February is the second month of the year in the Gregorian calendar and has 28 days in common years or 29 days in leap years. The month is associated with the color purple due to the birth flower for February being the violet. However, there are also other colors connected to February based on holidays, symbols, and seasonal changes that occur during the month.
Colors Associated with February Holidays and Events
February has several holidays and events that have traditional colors associated with them:
Valentine’s Day – Pink and Red
Valentine’s Day on February 14th is strongly associated with the colors pink and red. Red symbolizes love and passion, while pink represents sweeter, more romantic love. These shades are used for Valentine’s Day cards, flowers, candy, jewelry and more.
| Valentine’s Day Color | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Red | Love, passion |
| Pink | Romance, sweet love |
Presidents’ Day – Red, White and Blue
Presidents’ Day on the third Monday of February celebrates the birthdays of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. The colors associated with the holiday are red, white and blue – the colors of the American flag that these presidents led under. These patriotic shades represent freedom, perseverance, and national pride.
| Presidents’ Day Color | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Red | Hardiness, valor, strength |
| White | Purity, innocence |
| Blue | Vigilance, justice, perseverance |
Mardi Gras – Purple, Green and Gold
Mardi Gras, also known as Fat Tuesday, refers to the carnival celebrations that take place in February or early March before the fasting season of Lent. The traditional colors used during Mardi Gras are purple, green and gold. Purple represents justice, green stands for faith, and gold signifies power.
| Mardi Gras Color | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Purple | Justice |
| Green | Faith |
| Gold | Power |
Black History Month – Red, Black and Green
February is designated Black History Month in the United States and Canada. The colors associated with black history and African heritage are red, black and green. Red represents the blood shed during the struggle, black stands for the color of the people, and green symbolizes the natural wealth of Africa.
| Black History Month Color | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Red | Blood shed |
| Black | Color of the people |
| Green | Natural wealth of Africa |
Colors Inspired by February Symbols
In addition to holidays and events, the month of February is represented by certain symbols that also have corresponding colors.
Amethyst – Purple
The birthstone for February is amethyst, a form of quartz that occurs in various shades of purple. This gemstone has long been associated with royalty and spirituality. The purple color symbolizes wisdom, dignity, sobriety and restraint.
Primrose – Pale Yellow
The birth flower for February is the primrose, which blooms in milder climates during the cool weather of late winter. Primroses range in color from pale yellow to darker gold. The soft yellow hue represents new beginnings and fresh hope during the month that signals the first stirrings of spring.
Garnet – Red
While amethyst is the modern birthstone, garnet is the traditional and zodiac birthstone for February. Garnet comes in a variety of colors like red, orange, yellow, green, purple and brown. However, the most common is a rich, deep red. Red garnets symbolize passion, energy, and vitality.
| February Symbol | Color | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Amethyst | Purple | Wisdom, spirituality |
| Primrose | Pale yellow | New beginnings, hope |
| Garnet | Red | Passion, energy |
Colors Inspired by February Weather and Landscape
The weather and natural landscape during the month of February also inspire certain colors and color palettes.
White
February is typically one of the snowiest months in many northern hemisphere regions. Sparkling white snowfalls blanket the landscape, dotted with the dark grays and browns of bare tree trunks and branches. White represents the purity and isolation of winter.
Grays and Browns
In many areas, February remains a rather gloomy and barren month in terms of vegetation. The gray clouds and brown dormant trees, grasses and plants create a neutral, melancholy color scheme. These earthy hues represent introspection, solitude and patience during the late winter season.
Blue
While snow is plentiful in February, the temperatures fluctuate and sometimes bring rainy weather too. The gray winter skies unleashing downpours of rain inspire desaturated shades of blue that speak to the moodiness and changeability of late winter.
| Weather/Landscape | Color | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Snow | White | Purity, isolation |
| Dormant trees/plants | Grays, browns | Introspection, patience |
| Rainy skies | Blue | Moody, changeable |
Traditional Color Psychology in February
Colors have meanings in psychology that arise from associations people make with that color. Some traditional color meanings that apply to February include:
Purple
Purple is both the birth flower color and the gemstone color for February. In color psychology, purple has the following meanings:
– Wisdom and spirituality – purple is associated with the crown chakra at the top of the head.
– Royalty and luxury – historically, sumptuous purple dyes were expensive and reserved for kings and nobles.
– Creativity and imagination – purple evokes dreamlike, surreal qualities.
– Dignity, honor and sophistication – purple’s rarity historically gave it elevated status.
Pink
The popularity of pink for Valentine’s Day links it to meanings like:
– Love, romance and affection – pink conveys soft, feminine passion.
– Happiness and optimism – light pink expresses warmth, joy and hope.
– Fun and playfulness – the whimsical nature of pink relates to youthful exuberance.
– Innocence and sincerity – pale pink suggests purity of intent and emotions.
Red
While red holds meanings like:
– Passion, lust and sexuality – red is associated with carnal pleasures.
– Strength and courage – red is a bold, intense color that exhibits power.
– Energy and excitement – red communicates confidence, speed and thrill.
– Danger and defiance – the aggressive side of red relates to violence and rebellion.
Non-Traditional Color Meanings in February
In addition to traditional color associations, February can take on new color meanings related to the needs and sentiments of the present times, like:
White
The whiteness of February snow now evokes:
– Serenity and cleansing – white provides an escape from overstimulation and clutter.
– Hope and rebirth – white offers a blank slate for renewal.
– Cool calmness – white expresses stillness and rest amidst chaos.
Gray
Once dreary, February’s grays have evolved to represent:
– Strength – gray’s solidness conveys fortitude in adversity.
– Sophistication – gray elegantly walks between black and white extremes.
– Balance and composure – gray promotes levelheadedness and resilience.
Blue
The darker blues of February skies now channel:
– Trust and dependability – blue’s consistency induces reliance.
– Wisdom and logic – blue reflects rather than reacts.
– Responsibility – blue weighs options and considers consequences.
Conclusion
While February’s purple, pink and red shades connect it to traditional meanings like spirituality, love and passion, the month also bears new connotations of hope, strength and dependability during the late winter season. The symbolic colors of its holidays, symbols, natural environment and color psychology all contribute to a palette representing the introspective close of winter and preparation for spring. With both its traditional and contemporary associations, February’s diversity of color furnishes depth and complexity.
