Why Do Public Christmas Displays Avoid Certain Colors Accessibility Considerations

As holiday seasons approach, cities, towns, and institutions across the world light up with festive Christmas displays. These dazzling arrangements of lights, figures, and decorations bring joy and community spirit. However, behind the scenes, urban planners, designers, and event coordinators make deliberate choices about which colors to include—and more importantly, which to avoid. One of the most significant factors influencing these decisions is accessibility, particularly for individuals with visual impairments or color vision deficiencies. Understanding this helps explain why some traditional holiday colors are minimized or excluded in public installations.

While red and green dominate private homes and commercial branding during the holidays, public spaces often opt for alternative palettes. This isn’t a matter of aesthetic preference alone—it’s rooted in inclusion. By avoiding certain color combinations and prioritizing high contrast and visibility, communities ensure that everyone, regardless of visual ability, can experience the magic of the season.

The Role of Color Vision Deficiency in Public Design

Approximately 1 in 12 men and 1 in 200 women globally live with some form of color vision deficiency (CVD), commonly known as color blindness. The most prevalent type is red-green color blindness, where individuals struggle to distinguish between shades of red, green, brown, and orange. When public Christmas displays rely heavily on red and green—classic holiday hues—those with CVD may perceive the lights as muddy, indistinct, or even invisible against certain backgrounds.

In practical terms, a string of red and green lights strung along a tree might appear as two similar shades of beige or gray to someone with deuteranopia (a common form of red-green deficiency). This diminishes the visual impact and emotional resonance of the display, effectively excluding a segment of the population from fully participating in the experience.

Designers of public installations are increasingly aware of this challenge. Rather than assuming that \"everyone sees the same way,\" they apply principles of inclusive design that prioritize clarity, contrast, and differentiation beyond hue alone.

“Accessibility isn’t an afterthought—it’s foundational to equitable public experiences. When we design for the margins, we improve the experience for everyone.” — Dr. Lena Torres, Urban Inclusion Strategist at the Center for Accessible Environments

High Contrast Over Traditional Palettes

To accommodate diverse visual abilities, many municipalities now favor high-contrast color schemes in their holiday lighting. Instead of pairing red and green, which have low luminance contrast and are easily confused by those with CVD, designers turn to combinations like blue and white, gold and blue, or purple and silver. These pairings offer greater differentiation not just by color, but by brightness and saturation.

Contrast is measured in terms of luminance—the amount of light emitted or reflected by a surface. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) recommend a minimum contrast ratio of 4.5:1 for text, but similar principles apply to environmental design. For example:

Color Pair	Luminance Contrast Ratio	Accessibility Rating	Notes
Red vs Green	~1.3:1	Poor	Indistinguishable for many with red-green CVD
Blue vs Yellow	~7.2:1	Excellent	Highly visible across most vision types
White vs Dark Blue	~12:1	Exceptional	Ideal for night displays
Gold vs Black	~9.5:1	Very Good	Warm and festive with strong visibility

By selecting combinations with higher contrast ratios, public displays remain vibrant and legible even for people with moderate to severe color vision deficiencies. This shift doesn’t mean abandoning tradition entirely—it means reinterpreting it through a more inclusive lens.

Tip: When planning public lighting, test your color palette using online simulators like Coblis or Color Oracle to see how it appears to people with various types of color blindness.

A Case Study: The City of Vancouver’s Inclusive Holiday Initiative

In 2021, the City of Vancouver launched its “Brighter Together” holiday campaign, aiming to create the most accessible public light display in North America. Faced with feedback from local advocacy groups about the exclusionary nature of traditional red-and-green themes, the city partnered with accessibility consultants and vision scientists to redesign its downtown lighting scheme.

The result? A stunning display centered around deep blues, warm golds, pure whites, and metallic silvers. Trees along Robson Street were wrapped in cool-white LED strings, while large geometric stars glowed in amber and cobalt. Interactive light tunnels used motion sensors to trigger cascading waves of violet and gold, ensuring both visual interest and clear spatial navigation.

Post-event surveys revealed that 89% of respondents with self-reported color vision deficiencies felt they could fully appreciate the display—a marked improvement from previous years. Moreover, general visitor satisfaction increased by 22%, suggesting that inclusive design benefits all audiences, not just those with specific needs.

Vancouver’s success demonstrated that accessibility doesn’t require sacrificing beauty or festivity. On the contrary, thoughtful color selection enhanced the overall impact, creating a display that was both emotionally resonant and universally perceivable.

Designing for Multiple Accessibility Needs

Color considerations are only one aspect of inclusive holiday design. Public displays must also account for other sensory and cognitive factors:

• Glare and flicker: Some LED lights pulse at frequencies imperceptible to most people but can trigger headaches or seizures in individuals with photosensitive epilepsy. Using steady-state LEDs or flicker-free drivers mitigates this risk.
• Nighttime visibility: Older adults often experience reduced contrast sensitivity and glare recovery. Overly bright or scattered lighting can be disorienting. Strategic placement and shielding help maintain clarity.
• Spatial navigation: For people with low vision, crowded or poorly lit pathways near displays pose safety hazards. Clear walkways, tactile markers, and audible cues (like timed announcements) improve access.
• Multisensory engagement: Incorporating sound, scent, or touch elements allows those with limited vision to engage meaningfully. Think of bell chimes synchronized with light sequences or pine-scented zones near nativity scenes.

Ultimately, the goal is not merely compliance with accessibility standards but the creation of shared cultural moments that no one is left out of.

Step-by-Step Guide to Planning an Accessible Public Christmas Display

1. Assess the audience: Consult local disability organizations to understand the needs of your community, including prevalence of CVD, low vision, and photosensitivity.
2. Select a high-contrast color palette: Avoid red/green combinations. Opt for blue/white, yellow/purple, or gold/silver instead.
3. Test visibility under real conditions: View mockups at night, in fog, and through color-blindness simulation tools.
4. Use consistent patterns and shapes: Differentiate elements by form (e.g., star vs. circle) in addition to color.
5. Minimize flicker and glare: Choose LEDs with low flicker percentages (<5%) and use diffusers or shields where needed.
6. Ensure physical access: Maintain ADA-compliant pathways, handrails, and non-slip surfaces around displays.
7. Incorporate multisensory features: Add audio narration, braille signage, or scented zones to enrich the experience.
8. Gather feedback post-event: Distribute anonymous surveys to assess inclusivity and identify areas for improvement.

Common Misconceptions About Holiday Lighting and Accessibility

Despite growing awareness, several myths persist about what constitutes an \"accessible\" display:

• Myth: \"As long as the lights are bright, everyone can see them.\" Reality: Brightness alone doesn’t solve color confusion. A bright red and green display may still blend together for someone with CVD.
• Myth: \"Only a small number of people are affected.\" Reality: With over 300 million people worldwide affected by CVD, excluding them means missing a significant portion of the public.
• Myth: \"Changing colors ruins the holiday spirit.\" Reality: Festivity is conveyed through pattern, rhythm, warmth, and scale—not just red and green. Blue and gold evoke winter wonderlands; white and silver suggest snow and stars.

Tip: Use texture and movement to enhance distinction—twinkling lights versus steady glows, or rope lights versus spotlights—so differences are detectable even if colors aren't.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can’t people with color blindness see red and green lights clearly?

Individuals with red-green color blindness have photoreceptor cells in their eyes that respond similarly to wavelengths of red and green light. As a result, these colors appear desaturated or nearly identical, especially when used together without contrast in brightness or size.

Are there legal requirements for accessible holiday displays?

While there are no federal laws mandating accessibility for temporary holiday installations in most countries, public entities are often expected to follow broader accessibility guidelines (such as the ADA in the U.S. or EN 301 549 in the EU) as part of their duty to provide equal access to public spaces. Many cities adopt voluntary standards to ensure inclusivity.

Can technology help make traditional colors more accessible?

Yes. Smart lighting systems can alternate red and green lights in sequence rather than displaying them simultaneously, allowing temporal separation. Additionally, augmented reality apps can overlay labels or symbols via smartphone cameras, helping users identify colors. However, these should complement—not replace—designs that are inherently accessible.

Checklist for Inclusive Public Christmas Displays

• ✅ Avoid red/green color pairings
• ✅ Use high-luminance contrast combinations (e.g., blue/white, yellow/dark blue)
• ✅ Test designs using color blindness simulation tools
• ✅ Ensure lighting has minimal flicker (<5%)
• ✅ Provide clear, unobstructed pathways
• ✅ Include non-color identifiers (shapes, patterns, textures)
• ✅ Offer multisensory elements (sound, scent, touch)
• ✅ Gather community feedback before and after installation

Conclusion: Lighting the Way Toward Inclusion

Public Christmas displays are more than decorative—they are communal expressions of joy, hope, and belonging. When designed thoughtfully, they become shared experiences that unite communities. But when color choices exclude those with visual differences, they inadvertently send a message of invisibility.

The move away from certain colors in public holiday lighting isn’t about political correctness or abandoning tradition. It’s about empathy, science, and the recognition that beauty and inclusion are not mutually exclusive. By embracing accessible design, cities don’t lose the spirit of the season—they deepen it.

💬 What changes have you noticed in your local holiday displays? Have you seen efforts to improve accessibility? Share your observations and ideas to inspire more inclusive celebrations in your community.