and proclaim that much blood was spilt to give us life.
Let’s celebrate! And let’s paint the town red!
Karen – I didn’t know the history of this phrase “paint the town red.” It is SO interesting to learn the history behind some of the words and phrases we use today. Quite the history on this phrase, though!
I’m glad you’re joining with others and redefining it for a better meaning, to be sure! Happy Birthday, Karen! Go out and paint that town with the RED we all know the best meaning of.
Bless you, Lisa Q
Thanks for the birthday wishes, Lisa. The history of that phrase is interesting to say the least. 🙂
Oh, how I’m grateful for the blood spilled for us. “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).
Let’s paint the town red for Christmas and all year long!
Love it! There’s no better way to paint the town red than to spread the good news of the spilling of the Savior’s blood. My favorite line in Natalie Grant’s Clean: “Your blood flowed red and made me white.” What a blessed image.
Also, December is my birthday month, too. Let’s celebrate!
Yay, Stephen! December birthdays rock. 🙂 And what a powerful line from Natalie’s song. I hope to join and stay on God’s celebration crew, spreading the good news and good tidings of Jesus!
Karen, I had never connected painting the town red with Passover. But it’s true. When I look at the red this Christmas, I’ll remember the Passover Lamb who was split for us.
Debbie, I hope to do the same with red this Christmas. Because 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. Hallelujah! Thanks for your thoughts!
I love this take on painting the town red! laurensparks.net
Thanks, Lauren. When we celebrate Jesus coming to earth, we also celebrate Calvary’s cross and the resurrection. So, let’s remember to paint the town red! 🙂
December is my birthday month also. I looked up the origin of that phrase many years ago and I don’t think I have ever painted a town red, though I have had lots of fun – my kind of fun. Thank God for the blood (though I think its symbolism is lost on us).
Nylse, another December baby, so great. It really is wonderful to celebrate our birth in the same month we celebrate our Savior’s birth. It serves as a reminder of how He came so we would also celebrate spiritual birthdays. I accepted Christ at 16 and I’ve never turned back because the blood never loses its power.
I found your blog so very moving. I want to paint my town red so others will see Jesus and believe. You are an inspiration
Awe, thank you so much, Yvonne. Such kind words of encouragement. I hope we are all inspired and moved to paint the town red with Jesus! Blessings!
Hi Karen, today is my birthday. We’re having chili dogs. Not exactly painting the town red. Jesus is and always be our best gift. Thanks for sharing that, too many people celebrate the wrong way. You don’t have to be drunk, drugged or crazed to have fun.
Happy, happy birthday to you, Rebecca! December birthdays are wonderful, right?! And, Lol, you absolutely don’t have to be drinking or violent to have fun. Enjoy your special day!
Powerful! Yes, let’s paint the town red. Amen 🙂
Thank you, Melissa. We’re part of God’s entourage of willing painters to let the world know about His Son, Jesus Christ!
Loved seeing the connection between the color red from the blood of the lamb and the color red to celebrate! My birthday is Christmas Eve, so I can relate. 🙂
Thank you, Emily. We’re part of God’s entourage of willing painters to let the world know about His Son, Jesus Christ! Let’s paint the town red!
Thank you, Karen, for reminding us what the season is truly about and what it cost our Savior.
Hey Stephanie,
Yes, the Lord was willing to pay a high price to redeem us and it cost him a great deal. So grateful for the blood of Immanuel’s veins that spilled out on a cross for me and you.
I think a lot of old sayings are interesting. Don’t drop your teeth. Too old to cut the mustard. Groovy baby. But I digress.
It’s a great time of year to get excited. That’s the neat thing about Advent. It gets us excited for the King who is coming. We should celebrate. Thanks for the beautiful post, Karen.
Hi Chip,
You just said an old saying I’ve never heard, “Don’t drop your teeth.” Haha!
But painting the town red is now my favorite old saying when I think of celebrating the coming King! Hallelujah!