
Webster’s New World Dictionary of the American Language (1964) defines red as “a primary color, or any of a spread of colors at the lower end of the spectrum, varying in hue from that of blood to pale rose or pink.” Le Petit Larousse (1997) defines it as “of the color of blood, or of poppies”. (“de la couleur du sang, ou du coquelicot.”). In Eva Heller’s Psychologie de la couleur – effets et symboliques. (pg. 39–63), “Next to orange at the end of the visible spectrum of light, red is commonly associated with danger, sacrifice, passion, fire, beauty, blood, anger, socialism and communism, and in China and many other cultures, with happiness.
As a color, red has a more colorful(?) history of association when compared to other colors. Red stimulates almost any individual’s senses. As a color, it is a naturally stimulating; the amount of red is directly related to the level of energy perceived. It instantaneously draws any individual’s attention and a judicious use of red as an accent can immediately make a person focus his attention on a particular area or element.
How the color red affects us physically
- Increases enthusiasm
- Stimulates energy and can increase the blood pressure, respiration, heartbeat, and pulse rate
- Encourages action and confidence
- Provides a sense of protection from fears and anxiety
Interesting information about the color red
- Red represents beauty in many languages and cultures.
- The Chinese associate red with fire, south, and summer. It is also the color for good luck and fortune.
- The Japanese clothe and decorate the statue of Shinto and Buddhist deities with the color red.
- Swedes reserve the color red for members of the privileged class.
- In Greece, Easter eggs are dyed red.
- In England, red phone booths and red double decker buses are national icons. Since the late 1800s, mail boxes in the UK are painted red.
- Indian women believe that a red mark on their forehead will bring them good fortune.
- To the Hindu, red symbolizes joy, life, energy, and creativity.
- The Chinese celebrate their New Year by wearing red-inspired clothes and decorate their homes with various shades of red. They put money gifts inside red envelopes called ang pao for good luck and good fortune all throughout the year.
- Red symbolizes feast days of martyrs in the Catholic church.
- Red is the highest arc of the rainbow.
- Red is the first color you lose sight of at twilight.
- The longest wavelength of light is red.
- Eric the Red is the Norwegian Viking credited for colonizing Greenland…he earned his nickname from his bright red hair and beard.
- Feng shui recommends painting the front door of a home red to invite prosperity to the residents.
- Bees can’t see the color red, but they can see all other bright colors.
What it says about you when you buy a red vehicle
There is no question that the vehicle you drive is an extension of your personality — an unspoken but clear message to the rest of the world.
- The message you send by driving a vehicle that is vibrant red in color: sexy, speedy, high-energy, and dynamic.
- If, however, your vehicle is a Burgundy or Blue-red, you give a similar message but far less obvious.
Share with us what you know about the color red
Is there something that you know about red that should be included here? Great! We’d love to hear from you.