Color Red

Color Red - Meaning
The color red is often referred to as the color of life. It symbolizes love, passion and energy. It is also the color of blood and fire and associated all over the world with life and warmth. The words for colored in Latin (coloratus) and Spanish (colorado) both mean red. The color red is used when describing emotions and appearance: "crimson with fury"; "turned red from exertion"; "with puffy reddened eyes"; "flushed red with embarrassment". The Greeks and the Hebrews considered the color red to be a symbol of love as well as sacrifice. In China, red is considered a lucky color and red envelopes containing money are handed out at weddings and other special occasions. It is traditional for the Chinese bride to wear a red wedding dress and red eggs are given to the couple when a child is born. The color red also signifies danger, a serious threat is often described as being a  "red alert". "Red affairs" is a term used to describe evil.

"Waving our red weapons o'er our heads"
Shakespeare (Caesar - Act 3 Scene 1)

Facts about the Color Red

• Symbols Fact 1: Red Square in Moscow does not relate to the color red! It means "beautiful" taken from the Russian word 'krasnaya'
  

• Symbols Fact 2: In ancient Egypt the color red was associated with life, health and victory
  

• Symbols Fact 3: Many roman villas were decorated with red murals
  

• Symbols Fact 4: In the catholic church, the color red signifies the blood of Christ
  

• Symbols Fact 5: Medieval painters used the color red to attract attention to the most important figures
  

• Symbols Fact 6: In Chinese philosophy it was believed that the world was composed of five elements: metal, wood, water, fire and earth; and that each had a color. The color red was associated with fire
  

• Symbols Fact 7: When the human eye looks at light with a wavelength between 630 and 700 nanometres it sees red
  

• Symbols Fact 8: Red is one of the three primary colors
  

• Symbols Fact 9: A red dwarf is the most common form of star in the Milky way galaxy
  

• Symbols Fact 10: The planet Mars is called the Red Planet due to the amount of iron oxide on its surface which is reddish in color
  

• Symbols Fact 11: The national emblem of England is known as the St George Cross. It is a red cross on a white background
  

• Symbols Fact 12: In China, monetary gifts in red envelopes are presented to friends and family to celebrate holidays and special occasions such as weddings and Chinese new year. The color red represents good luck and is also thought to ward off evil spirits
  

• Symbols Fact 13: In several towns around the Gaza strip, 'The Red Color' is an early warning radar system installed by the Israel Defence Forces which aims to alert residents of rocket attacks
  

• Symbols Fact 14: The devil is always portrayed wearing red clothes or having a red face. Red is the color of hell fire and it is also considered the color of passion and lust
  

• Symbols Fact 15: A red flag is the symbol of the Communist party and was first raised during the French revolution

Color Red - Dream Symbols
The study and interpretation of dreams is called Oneirology, the term comes from the Greek word 'oneiros' which means dream. It is thought that dreams have two meanings: a general meaning where the dream is told as a symbolic story and an individual meaning, which is specific to the dreamer. The following interpretation of the meaning of the Color Red in dreams is taken from the book entitled "10,000 Dreams" interpreted by Gustavus Hindman Miller:

• Red is thought to symbolize fire and is associated with power and importance. To dream of crimson clothes, foretells that you will escape formidable enemies by a timely change in your expressed intention

Different Shades of Red
The following are some examples of the different shades of Red:

• Scarlet

• Ruby

• Blood,

• Crimson

• Cerise

• Cherry

• Deep

• Dark

• Cadmium

• Vermilion

• Maroon

Color Red - Symbols
Color has been used in symbols to depict emotions, personality and religion since ancient times and many colors have mystical properties associated with them. One of the the easiest ways to identify something immediately regardless of language or culture is through color. A baby dressed in pink is an obvious sign that the gender of the infant is female despite the language or country. A red road sign warns us of danger even if we might not recognise the symbol instantly. A country or sports team use colors to identify themselves through their flag and its colours. Colors are often mentioned in everyday language as well as literary terms to portray a persons feelings or emotions, being "green with envy" or "in a black mood" are familiar terms to describe jealously and feeling down.

"Signs and Symbols rule the world, not rules and law”
– Confucius (551–479 BC)

Red - Symbols