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
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“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
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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!

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.
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