Color Symbolism and Culture

North America Visual Semantics

• Red — excitement, heat, power, energy, love, passion, aggression, blood, intensity, strength, fire, stop, danger
• Orange — emotion, enthusiasm, alertness, warmth, excitement, positive, organic, Autumn, immaturity, deprivation
• Yellow — emotion, positive, competent, happy, energy, sunshine, warm, optimism, hope, joy, philosophy, Summer, caution, jealousy, dishonesty, cowardice, betrayal
• Green — growth, go, positive, clam, organic, tasteful, comfort, fresh, life, nature, health, good luck, money, beginning, renewal, envy, tranquility, jealousy, envy, stagnation
• Blue — masculine, stable, calm, serenity, trustworthy, mature, fluid, refreshing, conservative, corporate, security, technology, order, intellect, sorrow, youthful, peace, clean, clear, Winter, cold
• Purple — youthful, contemporary, royalty, wisdom, authority, introversion, decadence
• White — pure, clean, honest, bright, spacious, precision, innocence, sterility, happiness, divine, light, joy, Winter, sterility, cold, elitism, death
• Black — serious, formal, heavy, power, sexuality, sophistication, mystery, death, darkness, fear, unhappiness, evil, mourning
• Gray — integrity, neutral, cool, mature, corporate, modesty, intellect, futurism, purity, innocence, spacious, empty, sadness, sorrow, decay
• Brown — reliable, earthy, practicality, wholesome, organic, unpretentious, rugged, boring, dirty, humorless, unsophisticated
• Gold — conservative, stable, elegant, materialistic
• Pink — youthful, feminine, warm, calming, love, romance, sophistication, sincerity, inhibition, emasculation, physical weakness
• Pastels — youthful, soft, feminine, sensitive, playful, Spring, Immaturity
• Metallics — elegant, lasting, luminous, rigidity
• Source link here.

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]

In Tibetan Buddhism, blue is the color of Vairochana, a celestial Buddha, whose image is the immensity of sky blue. [2] Buddhist monks wear orange (specifically the color saffron) robes primarily due to tradition. That was the least expensive color dye at the time and that is what they continued to wear. The robes themselves symbolize "simplicity and detachment of materialism." [3]

Green is the traditional color of Islam. The Islamic flag is green. Green is also mentioned in the Quran as the color of garments, cushions and carpets in paradise. [4]

In Hinduism, saffron is their most sacred color. Saffron represents fire that burns our impurities. Yellow represents knowledge and learning. The color green of the Maharashtra represents life and happiness. The color blue is like infinity like the vastness of the oceans and sky. [5]

In Christianity, the color red symbolizes the blood of Jesus Christ and of sacrifice. White represents the body of Christ. Black represents sin in Catholic liturgy. Gray is the color of ash and this represents repentance in Catholicism. Purple is the liturgical color for the seasons of Advent and Lent. Heaven is described as having a lot of gold in buildings and streets. White and silver are used in liturgy during Christmas and Easter. [6]

The Bible says that many in the Middle East and Rome valued colored gems and jewelry. Red and white coral was used for beads and ornaments. Red rubies and light blue turquoise were given as gifts. (Ezekiel 27:16)

Use in Medicine and Therapy:

Colors are sometimes used in therapy (Also called Chromotherapy). 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 and in "cases of cellulitis caused by a poor elimination, heaviness or sluggishness after eating, disorders of the spleen, bladder and kidney." [7] Yellow helps energize people and relieves depression.

- See more at: http://www.incredibleart.org/lessons/middle/color2.htm#.dpuf