Between the history of colour and associations with certain shades in different cultures, colour meanings and usage are fascinating to learn about. Here are 10 fun facts about colours.
1. Blue Was Once Seen as a Low-Class Colour
In Ancient Rome, royalty wore white, red and black. Those in lower society wore blue. Because the colour blue was associated with the working class and barbarians, it was not mainstream. Blue became more acceptable when it became the colour of the Virgin Mary’s cloak in the 12th century.
2. Queen Victoria Started the White Wedding Gown Tradition
In 1840, red was the popular colour of bridal gowns. Queen Victoria didn’t follow this tradition, wearing a white gown to her wedding instead. Within a few years, white wedding dresses were regarded as the best colour for brides.
3. Some Languages Describe Colours and Shades Differently
Tribal African tongues and other languages describe blue and green as different shades of the same colour. The Russian language specifies light and dark blue as different colours, not different shades of the same colour. Many ancient languages didn’t have a word for blue.
4. Purple Was the Colour of Royalty Because It Was Expensive to Obtain
Until 1856, the colour purple came from snail mucus. The snails used were almost extinct, and 20,000 were required to get one ounce of purple dye. Since purple was a rare and expensive colour, it was only worn by royalty. For commoners, wearing purple was a crime punishable by death.
5. Red Is the First Colour a Baby Sees
Infants start to recognize the colour red at two weeks old because red has the longest wavelength, which is easy to process. Babies can see the full spectrum of colours at five months.
