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Western world:
Traffic lights: Red means
stop, yellow means caution, and green means go. Yellow signs also warn
drivers of upcoming curves, pedestrian crossings, and animal
crossings.
Patriotism: Most, if not all
countries have a flag. The colors of each flag are usually seen as
patriotic. Red, white, and blue symbolizes patriotism in the U.S.A.
Holidays: Red and green are
favorite Christmas colours. Colors of Autumn such as orange, brown,
yellow and red are associated with Thanksgiving with black and orange
associated with Halloween. Pastel colors are used for Easter. Because flowers are a common gift for Mother's Day, colors such as yellow, pink, and red are used frequently.
| Color Symbolism Chart |
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Excitement,
energy,
passion, love, desire, speed, strength, power, heat,
aggression, danger, fire, blood, war, violence, all things intense and
passionate. |
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Pink symbolizes
love and romance, caring, tenderness, acceptance and calm. |
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Beige and ivory
symbolize unification. Ivory symbolizes quiet and pleasantness. Beige
symbolizes calm and simplicity. |
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Joy, happiness,
betrayal, optimism, idealism, imagination, hope, sunshine, summer,
gold, philosophy, dishonesty, cowardice, jealousy, covetousness,
deceit, illness, hazard and friendship. |
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Peace, tranquility,
cold, calm, stability, harmony, unity, trust, truth, confidence,
conservatism, security, cleanliness, order, loyalty, sky, water,
technology, depression, appetite suppressant. |
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Turquoise
symbolizes calm. Teal symbolizes sophistication. Aquamarine symbolizes
water. Lighter turquoise has a feminine appeal. |
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Royalty, nobility,
spirituality, ceremony, mysterious, transformation, wisdom,
enlightenment, cruelty, arrogance, mourning. |
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Lavender symbolizes
femininity, grace and elegance. |
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Energy, balance,
enthusiasm, warmth, vibrant, expansive, flamboyant, demanding of
attention. |
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Nature,
environment, healthy, good luck, renewal, youth, spring, generosity,
fertility, jealousy, inexperience, envy, misfortune, vigor. |
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Earth, stability,
hearth, home, outdoors, reliability, comfort, endurance, simplicity,
and comfort. |
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Security,
reliability, intelligence, staid, modesty, dignity, maturity, solid,
conservative, practical, old age, sadness, boring. Silver symbolizes
calm. |
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Reverence, purity,
birth, simplicity, cleanliness, peace, humility, precision, innocence,
youth, winter, snow, good, sterility, marriage (Western cultures),
death (Eastern cultures), cold, clinical. |
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Power,
sexuality, sophistication, formality, elegance, wealth, mystery, fear,
evil, unhappiness, depth, style, evil, sadness, remorse, anger,
anonymity, underground, good technical color, mourning, death (Western
cultures). |
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Eastern
World:
Marriage:
White and pink are favorite just as in the western world.
Green: Eternity, family, harmony, health, peace, posterity
Happiness: Red
Helpful: Gray
Wealth: Blue, gold and purple
White: Children, helpful people, marriage,
mourning, peace, purity, travel
Gold: Strength, wealth
Evil or sadness- Just like in the western world- black. |
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Emotions: Blue is seen as
conservative. Red is power and aggression. Brighter colors such as
yellow and orange represent warmth not only with emotions but also with
temperature. Cool colors are blue, green, black or any color with a
dark shade. When someone is feeling down or depressed, it is said they are feeling "blue." When someone is angry they "see red." When someone is seen to be afraid or "chicken" they are called "yellow."
Ecology: Obviously green is
the major color symbolizing ecology. The new phrase for people or
companies who find ways to cut back on electricity, fuel, or things
that damage the environment is "going green."
Phrases: When something is seen as opposite, extreme, or a firm position, it is said to be "black or white." When something is not clear or not in a firm position, it is said to be a "gray area." The blues describe a form of music.
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Halloween Costumes are a great way to compliment
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Religion:
Colours are also
used in religious ceremonies or represent aspects of religion. Native
Americans include colors in religious ceremonies. The Navajo Nation
considers four colors to be important: Turquoise, white, yellow, and
black. These colors represent four sacred mountains. The Apache Nation
also considers four colors to be important: Green, white, yellow and
black. These are sacred colors of the white mountain and are also used
in government. The Iowa Nation also considers four colors to be sacred:
Black, yellow, red and white. They represent direction, their flag, and
what they consider to be four races of man. [1]
Use in Therapy:
Colors are
sometimes used in therapy. Colors have a huge effect on people who have
brain disorders or who are emotionally troubled. The color blue has a
calming effect on many people and lowers respiration and blood
pressure. Red has the opposite effect. Some therapists use green to
sooth and relax emotionally disturbed people who suffer from anxiety or
depression. Some claim that the color violet is good for migraines but
I doubt that claim because it would be used more extensively in the
medical field. Yellow helps energize people and relieves depression.
Color in World Culture
Color means many
different things to different people and cultures. We all have our own
favorite colors. People like different colors like they like different
foods. Color also represents feelings, people, countries, cultures, and
color symbolism. In the western world, the color red is seen frequently
of symbolizing anger or aggression. Some car insurance companies charge
more for red cars because some of the owners of red cars are more
aggressive or take more risks.
Books about color
Black: The History of a Color - Black--favorite color of priests
and penitents, artists and ascetics, fashion designers and fascists-
has always stood for powerfully opposed ideas: authority and humility,
sin and holiness, rebellion and conformity, wealth and poverty, good
and bad. In this illustrated book, the acclaimed author of "Blue" now tells the fascinating social
history of the color black in Europe.
Color and Meaning: Art, Science, and Symbolism - Does color have an effect on our
feelings? The phenomenon of color is examined in new ways in John
Gage's latest book. His study is informed by the conviction that color
is a contingent, historical occurrence whose meaning, like language,
lies in the particular contexts in which it is experienced and
interpreted.
Veiled Brightness: A History of Ancient Maya Color - Veiled Brightness reconstructs what
color meant to the ancient Maya, a set of linked peoples and societies
who flourished in and around the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico and
Central America. By using insights from archaeology, linguistics, art
history, and conservation, the book charts over two millennia of color
use in a region celebrated for its aesthetic refinement and high degree
of craftsmanship.
Pantone Guide to Communicating with Color - This authoritative guide presents
hundreds of color combinations and color principles needed to create
effective designs. Every lesson is demonstrated by example, enabling
designers of all specialties and levels of experience to make the best
color choices for every type of design.
Lessons in Color
Links
more about color
How We See Color | Color
Theory | Color in World Culture | Color in Symbolism |
Art Lessons in Color | Color Matters
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