Life is are represented by the colors green and red. Green symbolizes life because it is the color of healthy plants, while red represents life because it is the color of fire, essential for life, and also stimulates passion which makes us feel alive.
These two colors can be seen in movies and paintings as symbols of life. Scenes of blooming green rainforests are often shown at the beginning of new life in a film, while red is depicted in love scenes and scenes of passion where the protagonists feel most alive.
Green As A Color Of Life
As one of the most prominent colors of nature, green is associated with life, growth, renewal, vitality, youth, health, and fertility.
Because nature always gives and sustains human life, colors related to nature, such as green, have also been perceived as representation of abundance and prosperity.
To the human eye, green is the most restful and relaxing color. It has a soothing, calming, and healing effect on both mind and body.
People who are feeling stressed or overly tired are advised to expose themselves to trees and plants to help their body relax.
According to studies, green is perceived as a positive color that gives a pleasant and happy feeling.
When processing emotional reactions, people feel more drawn to photos on green backgrounds and generally rate these photos as friendlier and happier.
It was also shown to inspire creativity and makes people feel safe. Green reminds people of lush and fertile environments, making them feel more energized and revitalized.
Psychologists say that being exposed to nature, or things that remind people of nature, can have mental and physiological benefits on both children and adults.
Even simple exposure to scenes, videos, and photos of greenery, whether whole forests or small pockets of grass, can achieve these effects:
- Overall health improvement where people report about feeling less tired or stressed
- Mood regulation, better anger management, and an improved outlook in life were also observed.
- Greater appreciation and satisfaction about life in general.
- Faster recovery from illness or even surgical procedures
- Reduced anxiety and depression.
- Better pain management.
Green represents growth, renewal, and rebirth. It is reminiscent of the sprouting of leaves after the stillness of winter.
This is a continuous cycle that also gives people hope that there will always be a chance to start anew after experiencing death or failure.
It also represents fertility and reproduction, as green is associated with leaves which are responsible for the sustenance of plants.
The lushness of green leaves also remind people of abundance and prosperity. This serves as motivation to strive for bigger achievements.
In certain situations, it also brings in better luck and fortune as people exposed to green environments report to having better confidence and optimism.
In the English dictionary, green has been used in phrases and idioms that indicate growth, health, youth, life, renewal, abundance, and prosperity :
- Green thumb refers to someone who is good at taking care of plants and making them grow
- A hedge between keeps friendship green means that keeping proper boundaries helps keep friendships strong and healthy.
- Greenhorn describes someone who is young and inexperienced.
- Give the green light refers to granting someone the permission to proceed or move forward with plans.
- Green shoots mean that something is getting revived or making a comeback, and is usually used in discussions about the economy
- Rub of the green describes experiencing good fortune or receiving opportunities, particularly in sports.
Red As A Color Of Life
Red is the color of blood, which is one of the life-giving fluids that run through the body. It is also the color of fire, which is essential for human survival.
Sometimes, red is also the color of the sun, which is crucial for the earth’s existence. Because of these associations, red has also been taken as representation for life, vitality, strength, and energy.
An aggressive and dominant color, red has the ability to catch the eye and grab attention. This is not just a mental reaction, but a physical one as well.
Red can stimulate passion, making us feel alive. This is why it’s also the color of love.
Red draws the lens of the eye forward, which makes red colors pop out in any frame. This is the reason why this shade is commonly used for traffic signals, announcements, and other warning signs used on the road or in construction areas.
It is also the color of war and destruction, which is ironic because both are the opposites of life and vitality. But these connotations can be traced back to the spilling of blood that usually happens when wars break out.
Red also represents anger and hatred, because the blood vessels tighten and the heart rate speeds up when a person feels these emotions.
The strong reactions that red triggers in people can make one feel overwhelmed or even stressed out, so the color should be used sparingly.
Too much exposure to intense red colors can lead to increased blood pressure, over stimulation, and anxiety. If properly used, red can help increase appetite, speed up metabolism, and trigger a response or an action.
Around the world, red has become symbolic of different values and emotions:
- In China, red indicates wealth, prosperity, and good fortune, and is a favored color during significant occasions such as New Year, birthday, anniversary, and wedding.
- For South Africans, it signifies mourning and the loss of a loved one.
- In India, red is the color of virtue and purity. This is why brides wear red robes for their wedding day.
- For Western cultures, red is the color of love, passion, lust, and sexuality. This is why most stores would be decorated in red when celebrating Valentine’s Day.
- In Thailand, it is the color of Surya, of the god of the sun.
- For the Catholics, red is the color of the blood of Christ and is symbolic of his life sacrifice. This is why red is one of the prominent colors traditionally used during Christmas.
FAQ: What do we Associate with Life?
Life is associated with growth, renewal, energy, and vitality. It is about existence, evolution, and survival, which can be applied to both plants and animals.
It can also represent a philosophical belief and a process of becoming, such as appreciating one’s circumstances or finding purpose in one’s experiences.
It is a complicated concept that has many definitions based on a person’s culture, religious belief, discipline, or the schools of thought in philosophy.
Life goes beyond the discussions in biology, the meaning of life can sometimes extend to issues of morality, ethics, spirituality, and humanity. These are the aspects that differentiate human life from plant and animal life.
There is no single definition when it comes to philosophical discussions about life, as it is a complicated concept similar to the discourse about God and religion. These varying definitions and understanding about life can be represented by different colors as well.
Conclusion
Life is not just about biological definitions or bodily functions. It is also a philosophical discussion, especially when dealing with human life in particular. Fundamentally, the question is about the meaning of life, or the purpose of one’s existence. This question has yet to find a single, unified response.
This complicated concept that is life can be represented mainly by two colors that are endemic in nature. One is green, which is the color of leaves, signifying renewal, rebirth, growth, youth, and fertility. The other is red, which is the color of blood, fire, and the sun, indicating vitality, energy, and survival.
I’m Chris and I run this website – a resource about symbolism, metaphors, idioms, and a whole lot more! Thanks for dropping by.