The duel in Asia is white and in the Middle East orange: What do the colors mean?

Symbolism of colors

Western Europe, North America and Oceania: Influence of classical culture and Catholicism

Japan: Influence of Xintoism and Buddhism

South Asia: Influence of Hinduism

East Asia: Influence of Taoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism

Eastern Europe: Influence of Orthodox Christianity and Sovietism.

Middle East, North Africa, Central Asia and West Africa:Influence of Islam

Sub-Saharan Africa: Influence of tribal cultures and Christianity

South America: Influence of Pre-Columbian Cultures and Christianity

What do they mean?

Blue symbolizes harmony and fidelity and has few negative connotations. It is also associated with deities in various cultures and has different meanings depending on the country, such as sadness in English and drunkenness in German.

A color closely linked to love, passion, and danger. In China, it is associated with happiness and good wishes for the new year. In the 19th century, it became the color of the labor movement, and with the Russian Revolution of 1917, also of socialism and communism.

Yellow is a contradictory color: it symbolizes optimism and light, but also envy, lies, and betrayal. In Asia, it represents happiness and wisdom, while in some countries it is associated with cowardice and madness.

Green provides a sense of tranquility, calm, and security due to its connection with nature. In Islam, it has a sacred character because it is said to have been the color of Muhammad's clothing. In France, it is associated with bad luck.

Black signifies the absence of color or light. Although some do not consider it strictly a color, its presence conveys seriousness, elegance, and strength. In many cultures, white is the color of mourning, but in Christianity, black symbolizes earthly death.

In optical theory, white is more than just a color: it is the sum of all the colors of light. It symbolizes innocence, purity, and spirituality. It is the color of the highest rank in the Catholic Church, but it is also the color of surrender.

Orange is associated with transformation and spirituality, especially in China and Buddhism. It is a relatively modern color in Europe and is perceived differently depending on the culture, as in India, where it is more clearly distinguished from yellow.

Violet symbolizes magic, spirituality, and fantasy, as well as the feminist movement. In Christianity, it is associated with penance. It is important to distinguish it from lilac, which is a lighter shade with white in it.

Pink expresses delicacy, sweetness, and positive feelings. Historically, it has gone from being a symbol of discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community to one of pride. The association of pink with a specific gender is a modern tradition.

Brown is associated with both mediocrity and withering, as well as warmth and comfort. In interior design, it conveys security and stability, but it also symbolizes the conventional and unremarkable.

Gold symbolizes luxury, beauty, and quality, but also materialism and arrogance. It is widely used in advertising to ennoble products and represents durability and permanence, as in the expression golden wedding anniversary.

Silver suggests elegance, modernity, and understated success, but also coldness and distance. It once symbolized indolence, while today it is associated with dynamism and sports. It has a strong connection to the moon and magic in legendary tradition.

Infographic on the ARA Domingo paper

SOURCE_'Psychology of Color', by Eva Heller, 'History of Colors', by Manlio Brusatin, Pantone and own elaboration.