Internet, Networking, & Security Web Development 67 67 people found this article helpful Visual Color Symbolism Chart by Culture What different colors mean in different cultures by Jeremy Girard Writer Author, educator, and director of marketing/head of web design and development at Envision Technology Advisors. our editorial process Twitter Jeremy Girard Updated on September 25, 2019 Image Source / Getty Images Web Development Web Design CSS & HTML SQL Tweet Share Email Color is an important part of any design, but if you make a poorly informed choice in colors, your design can say something different than you intend it to. At best, it will miss its mark; at worst, it can offend. How colors are perceived depends a lot on a person's culture. The chart below can help give you a better sense of how the colors you choose are perceived by viewers in various cultures. In some cases, a given color is also associated with another “thing.” For example, a “white dove” in western cultures symbolizes peace. Likewise, a color combination creates the association, such as red and green symbolizing Christmas in the West. This information is noted below. Color Cultures and Meanings Red Australian Aboriginals: Land, EarthCeltic: Death, afterlifeChina: Good luck, celebration, summoningCherokees: Success, triumph, the EastHebrew: Sacrifice, sinIndia: PuritySouth Africa: MourningRussia: Bolsheviks and CommunismEastern: Worn by brides; happiness and prosperityWestern: Excitement, danger, love, passion, stop, Christmas (with green), Valentine’s DayAstrology: GeminiFeng Shui: Yang, fire, good luck, money, respect, recognition, vitalityPsychology: Stimulates brain wave activity, increases heart rate, increases blood pressureRoses: Love, respect; with yellow, gaiety, jovialityStained glass (Dante): Divine love, the Holy Spirit, courage, self-sacrifice, martyrdom Pink Korea: TrustEastern: MarriageWestern: Love, babies, (especially female), Valentine’s DayFeng Shui: Yin, lovePsychology: Used as appetite suppressant and muscle relaxant; soothingRoses: Gratitude and appreciation (deep pink) or admiration and sympathy (light pink) Orange Ireland: Religious (Protestants)Netherlands: House of OrangeWestern: with black, Halloween; creativity, autumnAstrology: SagittariusFeng Shui: Yang, Earth, conversation, purpose, organizationPsychology: Energy, appetite stimulantRoses: Enthusiasm, desire Gold Eastern: Wealth, strengthWestern: WealthAstrology: LeoFeng Shui: Yang, metal, God consciousnessStained glass (Dante): The sun, the goodness of God, treasure in heaven, spiritual achievement, the good life Yellow Apache: East, where the sun risesCherokee: Trouble, strifeChina: Nourishing, royaltyEgypt: MourningIndia: MerchantsJapan: CourageNavajo: Doko’oosliid — abalone shell mountainEastern: Proof against evil, for the dead, sacred, imperialWestern: Hope, hazards, coward, weakness, taxisAstrology: TaurusFeng Shui: Yang, Earth, auspicious, sunbeams, warmth, motionPsychology: Energizes, relieves depression, improves memory, stimulates appetiteRoses: Sociability, friendship, joy, gladness; with yellow, gaiety, jovialityStained glass (Dante): The sun, the goodness of God, treasure in heaven, spiritual achievement, the good life Green Apache: SouthChina: Exorcism; green hats imply a man’s wife is cheating on himIndia: IslamIreland: Patriotism, CatholicismIslam: Perfect faithJapan: LifeEastern: Eternity, family, health, prosperity, peaceWestern: Spring, new birth, go, money, Saint Patrick’s Day, Christmas (with red)Astrology: Cancer (bright green)Feng Shui: Yin, wood, growing energy, nurturing, balancing, healing, health, calmingPsychology: Soothing, relaxing mentally and physically; helps with depression, anxiety, and nervousnessStained glass (Dante): Hope, happiness, gaiety, springtime, youth, good humor, and fun; victory over ignorance Blue Cherokees: Defeat, trouble, the NorthChina: ImmortalityIran: Heaven, spirituality, mourningNavajo: Tsoodzil (turquoise mountain)Eastern: Wealth, self-cultivationWestern: Depression, sadness, conservative, corporate, "something blue" bridal traditionAstrology: Capricorn and Aquarius (dark blue)Feng Shui: Yin, water, calm, love, healing, relaxing, peace, trust, adventure, explorationPsychology: Calming; lowers blood pressure, decreases respirationStained glass (Dante): Wisdom of God, light of heaven, meditation, enduring loyalty, and eternity. Powder/Baby Blue Western: babies, especially malesAstrology: Virgo Purple Thailand: Mourning, widowsEastern: WealthWestern: RoyaltyAstrology: Gemini, Sagittarius, and PiscesFeng Shui: Yin, spiritual awareness, physical and mental healingStained glass (Dante): Justice, royalty, suffering, mystery; With white, humility and purity Violet Astrology: Virgo, LibraPsychology: Suppresses appetite; peaceful environment, good for migraines White Apache: North— source of snowCherokee: Peace, happiness, the SouthChina: Death, mourningIndia: UnhappinessJapan: White carnation symbolizes deathNavajo: Tsisnaasjini’—dawn, white shell mountainEastern: Funerals, helpful people, children, marriage, mourning, peace, travelWestern: Brides, angels, good guys, hospitals, doctors, peace (white dove)Astrology: Aries, PiscesFeng Shui: Yang, metal, death, mourning, spirits, ghosts, poise, confidenceRoses: Reverence, humilityStained glass (Dante): Serenity, peace, purity, joy, faith, innocence Black Apache: West, where the sun setsAustralian Aboriginals: Color of the peopleCherokee: Problems, death, the WestChina: Young boysNavajo: Dibé Nitsaa—obsidian mountainThailand: Bad luck, unhappiness, evilEastern: Career, evil, knowledge, mourning, penanceWestern: Funerals, death, Halloween (with orange), bad guys, rebellionFeng Shui: Yin, water, money, income, career success, emotional protection, power, stability, bruises, evilPsychology: self-confidence, strength, power Gray Eastern: Helpers, travelWestern: Boring, dull, plain, sadFeng Shui: Yin, metal, dead, dull, indefinite Silver Western: Stylish, moneyFeng Shui: Yin, metal, trust, romance Brown Australian Aboriginals: The landCherokee: GoodWestern: Wholesome, earthy, dependable, steadfast, healthAstrology: Capricorn, ScorpioFeng Shui: Yang, Earth, industry, groundedness Was this page helpful? 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