Colors have meanings in nature, culture and society, psychology and religion.
Color expresses natural, cultural, social, psychological and religious connotations. Natural associations reflect nature and universal themes (i.e., green meaning growth and spring). Cultural overtones elicit social ideas (i.e., green implying luck or seasickness). Psychological meanings may be positive or negative (i.e., black representing power or death). Religious connotations connect with spiritual beliefs (e.g., purple symbolizing Lent, green representing fertility).
Red
In nature, red symbolizes fire, sex, the planet Mars and blood. Cultural and psychological connotations include passion, love, heat, danger, ambition and anger. It is the universal symbol for stop signs, fire trucks and the Red Cross. Politically, red stands for socialism, communism and revolution. In Hinduism, women wear red sari's when getting married, red marks placed on the forehead indicate important occasions, and certain deities dressed in red offer protection or ward off evil. In Christianity, red honors martyred saints and represents fire and the Pentecost. Psychologically, red stirs up enthusiasm, increases energy, encourages action and raises the heart rate and blood pressure.
Orange
In Hinduism, orange represents fire, purity, the quest for light and religious abstinence. It is a sacred color for Hindu and Buddhist holy men. Culturally and psychologically it represents happiness, energy, flamboyance, aggressions and arrogance. In nature, orange means autumn and orange fruits (oranges and tangerines). Orange represents the Netherlands' royal family.
Yellow
Yellow symbolizes happiness, optimism, hope and peace. It stimulates thinking, memory and the nervous system and represents weakness, avarice and greed. In nature, yellow represents sunlight, summer and gold. Hinduism's Lord Vishnu's knowledge is represented in his yellow garments. In the middle ages, yellow represented the devil; currently yellow may represent corruption and deprivation.
Green
Green represents nature in the grass, trees, and new growth. Green is psychologically relaxing, soothing and uplifting. Culturally, green represents jealousy, greed, good luck and wealth. Religious themes include fertility, earth, triumph of life over death, eternal life and renewal.
lue
In nature, blue represents the planet Earth, sky and water. Psychologically, blue represents dependability and commitment, or depression and sadness (the blues). Blue is calming and supports intuition. In Christianity, blue represents heaven and truth, and is used in Advent liturgical celebrations.
Purple
Purple is psychologically uplifting and calming, and encourages creativity. It represents envy, spirituality, wealth (Marti Gras), gaudiness, profanity and exaggeration. Christianity uses purple during Advent and Lent, and as representation for penitence and mourning. Culturally, purple signifies royalty.
Black
Psychologically, black stirs up strong emotions and can be overwhelming in large quantities. Culturally and religiously, black symbolizes the primordial void, death, evil and emptiness. Socially, black clothing is said to be figure-flattering or can make the wearer appear unremarkable, ordinary and unnoticeable.
White
In nature, white represents snow and clouds. Religious themes include peace, light, purity, holiness, Christmas and Easter. The Hindu goddess Saraswati is depicted in white clothing, resting on a white lotus. The white ashes worn by Hindu religious leaders represents spiritual rebirth. White is also the Hindu color of mourning. Psychologically, white encourages clearing away clutter, cleaning up thoughts and actions, and a fresh new start.
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