What the Color Orange Means

Fire

Orange is a bright, provocative color. It's a hue we associate with sunset, reminds us of trick-or-treat, or brightens an otherwise dull day. It also represents many everyday objects and ideas which carry various degrees of significance for us.

Composition

Sunset

Orange is a warm color. It's a blend of two primary shades, red and yellow. By mixing the two together in various proportions, we can achieve many tones of orange to create depth and heighten perception.

Perception

Orange Glow

Orange creates a level of excitement for us. It evokes a degree of emotion which can range from anticipation to outright anger. Orange tends to overpower equal or greater amounts of cool colors, such as blue, to pique our interest and stimulate our imaginations.

Halloween

Jack-O-Lantern

In ancient Celtic culture, the festival of Samhain was celebrated in the autumn, with its bright orange leaves and gourds in the daytime, and bonfires at night. The bonfires attracted insects, which, in turn, attracted bats. Together, this may explain in part how Halloween evolved to its present holiday festivities.

Oranges

Delicious Fruit

Oranges originated in China, and, over centuries, they were cultivated in virtually every corner of the earth warm enough to grow them. Their bright color and sweet, acidic flavor attracted humans all over the world.

Feng Shui

Wild Fire

In the practice of Feng Shui, colors hold great significance. Orange represents fire. It focuses your powers of concentration, and it is also the color which represents and assists your ability to organize both thoughts and things.

Significance in History

Saints

During the Elizabethan Era in English history, only nobility were allowed to wear orange clothing. The color showed people a great deal about the social standing and wealth of the person wearing it. Biblically, the color orange can mean courage or strength and is often associated with saints.

References

• A History of Oranges
• The Color Orange in Feng Shui
• A History of Halloween

Resources

• Historical Significance of the Color Orange
• Biblical Meanings of the Color Orange