Socyberty > Folklore

Historical Significance of Colors

by valli, Jan 27, 2008

Colors have different meanings in various cultures. They are used to represent holidays and express feelings in different countries. The meanings of colors have changed over the years. Find the historical significance of your favorite color.

Violet/Purple

Historical Significance

Widows used to wear purple to mourn their husbands' death in Thailand.
To obtain one ounce of Tyrian purple dye, the Egyptian queen Cleopatra asked her servants to soak 20,000 purpura snails for 10 days.
Richard Wagner composed his operas in room with violet shades; violet is his color of inspiration.
Leonardo Da Vinci believed the power of meditation increases when done in violet or purple light (light of stained glass).
A purple heart is a decoration for the soldiers killed or wounded in a battle by US Military.

Present Significance

Purple is the royal color and is symbolic to luxury and sophistication.
According to color theory the purple color in children's room can help improve their imagination.
It is feminine and romantic.

Blue

Historical Significance

The Pharaohs of Egypt used to wear blue for protection against evil.
Blue is the color of mourning in Iran.
In ancient Rome public servants used to wear blue.

Present Significance

Blue relaxes the body, so it is often used in bed rooms.
It symbolizes loyalty, hence wearing blue is recommended by experts for interviews.
Studies show that weightlifters are able to handle heavier weights in blue gyms. This is because people are more productive in blue rooms.

Green

Historical Significance

Green is the national color of Ireland.
In Scotland, people used to wear green as a mark of honor.
People in ancient Egypt used to color the floors of their temples green.
In ancient Greece, green was symbolic to victory.
Brides in the Middle Ages used to wear green to symbolize fertility.

Present Significance

Green is the healing color and relaxes patients. Hence hospitals often use this color.
It is a refreshing color and can improve vision.

Yellow

Historical Significance

In Japan during the war of dynasty each warrior wore a yellow chrysanthemum as a pledge of courage.
In Egypt and Burma yellow is the color of mourning.
In India yellow is the divine color.
In ancient France the doors of criminals were painted yellow.
Actors of Middle Ages used to wear yellow to represent the dead in a play.

Present Significance

Yellow enhances concentration and speeds up metabolism.
People lose their tempers more often in yellow color rooms and it is the most difficult color for the eye to take in.

Red

Historical Significance

Red was the color of House of Lancaster, which defeated the House of York (white color) in English war of the Roses.
The soldiers of the Italian leader Garibaldi, who unified modern Italy, were called as the Red shirts.
Red flag was the symbol for battle for ancient Romans.
In China, red is the wedding and holiday color and also a color of good luck.
Ancient Egyptians used to paint their body with red dye for emphasis.
The Bolsheviks used red flag as their symbol in 19th century when they overthrew the czar.
Red is the color of mourning in South Africa.

Present Significance

Red is the color of love.
It is the most emotionally intense color.
It stimulates faster heartbeat and breathing.

Black

Historical Significance

In ancient Egypt people used to believe that black cats had divine powers.
Black was the color of mourning for ancient Romans and Egyptians.
The security troops in Hitler's German army were known as black shirts.

Present Significance

Black is the color of authority.
It implies submission; hence priests wear black to signify submission to God.
It makes people appear thinner for which it became popular color in fashion.

White

Historical Significance

White is the color of mourning in China and Japan.
The people of ancient Persia used to believe that all Gods wore white.
The Egyptian Pharaohs used to wear white crowns.
White flag is the universal symbol for truce.
The ancient Greeks used to wear white cloths to bed to get pleasant dreams.

Present Significance

White reflects light, so people wear white in summer.
Brides wear white to symbolize innocence and purity; it is considered as good luck to be married in white clothes.
White goes well with most colors, so became popular in fashion.
Doctors and nurses wear white to symbolize sterility.

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#1 by lanne, Jan 27, 2008

Great article Valli!! I learned a lot from this one.

#2 by IcyCucky, Jan 27, 2008

Very interesting, I learn a lot too.

#3 by louie jerome, Jan 27, 2008

Interesting and informative

#4 by Alexa Gates, Jan 27, 2008

I never knew this about colors!

#5 by CHAN LEE PENG, Jan 27, 2008

Very interesting, the pictures too beautiful, thanks! Take care!

#6 by valli, Jan 27, 2008

Thank you everyone for the appreciation.

#7 by 45-year-old-man, Jan 27, 2008

In this article, did we talk about non-colors (white and black)? yes
...the 3 primary colors (red, yellow, and blue)? yes
...the 3 secondary colors (green, purple, and orange)? not all
WE LEFT OUT ORANGE, now didn't we! Orange is the traditional coloration of the robes of holy men in both Hindu and Buddhist traditions. It, like purple, has been indicatative of royalty.

#8 by Judy Sheldon, Jan 27, 2008

Excellent article. I can see that you did a lot of research to present these facts. It was well done, and informative. I learned a lot. Thank you.

#9 by valli, Jan 27, 2008

@ 45-year-old-man

Yes, yes.. thats a point to be noted! Somehow Orange didnt strike me at all... my mistake! Thanx for adding that point up:)

@Judy
Thanks a lot for your comment.

#10 by Meri Jeffrey, Jan 28, 2008

Amazing content, I can't digest it all right now but interesting subject matter!

#11 by What about Orange?, Jan 28, 2008

What about Orange? I am sat in an Orange room right now, and I want to know the implications of this. How disappointing.

#12 by Dee Ann, Jan 29, 2008

Orange is a symbol of power. I was also Frank Sinatra's favourite colour.

#13 by Ariel, Jan 29, 2008

Contrary to popular belief. Wearing a white wedding dress is not symbolic of purity. In weddings, it the veil that symbolizes purity and virginity.

Before the 18th century, white was not a common dress color because wedding dresses were often time worn well over one time (in fact many times over the course of a few years). Because white stains easily, most of the time women would not wear white dresses at the wedding in order to preserve the dress. Therefore, a white wedding dress became a symbol of wealth (showing that you could afford to buy a new dress if it were to stain).

Just thought you should know

#14 by Gerald Middlebrooks, Jan 30, 2008

That was very informative! I too can see you have researched thoroughly as a result of the findings. I am pleased to know that green can improve vision seeing as how I have just learned I am in the premier stages of glaucoma. Maybe I will get a green tint on my glasses....Thanks a lot!!

#15 by valli, Jan 30, 2008

Thank you everyone for reading and commenting.

#16 by Anne Lyken-Garner, Jan 31, 2008

Very informative and interesting

#17 by Shelly McRae, Jan 31, 2008

Interesting article, really enjoyed reading it.

#18 by valli, Jan 31, 2008

Thank you for the comments, Anne, and Shelly McRae.

#19 by Atikin, Feb 4, 2008

It is weird yet wonderful how much colours say about you...now I know all about my favourite colours - Black and purple!
Excellent article and very cleverly thought of!

#20 by Liane Schmidt, Feb 5, 2008

I love learning about such things. Great article!

Best wishes.

Sincerely,

-Liane Schmidt.

#21 by valli, Feb 5, 2008

Thanks for the appreciation, Atikin, and Liane Schmidt.

#22 by jessiegirl88, Feb 12, 2008

Great article. I like the idea of putting purple into a child's room to bring out their imagination.

#23 by valli, Feb 13, 2008

Thank you , Jessiegirl88

#24 by Jaison, Feb 14, 2008

Good one Valli

#25 by quiet voice, Feb 16, 2008

..my, how fascinating. What a beautifully
composed article. Great work.

#26 by Jay Lenno, Feb 24, 2008

This is a great page of information. Great job goes out to everyone who helped work on it. I have to run, my show starts in an hour!

#27 by valli, Feb 25, 2008

Thank you, Jaison, quiet voice, and Jay Lenno.

#28 by Dexymine, Mar 6, 2008

Very nice and insightful

#29 by icefusion, Mar 12, 2008

informative. liked it

#30 by valli, Mar 13, 2008

Thank you, Dexymine, and Icefusion.

#31 by swa!!, May 18, 2008

hmm.. very nice...i loved d article...very informaive...
but there are many more colors which could be talked about!!

#32 by by jooc, Sep 4, 2008

never knew colors meant anything

#33 by ali, Sep 4, 2008

i tuaght colors are just colors but after i read about the color, i guess they mean something.

#34 by nurul, Oct 13, 2008

thank you for your article.it\'s very helping me. i need it for my sister, she needs to finish her homework. but if you can explain the history and or the meaning of other colours. it\'s really really helpful. :)

#35 by Louis, Oct 16, 2008

Wasn't white the color of mourning in France as well?

#36 by Kimi, Nov 25, 2008

what about pink?

#37 by Arvind Bagga, Feb 17, 2009

Good work vali. But you need to elaborate these more in a broader way

#38 by Pooh, Mar 1, 2009

Awesome! I loved it.

#39 by MOSKY, Mar 16, 2009

I wanted to know the meaning of the color cream. You have given us vital information but the reason why have check on the site is the color "cream" i will be glad if you can forward it to my mail below: mosketies@gmail.com

#40 by hurly, Mar 20, 2009

Hey sorry but I feel like you forgot about the significance of red, to communism, socialism, independence achieved by former colonies of Spain, Colombia etc. Red has great significance amongst the Pan-Africanism movement and has been adopted in the flags of many African countries upon their recent realisations of independence. Also I found your definition of black to be slightly lacking. Black you say signifies submission yet has been adopted by a multitude of Pro-African movements to signify just the opposite, black parallel to red, green and gold (Pan-African colours) have all been adopted in the colour schemes of more flags than any other colour, legitimising their significance.
Black may signify submission in some cultures but I think it\'s worth noting that it signifies the struggle resulting from the perceived belief that as black was the colour of submission, Blacks were naturally submissive to (Europeans) White\'s. Christianity stems from White\'s and colonialism while not a product of christianity was certainly aided by it\'s influence. Black nowadays also means a struggle for independence and freedom. The Australian aboriginals even adopted black in their flag for this very reason, their flag was only created in 1971!!!!! Black is not the colour of authority not by any means, black is the colour adopted by the anarchism movement, black has noting to do with authority. Didn\'t know that it made you look thinner that\'s cool I guess.
Anyway just thought you had left some important stuff out, it kinda irked me that black only meant submission, authority and a link to nazism seemed like it was one sided.
Good job though very interesting article.

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