Historical Significance of Colors

[Shamim Ansary]

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.


by valli in Folklore

[papelrezwan]

Thank you Mr. Shamim Ansary for this knowledgeable post.

[Ms. Aziz]

Dear Ansary,
Thanks 4 sending such a nice informative thing.Keep sending.

[ananda]

Hi,

Thanks for the informative post. I would also like to share some information about color. Color plays significant role in designing website. Each color has some underlying attributes. Knowing these attributes can help us in better design of the websites. I have added the description below.

Red – Power, Energy, Passion, Danger etc.
Blue – Trust, Security, Technology etc.
Green – Nature, Health, Good luck etc.
Yellow – Hope, Dishonesty, Betrayal etc.
Purple – Mystery, Royalty, Cruelty etc.
Orange – Energy, Balance, Warmth etc.
Brown – Earth, comfort, endurance etc.
Gray – Intellect, Futurism, Sadness etc.
White – Purity, Precision, Death etc.
Black – Power, Death, Fear etc.


BR-
Kamanashis Biswas
Senior Lecturer
CSE, FSIT

[Shamim Ansary]

Good addition, dear Sir.

I know, you are a self-inspired & positive man.

I do believe, you are inspiring all your students to regularly browse, contribute & learn from the Forum.