Italiano
Lietuvių
Polski
Español
ΕλληνικάTrainings on the symbolism of colours / shapes in different cultures
Colours affect our daily lives. Whether we consciously realize it or not, our perception of colours affects how we feel, whether we like or dislike something based on what we see. The way colour affects us is truly fascinating. Colours carry deep meanings in every culture.
Culture is the basis of our life and style. People’s behaviour has a direct impact and reflects the cultural aspects of a person. Asian culture, Middle Eastern culture, European culture, American culture have rich values that make people living in these places unique. Colours can show the values of each culture individually[1].
| Colour | Europe | Other cultures |
| Red
The colour red is the colour of blood, wine and rubies. In every culture, the colour red attracts attention. |
love, passion and danger | · East Asian cultures: happiness and long life. Brides often get married in red dresses to ensure a happy marriage.
· Middle East: Danger and caution, and sometimes threats. · Latin America: In Latin America, the colour red represents passion, but also Christianity. · South Africa: sacrifice, sadness and mourning. |
| Orange
Orange is the colour of fire and leaves in autumn. |
Orange is the colour of autumn and the harvest. It also symbolizes affordability. However, in Northern Ireland it is the colour of Protestants. It is also the national colour of the Netherlands, where it is associated with the royal family. | · East Asian cultures: in Japan and China, it symbolizes courage, happiness, prosperity and good health.
· Middle East: danger, sadness and loss. · Latin America: Orange is associated with the sun and the earth. |
| Yellow
Yellow is the colour of sunlight, it would seem to give an optimistic and cheerful atmosphere. |
Yellow brings to mind the warmth of the sun. It is the colour of summer, which can also indicate hospitality. However, in France and Germany it is sometimes associated with jealousy.
|
· East Asian Cultures: Yellow has mostly positive associations in most Asian cultures. In Japan, it is a royal colour that represents courage and wealth. In China, however, it is associated with pornography.
· Middle East: In Egypt, yellow is the colour of mourning. · Latin America: Yellow also symbolizes mourning. · Africa: In Africa, yellow is the colour of wealth and status. |
| Green
Green is the colour of grass and leaves, so it often represents nature. It is usually considered a calming colour. |
In Western cultures, the colour green is often associated with envy. However, because of its association with Ireland and the four-leaf clover, it also brings to mind happiness. It can also symbolize progress, due to its identification with a green light that tells the driver ‘go’. | · East Asian cultures: nature, fertility and youth. However, in China, it also means infidelity.
· Middle East: the colour green stands for fertility, money and happiness. · Latin/South America: In Mexico, green is the national colour and is considered patriotic. However, green is also the colour of death in some Latin American and South American countries. |
| Blue
The colour blue – idyllic, peaceful. Although the meanings of the colour blue vary from culture to culture, they are almost universally positive. |
Blue represents trust and authority. It is associated with calmness, though also with sadness. | · Eastern cultures: Blue signifies immortality, healing and relaxation in Asian cultures. In India, it is associated with strength.
· Turkey, Greece, Iran, Afghanistan and Albania: In these countries, blue amulets ward off evil. · Middle East: safety, security and spirituality. · Latin and South America: mourning. |
| Purple
The colour purple – historically purple dye was very expensive to produce, for this reason it is often associated with wealth. |
Purple represents royalty, wealth and fame. However, in some parts of Europe it is associated with death. | · East Asian cultures: purple represents nobility. It is a symbol of mourning in Thailand.
· Middle East: wealth. · Latin America and South America: In Brazil, the colour purple represents mourning or death. · Africa: symbol of royalty and wealth. |
| Black
The colour of night, darkness and shadows. |
The colour black can signify sophistication and formality. However, it is also the primary colour of death, mourning and funerals. Black brings to mind darkness and sometimes evil. | · East Asian cultures: In China, black is the colour of young boys. In Japan, it symbolizes mystery and feminine energy. In India, evil, rebellion or death.
· Latin/South America: Black stands for masculinity and mourning. · Middle East: evil, mystery and mourning. However, it can also indicate rebirth. · Africa: Black signifies maturity and masculinity. |
| White
The colour white could be associated with a background colour without its own meaning, although this is not necessarily the case in different cultures. |
White symbolizes purity, innocence, goodness and peace. However, in Italy, it is also traditionally used for funerals. | · Eastern/Asian cultures: white means death and mourning, as well as misfortune.
· Middle East: purity and mourning · Latin America/South America: peace Africa: peace, purity, goodness and happiness. However, in Ethiopia, it also means sickness[2]. |
Colour meaning is important because it bypasses language differences, acting as a recognizable form of communication. Yet the meaning of colour can change completely depending on where you are in the world. The meaning of colour can vary from culture to culture and from religion to religion, and cannot be ignored. We see and understand the world with vivid colours. People can use it as a tool for social interaction and deeper cultural understanding[3].
Source: https://pixabay.com/photos/holi-girl-indian-india-dance-fun-2416686/
[1] Muditha Batagoda “Understanding color psychology though culture, symbolism, and emotion” https://uxplanet.org/understanding-color-psychology-though-culture-symbolism-and-emotion-215102347276
[2] Color meanings by Jacob Olesen “Color Symbolism in Different Cultures Around the World” https://www.color-meanings.com/color-symbolism-different-cultures/
[3] Shutterstock “The Meaning of Colors in Cultures Around the World” https://www.shutterstock.com/blog/color-symbolism-and-meanings-around-the-world