Colors by Culture

culture-colors

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Colors are a powerful way to convey an idea or a message.  They are a global resource used to invoke thought and feeling.

Western Culture

ORANGE
Harvest,Warmth, Affordable

BROWN
Practicality, Comfort, Stability

YELLOW
Happiness, Joy, Caution

GREEN
Luck, Jealousy, Greed

BLUE
Depression, Trust, Calm

PURPLE
Royalty, Spirituality, Wealth

RED
Love, Danger, Action

BLACK
Intimidation, Death, Mourning

Far Eastern Culture

ORANGE
Happiness, Spirituality, Adaptability

BROWN
Earth, Industrious, Mourning

YELLOW
Masculinity, Sacred, Royalty

GREEN
Fertility, Hope, Life

BLUE
Feminine, Healing, Relaxation

PURPLE
Wealth, Privilege, Spirituality

RED
Prosperity, Good Fortune, Vitality

BLACK
Health, Prosperity, Stability

Indian Culture

ORANGE
Sacred, Courage, Love

BROWN
Mourning

YELLOW
Sacred, Auspicious

GREEN
Hope, Harvest, Virtue

BLUE
Sports, Strength

PURPLE
Sorrow, Comfort, Nobility

RED
Beauty, Wealth, Power

BLACK
Evil, Darkness, Negativity

Middle Eastern Culture

ORANGE
Mourning, Loss

BROWN
Harmony, Earth, Comfort

YELLOW
Happiness, Prosperity, Mourning

GREEN
Strength, Fertility, Hope

BLUE
Mourning, Heaven, Spirituality

PURPLE
Wealth, Virtue, Royalty

RED
Danger, Caution, Evil

BLACK
Mystery, Mourning, Rebirth

Colors in Religions:

Christianity :

Red
skin color, sores, wine, blood, shields, temptation, life, war, sacrifice, repentance, purification
Blue
Water, heaven, holy service
Yellow
unrighteousness, corruption, leprous hair, used to describe gold
Green
Rest, life, growth, restoration, fruitfulness, maturity, frailty
Purple
corruption of wealth, royalty, fine materials
Orange (or Gold)
Gluttony, radiance, God’s presence
White
purity, righteousness, nature, health, illness
RAINBOW
Represents a promise made from God to Noah that God would never again destroy humanity by flooding the whole earth

Judaism:

Red
Blood, sin, joy, happiness, life
Blue
Divinity, height, depth, equilibrium, glory
Yellow
illness, frailty, corruption, cheer, justice
Green
life, growth, disease, vegetation
Purple
purification from sin
Orange (or Gold)
divinity, celestial light, glory
White
intellectual purity, innocence, light, life, death, salt
RAINBOW
Represents a promise made from God to Noah that God would never again destroy humanity by flooding the whole earth

Buddhism:

Red
achievement, wisdom, fortune, dignity, virtue, fire, life
Blue
Kindness, peace, compassion, harmony
Yellow
Being free from worldly cares and materialism, grounded nature, stability
Green
Youthfulness, vitality, Karma, action, harmony, balance
Orange (or Gold)
Wisdom
White
liberation from space and time

Islam

Red
Often used in Muslim flags
Blue
protection
– Often used in mosque architecture
Green
life, nature, paradise (when combined with gold)
White
purity, peace

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Sources:

http://www.colourlovers.com/blog/2007/08/20
http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/Chinese_Customs/colours.htm
http://www.webdesignerdepot.com/2012/06/color-and-cultural-design-considerations
Buddhism darhma logo CC BY-SA 3.0 Koło Dharmy