Color symbolism#Red

Red is a primary color across all models of color space. It is the color of blood. It is often associated with love, passion, and lust but also danger and aggression. It is frequently used in relation to Valentine's Day. It can also be used to signify danger or warning but it is also associated with importance. For instance, it is used for stop signs{{cite news|title=Road vertical signs. Variable message traffic signs|publisher=BSI British Standards|doi=10.3403/03263875u}} and fire engines.{{cite web|url=http://www.rocklandfirefighters.org/?zone=/unionactive/view_article.cfm&HomeID=50076&page=Fire20Department20Traditions|title=Why are fire trucks red?|website=rocklandfirefighters.org|access-date=2018-11-05}} In China, red is often used to symbolize good luck or happiness, and is used for many holidays or weddings.{{Cite news|url=https://www.color-meanings.com/color-symbolism-in-chinese-culture-what-do-traditional-chinese-colors-mean/|title=Color Symbolism in Chinese Culture: What do Traditional Chinese Colors Mean?|date=2015-01-16|work=Color-Meanings.com|access-date=2018-11-06|language=en-US}} It also represents communism.{{Citation |title=Red flag (politics) |date=2023-06-24 |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Red_flag_(politics)&oldid=1161636450 |work=Wikipedia |access-date=2023-07-04 |language=en}}{{circular reference|date=March 2024}}

Blue is a primary color across all models of color space. It is the color of the ocean and the sky; it often symbolizes serenity, stability, inspiration, or wisdom.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bourncreative.com/meaning-of-the-color-blue/|title=Meaning of The Color Blue {{!}}|date=2011-01-15|work=Bourn Creative|access-date=2018-11-05|language=en-US}} It can be a calming color, and symbolize reliability.{{Cite news|url=https://www.color-meanings.com/blue-color-meaning-the-color-blue/|title=Blue Color Meaning – The Color Blue|date=2013-03-01|work=Color-Meanings.com|access-date=2018-11-05|language=en-US}} In the Catholic Church, the Virgin Mary is most often depicted wearing blue, to symbolize being "full of grace" by divine favor.{{Cite news|url=https://aleteia.org/2017/06/24/why-is-the-blessed-virgin-mary-always-wearing-blue/|title=Why is the Blessed Virgin Mary always wearing blue?|date=2017-06-24|work=Aleteia – Catholic Spirituality, Lifestyle, World News, and Culture|access-date=2018-11-05|language=en-US}} Blue is widely used for baby boys' clothes or bedrooms, although the reason blue is so strongly associated with boys is debated.{{Cite news|url=https://www.livescience.com/22037-pink-girls-blue-boys.html|title=Why Is Pink for Girls and Blue for Boys?|date=1 August 2012|first=Natalie|last=Wolchover|work=Live Science|access-date=7 November 2018}} Blue can also represent sadness and depression ("they have the blues").

Yellow is a primary color in many models of color space, and a secondary in all others. It is a color often associated with sunshine or joy.{{Cite web|url=https://www.colormatters.com/the-meanings-of-colors/yellow|title=Yellow|last=Morton|first=Jill|website=colormatters.com|language=en-gb|access-date=2018-11-05}} It is sometimes used in association with cowardice or fear, i.e., the phrase "yellow-bellied".{{Cite news|url=https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/yellow-bellied|title=yellow-bellied – Dictionary Definition|work=Vocabulary.com|access-date=2018-11-05}} Children tend to like this color, and it is used to market products to children;{{Cite news|url=https://www.bourncreative.com/meaning-of-the-color-yellow/|title=Meaning of The Color Yellow {{!}}|date=2011-02-05|work=Bourn Creative|access-date=2018-11-05|language=en-US}} it is also used for warning signs,{{Cite web |last=Rowe |first=Kevin |title=The Colours of Safety Signs: What Do They Mean? |url=https://www.safetybuyer.com/blog/the-colours-of-safety-signs-what-do-they-mean.html |access-date=2023-11-07 |website=Safety Buyer |language=en}} school buses and taxi cabs since it is such a bright, noticeable color.

Green is a primary color in many models of color space, and a secondary in all others. It is most often used to represent nature, healing, health, youth, or fertility, since it is such a dominant color in nature. It can be a very relaxing color{{Cite news|url=https://www.bourncreative.com/meaning-of-the-color-green/|title=Meaning of The Color Green {{!}}|date=2011-01-25|work=Bourn Creative|access-date=2018-11-05|language=en-US}} but is also used in the US to symbolize money, greed, sickness or jealousy. Saying that someone is "green" means they are inexperienced or new.{{Cite web|url=https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/green|title=Green definition and meaning {{!}} Collins English Dictionary|website=collinsdictionary.com|language=en-US|access-date=2018-11-05}}

Orange is a secondary color across many models of color space. Symbolically, orange is a stimulating color.{{Cite journal |last1=Farringdon |first1=Jill |last2=Morton |first2=A.Q. |date=July 1997 |title=Correspondence |url=https://doi.org/10.1016/s1355-0306(97)72177-4 |journal=Science & Justice |volume=37 |issue=3 |pages=212–213 |doi=10.1016/s1355-0306(97)72177-4 |issn=1355-0306}} It is often associated with amusement, extroversion, fire, energy and activity. It is the color most closely associated with autumn and leaves. It is one of the most attention-grabbing colors in human vision, and is often used to attract the eye (traffic cones, safety vests, etc.).{{cite web | url=https://vision-boutique.com/what-color-catches-the-eye-first-the-science-of-vision/#:~:text=Red%20and%20orange%20seem%20to,red%20and%20orange%20in%20popularity | title=What Color Catches the Eye First? | the Science of Vision | date=April 2022 }}

Black is a primary color across all models of color space. In Western culture, it is considered a negative color and usually symbolizes death, grief, or evil but also depression.{{Cite news|url=https://www.colorpsychology.org/black/|title=Black Color Psychology – Black Meaning & Personality|work=Color Psychology|access-date=2018-11-05|language=en-US}} People often wear black for mourning, although this practice is not as widespread as it was in the past.{{Citation|last=Jalland|first=Pat|title=Death in the Victorian Family|date=1996-11-07|pages=77–97|chapter=Death and the Victorian Doctors|publisher=Oxford University Press|doi=10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198201885.003.0005|isbn=9780198201885|author-link=Pat Jalland}}

White is a primary color across all models of color space. It most often symbolizes perfection, faith, innocence, softness, and cleanliness.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bourncreative.com/meaning-of-the-color-white/|title=Meaning of The Color White {{!}}|date=2010-12-05|work=Bourn Creative|access-date=2018-11-06|language=en-US}} Brides often wear white dresses to symbolize purity.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bridesmagazine.co.uk/article/why-do-brides-wear-white|title=Why Do Brides Wear White? And Other Questions|last=Davis|first=Lexxi|access-date=2018-11-06}} However, in some Asian and Slavic cultures, as well as Ancient Egypt, white represents death and/or mourning.

Pink is a prominent secondary or tertiary color in many color space models. It is associated with softness, sweetness, love, and immaturity.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bourncreative.com/meaning-of-the-color-pink/|title=Meaning of The Color Pink {{!}}|date=2010-11-15|work=Bourn Creative|access-date=2018-11-06|language=en-US}} There is an urban legend that pink was a masculine color before the mid 20th century,{{citation needed|date=June 2022}} based on evidence of conflicting traditions before about 1940. Del Giudice (2012) argues that pink-blue gender coding has been broadly consistent in the UK and the US since it appeared around 1890.{{cite journal|last1=Del Giudice|first1=Marco|title=The Twentieth Century Reversal of Pink-Blue Gender Coding: A Scientific Urban Legend?|journal=Archives of Sexual Behavior|volume=41|issue=6|year=2012|pages=1321–1323|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/229437155|issn=0004-0002|doi=10.1007/s10508-012-0002-z|pmid=22821170|hdl=2318/1852738 |s2cid=207782208 |hdl-access=free}}

Color plays an important role in setting expectations for a product and communicating its key characteristics.{{Cite journal |last=Aslam |first=Mubeen M. |date=2006 |title=Are You Selling the Right Colour? A Cross-Cultural Review of Colour as a Marketing Cue |journal=Journal of Marketing Communications |volume=12 |issue=1 |pages=15–30 |doi=10.1080/13527260500247827|s2cid=168153362 |url=https://ro.uow.edu.au/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2092&context=commpapers}} Color is the second most important element that allows consumers to identify brand packaging.{{Cite journal|last1=Popa|first1=C.N. |last2=Popescu|first2=S. |last3=Berehoiu|first3=R.M.T. |last4=Berehoiu|first4=S.M.T. |date=2013 |title=Considerations regarding use and role of colour in marketing |url=http://managementjournal.usamv.ro/pdf/vol.XIII/Art44.pdf |journal= Scientific Papers Series – Management, Economic Engineering in Agriculture and Rural Development |volume=13 |issue=1 |pages=269–274}}

Marketers for products with an international market navigate the color symbolism variances between cultures with targeted advertising. Car manufacturer Volkswagen ran a commercial in Italy with a black sheep in the middle of a larger flock symbolizing those who owned a VW Golf as unique and self-assured among a crowd of others who were not. In several cultures around the world, a black sheep represents an outcast and is seen as something undesirable, while in Italy, a black sheep represents confidence and independence.{{Citation needed|date=January 2019}}File:Friaul Val Aupa Drentus Sheep credit Kaspar Nickles 2017.jpg There are many additional variances in color symbolism between cultures. Cold is symbolized by blue in East Asia, the US, and Sweden while warmth is symbolized by yellow in the US and by blue in The Netherlands. Sometimes the meanings of colors are in stark opposition across geographic boundaries, requiring products marketed to specific demographics to account for those changes across different markets. For instance, feminity is symbolized by blue in The Netherlands and pink in the US, whereas masculinity is symbolized by blue in Sweden and the US, and red in the UK and France. In some instances color symbolism in marketing is constructed. The sales volume of a company whose product is defined by the name of its color is susceptible to the symbolism and association of that {{nowrap|name{{hsp}}{{mdash}}{{hsp}}}}in one example, a company selling a paint color named "off white" more than doubled its sales simply by renaming the same color "ancient silk".

File:Vatican II - Dubois - Liénart.JPG and cardinal in choir dress. Bishops traditionally wear purple, cardinals red.]]

File:Preah Pithu T Monks - Siem Reap.jpgs in Cambodia. Orange, symbolizing enlightenment, is an important color in Buddhism.]]

Color symbolism has changed over time. Between the 5th and 17th centuries, interpretations of color were largely related to religious contexts. Blue was symbolic of heaven and white of purity. Today, purity is still symbolized by white in Australia and the US but by blue in other countries like India. Similarly, the church influenced the perception of colors like crimson and purple. Largely because the dyes for these colors could only be sourced from precious pigments, religious figures like Madonna, Cardinals and the Virgin were seen in scarlet and purple. Today, purple symbolizes evil and infidelity in Japan, but the same is symbolized by blue in East Asia and by yellow in France. Additionally, the sacred color of Hindu and Buddhist monks is orange. The Renaissance was also a time in which black and purple were colors of mourning. Today, mourning or death is symbolized by white in East Asia, black in the US, and blue in Iran, while happiness is symbolized by white in Australia and NZ, and yellow in China.

There is a general disagreement over whether reactions to color and their symbolism are a result of cultural conditioning or of instinct. Several studies concluded that color is part of the social learning process because of the significant symbolism within the culture. High quality, trustworthiness, and dependability are symbolized by blue in the US, Japan, Korea and green and yellow in China—as well as purple in China, South Korea, and Japan. Because of these variances, critical cues vary across cultures. Warning signs are coded differently as a danger is symbolized by green in Malaysia and red in the US and Mexico. The same color of green symbolizes envy in Belgium and the US, but envy is symbolized by yellow in Germany and Russia, and purple in Mexico. Even the colors that denote powerful emotions vary. Love is symbolized by green in Japan, red and purple in China, Korea, Japan, and the US. Unluckiness is symbolized by red in Chad, Nigeria, and Germany. Luckiness is symbolized by red in China, Denmark, and Argentina. The traditional bridal color is red in China and white in the US. Ambition and desire are symbolized by red in India.

One example in which different conceptualizations of color may lead to confusion is the coloring of upward or downward trends in international quoted prices; whereas in most of the world green or blue is used to denote an upward trend and red is used to denote a downward trend, in mainland China, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan, the reverse is true. This confusion often leads to Western media outlets using incorrect or reversed headline images to accompany reports of a major economic upturn or downturn in an Asian market.{{Cite web |last=Wedderburn |first=Jon |date=2011-03-17|title=Colour coding cultural translation|website=World Accent|url=https://www.worldaccent.com/blog/2011/03/colour-coding-cultural-translation.html }}

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Prior to its being widely studied in a scientific context, color symbolism was theorized upon by curious individuals in other humanities. These early theoreticians include German polymath Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (in his Theory of Colours) and Russian abstract artist Wassily Kandinsky (in his Concerning the Spiritual in Art, among others). Although color treatises such as these are often unscientific (Kandinsky, for instance, was heavily influenced by Theosophy), they occasionally find resonance with artists, philosophers and others working in "softer" subjects.

• Color code
• Color psychology
• Color term
• Color theory
• Political color
• The Three Colors trilogy

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.informationisbeautiful.net/visualizations/colours-in-cultures/ Colours In Cultures]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20150821065517/http://www.ridingthebeast.com/articles/colors Color Symbolism in The Bible]

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Category:Symbolism

Symbolism