Symbolic Color Meanings Throughout the World
The following is a basic list of some symbolic color meanings throughout the world.
- It is by no means a comprehensive list.
- I suggest you do your own research about the country or culture you are working with, to establish what colors are currently acceptable.
Times change and old associations may be slowly altered over the years.
Western cultures have adopted some Eastern color uses while some Eastern cultures have adopted Western ideas.
The Internet has allowed people to learn about other cultures and to adopt what they like from those cultures.
Therefore, the following meanings are traditional and not necessarily in current use in these cultures.
Cultural Color Meanings of Red:
Western:
- energy, excitement, action
- danger
- love, passion
- a warning to stop
- anger
- Christmas combined with green
- Valentine's Day
Eastern:
- prosperity
- good fortune
- worn by brides
- symbol of joy when combined with white
China:
- the color of good luck and celebration
- vitality, happiness, long life
- used as a wedding color
- used in many ceremonies from funerals to weddings
- used for festive occasions
- traditionally worn on Chinese New Year to bring luck and prosperity
India:
- color of purity, fertility, love, beauty
- wealth, opulence and power
- used in wedding ceremonies
- a sign of a married woman
- also color of fear and fire
Thailand:
- color for Sunday
Japan:
- life
- anger and danger
Cherokees:
- success, triumph
South Africa:
- color of mourning
Nigeria:
- usually reserved for ceremonies
- worn by chiefs
Russia:
- associated with the Bolsheviks and Communism,
- means beautiful in Russian language
- often used in marriage ceremonies
Australian Aborigines:
- represents the land and earth
- ceremonial color
Hebrew:
- sacrifice, sin
Christian:
- sacrifice, passion, love
Cultural Color Meanings of Pink
Western:
- caring and nurturing
- love and romance
- feminine
Eastern:
- feminine
Europe:
- feminine color
- baby girls
Belgium:
- pink was traditionally used for baby boys - now it is more common for it to be used for baby girls
Japan:
- well-liked by both males and females
Thailand:
- color for Tuesday
Korea:
- trust
Cultural Color Meanings of Orange
Western:
- affordable or inexpensive items
- Halloween, combined with black
Eastern:
- happiness
- spirituality
Thailand:
- color for Thursday
Ireland:
- religious color for Protestants
- appears on the Irish flag along with white for peace and green for Catholics
Netherlands:
- color of the Dutch Royal Family
Hinduism:
- Saffron, a soft orange color, is considered an auspicious and sacred color
Cultural Color Meanings of Yellow
Western:
- happiness, joy
- hope
- cowardice
- caution, warning of hazards and hazardous substances
Eastern:
- sacred
- imperial
China:
- sacred
- imperial, royalty
- honor
- masculine color
India:
- sacred and auspicious
- the Symbol of a Merchant
Thailand:
- considered auspicious as the bright yellow flower "cassia fistula" is a national symbol.
- represents Buddhism.
- yellow is considered the royal color, the color of Monday which is the King's birthday
Egypt:
- color of mourning
Burma:
- color of mourning
Israel:
- used to label Jews in the Middle Ages
Middle East:
- happiness
- prosperity
Japan:
- courage
- beauty and refinement
- aristocracy
- cheerfulness
Europe:
- happiness, joy
- cowardice, weakness
- hazard warning
France:
- jealousy
Greece:
- sadness
Africa:
- Usually reserved for those of high rank
Buddhism:
- wisdom
Jewish:
- yellow star badges of the Middle Ages and post war Germany and Poland
Cultural Color Meanings of Green
Western:
- lucky color in most western cultures
- spring, new birth, regeneration
- nature and environmental awareness
- color for 'go' at traffic lights
- Saint Patrick's Day
- Christmas combined with red
- jealousy
- greed
Eastern:
- new life, regeneration and hope
- fertility
China:
- new life, regeneration and hope
- fertility
- disgrace - giving a Chinese man a green hat indicates his wife is cheating on him
- exorcism
- studies show it is generally not good for packaging
India:
- the color of Islam,
- hope,
- new beginnings
- harvest
- virtue
Thailand:
- color for Wednesday
Japan:
- eternal life
- youthfulness
- freshness
Indonesia:
- a forbidden color
Ireland:
- religious color for Irish Catholics
- color symbol of Ireland - the Emerald Isle
France:
- not good for packaging
North Africa:
- corruption and the drug culture
Egypt:
- hope
- spring
Middle East:
- color of Islam
- strength
- fertility
- luck
Saudi Arabia:
- wealth and prestige
South America:
- death
USA:
- money
- jealousy
Cultural Color Meanings of Blue
Generally the safest color to use world wide
Western:
Western:
- trust and authority
- conservative,
- corporate
- peace and calm
- depression,
- sadness
- "something blue" bridal tradition
- masculine color
- baby boys
Eastern:
- immortality
China:
- immortality
- associated with pornography and 'blue films'
- feminine color
India:
- Lord Krishna
- national sports color
Japan:
- everyday life
Korea:
- color of mourning
Thailand:
- color for Friday
Belgium:
- light blue was traditionally the color for baby girls - now it is more common to use it for baby boys
Cherokees:
- defeat, trouble
Mexico:
- mourning
- trust
- serenity
Iran:
- color of mourning
- heaven and spirituality
- immortality
Israel:
- Coat of Arms
Egypt:
- virtue
- protection - to ward off evil
Middle East:
- protection
Colombia:
- associated with soap
US Politics:
- liberalism
UK & European Politics:
- conservatism
Religious Beliefs in Many Cultures:
- Christianity: Christ's color
- Judaism: holiness
- Hinduism: the color of Krishna
- Catholicism: color of Mary's robe
Cultural Color Meanings of Purple
Western:
- Royalty
- spirituality
- wealth and fame
- high ranking positions of authority
- Military Honor (Purple Heart)
Eastern:
- wealth
India:
- sorrow
- comforting
Japan:
- privilege
- wealth
Thailand:
- color of mourning for widows
- color for Saturday
Brazil:
- death and mourning
European:
- Royalty
Catholicism:
- mourning
- death, crucifixion
Cultural Color Meanings of White
Western:
- brides and weddings
- angels
- hospitals, doctors
- peace - the white dove
- purity and cleanliness
Eastern:
- death, mourning and funerals
- sadness
China:
- death and mourning
- virginity and purity
- humility
- age
- misfortune
India:
- unhappiness
- symbol of sorrow in death of family member
- traditionally the only color a widow is allowed to wear
- funerals
- peace and purity
Japan:
- White carnation symbolizes death
Thailand:
- white elephants are considered auspicious,
- white symbolizes purity in Buddhism
Korea:
- purity, innocence,
- morality,
- birth and death
Middle East:
- purity
- mourning
Cultural Color Meanings of Black
Western:
- power, control, intimidation
- funerals, death, mourning
- rebellion
Eastern:
- wealth, health and prosperity
China:
- color for young boys
India:
- evil, negativity, darkness
- lack of appeal
- anger and apathy
- used to ward off evil
Japan:
- color of mystery and the night
- may be associated with feminine energy - either evil and a threat or provocative and alluring
Thailand:
- unhappiness,
- bad luck, evil
Judaism:
- unhappiness,
- bad luck, evil
Middle East:
- evil
- mystery
Africa:
- Age and wisdom
Australian Aborigines:
- ceremonial color
- commonly used in their artworks
Cultural Color Meanings of Brown
Western:
- down-to-earth, practical
- comfortable
- stable, dependable,
- wholesome
China:
- In Chinese Horoscopes brown is the color for earth
India:
- Color of mourning
Nicaragua:
- Sign of disapproval
Cultural Color Meanings of Magenta
Western:
- Creative, innovative and artistic
- Imaginative and outrageous
- Loving, compassionate and kind
- Encourages emotional balance
- Spiritual yet practical
- Non-conformist
Spain:
- Official color of the Union Progress and Democracy political party
Netherlands:
- Used by the Amsterdam based Magenta Foundation in support of anti-racism
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