-Symbolism of Colors -

-Symbolism of Colors-

Black - Black represents a lack of color, the primordial void, emptiness. It can also mean sorrow or mourning, in the Christian tradition of wearing black to funerals. In this respect it can also symbolize death. Black is also linked to witchcraft (Black Magic), evil, and the unknown, as the predominant color worn by "evil witches" in colonial America. The stock market crash of 1929, dubbed "Black Tuesday" further links the color with loss, depression, and despair.

Blue - Blue is the color most often associated with issues of the spirit and intellect. It is the color of sky and heaven, also having strong connections with nearly all forms of water; for this reason it can have feminine, cool, and reflective qualities. Its link to the sky also connotes eternity and immensity, time and space. Blue may be truth (no clouds to hide it) and transparency; it is linked to loyalty, fidelity, constancy, and chastity. Many babies are born with blue eyes, thus innocence and purity can be attributed to the color.

Green - Green is a dualistic color. It can represent envy, evil, and trickery, and/or growth, renewal, and life, as lush vegetation. In Arthurian legend the green knight slew all who attempted to cross his bridge, until he was killed by Arthur. In this respect green can be seen as death's unbiased nature and the slaying of the naive. Vegetation, earthly, growing things. Fertility, Mother Earth, life, nature. Resurrection, permanence, and love, which was the color of Aphrodite, Greek love goddess, born from the green sea. It is usually a feminine color, but is also one of neutrality, passivity and indecision. In most Shakespeare the sea is green, and is often related to memory.A sign of freshness and youth along with virtue and peace. Hospitality and knowledge also follow. Can be thought of as expectation in relation to spring hopes. As the national color of Ireland it is supposed to bring luck, especially on St. Patrick's Day.

Orange - orange is most often linked to flame and fire, conveying thier qualities. Orange can also mean luxury.

Purple - Purple is derived from the combination of red and blue, it unites red's fiery masculinity with blue's cool femininity. Purple is often used to represent royalty, imperial power, justice, and/or truth. Christian references to the color link it with God the Father and royal power. Dried blood has a purple hue to it, and bruises on the flesh are often purple, in this respect it can be a sign of physical injury.

Red - Is an emotionally charged color. It is associated with the sun and all gods of war, anger, blood-lust, vengance, fire, and the masculine. It can also mean love, passion, health, and/or sexual arousal.

Yellow - Yellow often stands for light, the suns's rays, intellect, faith, and/or goodness. However, yellow can also be a sign of cowardice, betrayal, and/or jealousy. Insects that bear yellow and blackstripes are often poisonous, or attempting to mimic another poisonous insect, and in this respect yellow can be seen as a warning, and/or protection for it's bearer. In medical terms, a yellow flag means quarantine.

White- White may be defined either as the absence of all color or the presence of all colors of the light spectrum, and can represent either innocence or the ultimate goal of purification. White is often the heavenly, while black is the underworld. It is light, air, life, holiness, love, redemption. The white flag is a symbol of surrender or friendship.

Rainbow- To observe a rainbow is to bear witness to a spectacle of heavenly glory, of celestial wonder. The rainbow often symbolizes transfiguration, and behaves as a bridge between earth and Paradise. For the Chinese, the rainbow was viewed as a symbol of the yin and yang; it is typically perceived as an act of divine benevolence, its colors reflecting divine qualities.