SOME INSTANCES OF CULTURE-SPECIFIC SIGNIFICANCE OF COLORS1, 2, and 3
Color
Red
Significance
Russia
Dominant color in life; signifies beauty, energy,
warmth and intensity
Greece
Christian color and signifies good luck
China
A symbol of celebration and luck—used in many
cultural ceremonies that range from funerals to
weddings
India/ Hindus
US
Eastern
Cultures
Color of purity (used in wedding outfits); and a
symbol of passion, love, lust, blood, and crime
Christmas color when combined with green, and a
Valentine’s Day color when combined with pink. In
certain cases, it signifies financial loss (for instance,
the drop in stock rates is marked in red).
Signifies joy when combined with white
China,
Malaysia
and Brunei
Royalty
Japan
Youth and inexperience (baby clothes). Traditionally,
it denotes courage.
France
Jealousy
Western
Cultures (in
general)
Joy and happiness; religious significance as the Papal
color
Yellow
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Color
Significance
Blue is often considered the safest global color for the Web that
appeals to people from disparate cultures and background.
China
Immortality and care for one’s own
The US
Authority,
professionalism,
superiority
and
dependability (many bankers wear this color).
Overall, a popular corporate color. The red-whiteblue combination is often used for packaging to
invoke nationalist feelings.
Hindus
Religious connotations—color of Lord Shiva and
Krishna
Middle-East
and Iran
Protective color; heaven and spirituality
Mexico
Traditionally, a color related to God, heaven and
things religious. It is a dominant color related to
natural life and fruitfulness.
India
Spirituality, religion, and respect
US
Halloween color (with black), energy, vibrancy, and
playfulness
Ireland
Religious (Protestant) color
Ukraine
Balanced, reasonable ambition
Blue
Orange
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Color
Significance
China
Studies indicate it is not perceived positively in China.
There, a green hat signifies that a man’s wife has not
been loyal to him.
France
Not a good choice for product packaging in France, as
well
India
Religious color for the Muslims in India, symbolizes
the earth and the agricultural sector. Also a color in
the national flag.
Ireland
Significant for the Catholic community. It is also the
color of St Patrick, one of the patron saints of the
country, and hence a color associated with
nationalism. Traditionally, however, it is considered
unlucky.
Green
Tibet
Purple
The underworld and exorcism
The US and
Australasia
Color of environmental awareness and the Christmas
festival; in general sense, green is recognized as the
color of environment the world over now
Western
cultures
Royalty, repentance, the Passion of the Christ, death
and crucifixion
Thailand
Mourning color (color worn by widows)
Brazil
Sadness and death
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Color
Significance
Is generally a neutral color across the world. Some instances of culturespecific meanings are given below.
The US/UK
Intelligence (gray matter), maturity, reliability, and
security
Native
Americans
Friendship
Holland
Confidence
African
cultures
The female aspect of God
Some
European
cultures
High social standing and prestige
India
Purity, religion, good fortune, wealth, and prosperity
Indonesia,
Malaysia,
The
Philippines
Power and aristocracy
African
cultures
The male aspect of God
Colombia
Is known to discourage sales, as such
India
The earth, solidity, dependability, and homegrown
things (for instance, the khadi cloth)
Middle East
Intelligentsia
South
America
Sacred color, sumptuousness in life
Gray/Silver
Gold
Brown
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Color
White
Pink
Significance
Eastern
cultures
Mourning and death, purity, peace, sainthood
Japan
Death (white carnations)
The US and
Australasia
Purity, used in weddings
Egypt
Royalty (the color of the crown of the Pharaoh)
Central and
Southern
Africa
Underworld, spirits and gods
Japan
Signifies the spring. Men do not prefer pink since it is
thought of as a feminine color.
Europe
Happiness, tenderness, love, grace, and gentility.
Often thought of as a feminine color. Also signifies
good health (in the pink of health) and life.
Roman
Mythology
Pain, suffering, and death
In general, pink also symbolizes queer communities.
Egypt
Death, the underworld, resurrection, and fertility
Kenya and
Tanzania
Life and prosperity
Western
cultures
Mourning and death
China
Color for young boys3
Black
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Color
Significance
Saffron
India
Rainbow
Colors
United
States
P
a
s
t
e
l
Korea
The US/
Australasia
Sacred color for the Hindus, one of colors in the
national flag
Gay pride, cultural unity4
Trust
Color of spring and Easter, infancy (pale blue for a
baby boy and pale pink for a baby girl)
References
1.
Global 2005 Calendar, Human Factors International
2.
Table at http://www.users.bigpond.com/lionelhartley/resources/colours.htm, accessed August 2007
3. H John Johnsen, “The Cultural Significance of Color”, http://www.americanchronicle.com, [California,
American Chronicle], 2006
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