Color Associations
Each color has a different meaning from culture to culture. I met a blind girl last year. She asked me, "What is strawberry color?" I said, "It is red". "What does red mean?" she asked. "It means love, power, and activity,” I said. She was sad and said, “because I can't see colors I can't feel life". She never learned that colors have different meaning that depends on culture. What is intended for me for love is intended for another person for blood or fear. In my country, Saudi Arabia people have different meanings for color. I can divide colors into three kinds. Warm or fiery colors are red, yellow and orange. Natural or cool colors are green, blue and brown. Neutrality colors are white, black and gray.
The first kind is warm or fiery colors. In my country usually most of women like those colors, for example, clothes, shoes or furniture, but men don't like them except some teenagers. Red mean love, activity, bravery, sensitivity, power and confidence. I really love those colors; when I use or see it I feel powerful.
The second kind is natural or cool colors, green, blue and brown. They are taking their meaning from nature. Green means growth, success, peace and quietude. Also, it is my country flag's color. I love green. Always I believe that give a successful feeling and me confidence and I really got what I want. Blue is implying the sea. It means relaxation, serenity and deepness. In my country boys usually like this color. Brown color takes it meaning from the earth, sand and mountains. It means the ability to keep traditional things, like culture, customs and family.
The third kind is neutral colors, like white, black and gray. These colors are important colors in my country. The white color is a symbol of happiness, innocence and peace. If any woman wants to get married, she is always wearing a white dress in her wedding party. Also, Saudi men usually are wearing white clothes. It is a traditional color for men. In addition, when all Muslims are going to The Hajj, they should wear white clothes. I like this color; I feel like a baby when I'm wearing it. Also I like black color. It is an elegant color. Most Saudi women wear black clothes in the party. Some Saudi families have different meanings for white and black color. They mean life and death.
In conclusion, colors are important to feel life. They have different a meaning from culture to culture. Some colors help people to feel in love, powerful, and activity. And some help people to relax, succeed and have quietude. But some colors mean life and death, happiness and sadness. In my opinion, any color has positive and negative effect, but it depends from one person to another.
