Color symbolism is the use of color as a
representation or meaning of something that is usually specific to a particular
culture or society. Context, culture and time are certainly important factors
to consider when thinking about color symbolism.
Some time ago, before the collapse of communism
in Eastern Europe, I heard a joke about colors: somebody informed USA officials
that the Russians were thinking of painting the entire moon red to show their
supremacy in space. Everyone was expecting to see the Americans getting angry
over this, but instead they were very calm about it. “Okay, no problem, let
them paint the moon red.” To which they added “We’ll just write Coca-Cola on
top of it and everybody will know who the best is…”
So you see, same color, two different meanings:
red is perceived as the color of communism and Russia used to be a communist
country, but red is also the color of Coca-Cola, which is a very well-known
symbol of the United States.
Colors are important in communications. Feelings,
ideas, and emotions can be expressed with colors. When designing websites or
brochures for International markets, colors are crucial. Not paying attention
to them could result in expensive and often embarrassing problems… And you
would want to make sure your website or advertisement campaign will be well
received in the countries you target. Just think of the impact you’d have by
wearing all red to cheer for one of Detroit Red Wings’ rivals… You wouldn’t
want to be there… You’d be detested by the entire audience. The same could
happen with your website. Make sure your website has the right color when
entering into different markets. The wrong color could transform the best
designed website and best ad promotion into a nightmare.Even in Bangladesh colors are crucial part of our culture. On Pahela baishakh(Bengali new year) people wear red & white. On our victory day people wear green & red.
Here are a few things about colors you might
find useful:
Red
Red is the color of love in most cultures:
Chinese brides wear red for their wedding, and red roses are the most common
gift for St. Valentine’s Day.
Red is also the color of communism – the flags
of China and Vietnam are red. The Former Soviet Union’s flag used to be red
too. The army of the Soviet Union was known as the “Red Army”.
In Christianity, green and red are associated
with Christmas. There is an Easter tradition to color eggs red – red in this
case represents the blood of Christ.
Satan is also most of the time represented by
the color red in icons and popular culture. On the other hand, Santa Claus
wears red and white for Christmas.
In China, red paper and red envelopes are
frequently used to wrap gifts of money. Though, on the negative side,
obituaries are traditionally written in red ink, and to write someone’s name in
red signals that you are either cutting them out of your life, or that they
have died.
Red is also used to indicate emergency and
warnings. Red is the color for all Stop signs around the World. However, the
first Stop sign had black letters on a white background until 1924 when white
was replaced with yellow. It wasn’t until 954 that all stop signs became white
and red.
Green
The color of nature, environment, healthy, good
luck, renewal, youth, spring, generosity, fertility, jealousy, inexperience,
envy, misfortune, vigor.
In North America, because of the color of the
United States dollar bill, green is the color of wealth and money. Also, the
color green is always associated with nature.
In my native country, Romania, people with green
eyes are seen as very deceptive people. In some of Shakespeare’s plays, envy is
associated with the color green.
Green is considered the traditional color of
Islam. It is also the national color of Egypt. But don’t create packaging or
mail packages in green: It’s not well-received.
In some Asian cultures the color green is often
used as a symbol of sickness.
Green is a symbol of Ireland; green is a strong
trend in the Irish holiday St. Patrick’s Day.
Yellow
The color of sunshine, happiness, cowardice, weakness, warmth,hospitality,benevolence,Sacred,mourning,strength,reliability,hope.
It is often considered as a color of shine, success
and hope. While in many cases it is considered as a color of cowardice. Often
people are called "Chicken" which is referred to a person who
is weak or coward.
It is also a sacred color of the Buddhist
people. The usually wear red or yellow sacred wear. Also many Buddhist
countries flag is in yellow like Thailand, Vietnam Tibet etc.
White
Color of reverence, purity, birth, simplicity, cleanliness, peace, humility, precision, innocence, youth, winter, snow, good, sterility, marriage (Western cultures), death (Eastern cultures), cold, clinical.
In India, people wear white after the death of a
family member.
White is the traditional color of bridal dresses
in Western cultures. A woman wearing white will be seen as a bride on a Western
website, and as a person in mourning on an Eastern website.
White is also the color of snow and winter. Some
associate snow with Christmas, forgetting that countries from the Southern
hemisphere don’t have snow during Christmas time.
White is a sacred and pure color. It's the
color of angles and gods, as the color reflects that which is sacred and
pure. It is also the color of doctors, nurses, and others in the
health profession, as well as cleanliness. In fact, the Japanese refer to
nurses as "Angels in White".
A white pigeon is an international sign of
peace; a white flag is an international sign of surrender.
Blue
In Iran it is a color of mourning.
In China this is a color of immortality;
workers’ uniforms; blue-colored gifts are associated with death. Azzurro, a
light blue, is the national color of Italy. In Hinduism it is the color of Lord
Krishna. For Egyptians dark blue is a color of mourning. In christianity it is
the color of virgin marry.
In addition, it is the color of water and the
sea, with all the symbolic references already discussed for that element - that
is, blue usually indicates femininity, life, purity, etc., just as water does.
Black
Color of 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).
Black is also the most common color used for
clothing for formal occasions; black is also worn by priests. Black is the
color of the night, and of "evil." Black can also be a color of
elegance or class
Black, sumi, is the color of mystery and
solemnity; the color of the night. Black expresses the depths of the unknown,
and encourages the imagination of a different world from that of daylight
realities.
In Ancient Religious Meanings of Color --
Pre-Christian,Black was the color of Understanding (because it absorbed all light)
In the Japanese culture, until the nineteenth
century, some women used to dye their teeth black because it was thought that
black teeth would make a woman look beautiful.
Orange
The color of energy, balance, enthusiasm,
warmth, vibrant, expansive, flamboyant, demanding of attention
The colors orange and black are the colors of
Halloween because orange is the color of pumpkins and black is the color of
night and darkness.
Orange is the national color of the Netherlands,
referring to the royal family, the House of Orange-Nassau.
Orange is the brand used by France Telecom for
its mobile network operator and Internet service provider subsidiaries.
Pink
The color pink usually serves two purposes. It can be used to show childish innocence, or a characters child-like personality. It can also be used to show a more flirtatious personality. Pink is normally a color associated with girls and femininity.
Pink is considered a color of good health and life - we
speak of people being "in the pink" or the "freshness" of a
newborn.
Cherry blossoms in shakuras have short blooming times and
are fragile, they have been used to symbolize the transience of life in Chinese
and Japanese culture.
Purple
Purple can represent royalty, spirituality,
nobility, ceremony, mysterious, wisdom, enlightenment, cruelty, arrogance, and
mourning.
Brown
Brown represents the ideas of earth, hearth,
home, the outdoors, comfort, endurance, simplicity, and comfort.In Islam
♦ Islamic symbols express an
identification with Islam, or a particular tradition within Islam. They are
also used to evoke feelings, or to stand for certain Islamic beliefs and ideas.
Some symbols, such as the color green, have been associated with Islam for a
long time and in many areas; others are of more limited duration and extent.
Muslim art often uses such symbols to represent complex ideas (see Iconography
and Islamic calligraphy). Islamic architecture may also incorporate such
symbols in the decoration of religious edifices such as mosques, khanqahs, and
dargahs. The Quran does not specify any symbols or colors for Islam; these
Islamic symbols are results of the understandings and imaginations of Muslim
artists, politicians, and thinkers ♦
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." ♣
Used as 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 ♠
Colors can...
♣ heal and comfort
♣ alleviate physical, mental and emotional conditions
♣ help change your attitude which can be holding
you back in your life .
♣ unlock your creativity
♣ change your mood
♣ release energy blockages
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