Yellow is a color that is full of symbolism and meaning. It evokes both positive and negative emotions and is associated with optimism and warmth as well as deceit and cowardice. In this article, we will explore the origins and meanings behind the color yellow.
The History and Origins of Yellow
The word “yellow” comes from the Old English word “geolu” or “geolwe.” It is one of the oldest color words in the English language and can be traced back as far as the year 700 AD.
Historically, yellow has had both positive and negative associations. On one hand, it was connected with gold, sunlight, and the divine. Egyptian pharaohs wore yellow gold crowns as symbols of power. In ancient China, yellow was the color of the Emperor and symbolized royalty and prosperity. Ancient Greek women painted their hair yellow as a sign of nobility.
However, yellow has also represented jealousy, betrayal, deceit, and cowardice. The expression “yellow-bellied” refers to a cowardly person whose belly quivers like yellow jelly. And the term “yellow journalism” refers to unethical news reporting through sensationalism and exaggeration.
Yellow in Nature
In nature, yellow is the color of radiant sunshine, buttercups, lemons, bananas, and daffodils. It is the most visible color in daylight and the brightest color in the spectrum. Yellow also represents vitality, clarity, and energy.
Trees like birch, poplar, chestnut, and hazel all produce yellow and golden leaves in the fall. Yellow flowers stand out in fields of green grass and attract bees, insects, and birds. The golden color is a sign of pollen and nectar for pollinators.
Some animals are yellow as a form of camouflage. Yellow warblers blend in with sunlit leaves just as leopards blend in with dry grasses. Yellow butterflies like swallowtails disappear into patches of yellow flowers. While bright and cheery to our eyes, yellow acts as protective coloration in nature.
Meanings of Yellow
Yellow has both positive and negative symbolic meanings across cultures:
| Positive Meanings | Negative Meanings |
|---|---|
| Warmth, sunshine, happiness | Deceit, betrayal, cowardice |
| Optimism, hope, positivity | Envy, jealousy, spite |
| Intellect, curiosity, clarity | Illness, hazard, caution |
| Energy, vitality, stimulation | Instability, madness, fear |
Some of the positive psychological associations with yellow include:
– Warmth – Yellow reminds us of sunshine and captures its warmth. Advertisers use yellow to evoke feelings of optimism and positivity.
– Happiness – Cheerful sunflowers and daffodils give yellow an association with joy and happiness. Yellow celebrates life.
– Intellect – In many cultures, yellow represents the intellect. The color encourages original thought and inquisitiveness.
– Energy – Yellow is energetic and vibrant. It boosts enthusiasm and revitalizes people who are feeling down.
And some of the more negative meanings include:
– Deceit – Calling someone “yellow” means they are cowardly or treacherous. Judas was often portrayed in yellow to symbolize his betrayal of Jesus.
– Caution – Yellow road signs warn drivers of hazards and dangers ahead. Yellow symbolizes a need for caution.
– Fear – Yellow is associated with fear in some cultures. Being “yellow-bellied” refers to being scared and cowardly.
– Illness – An unhealthy yellowing of the skin can signal liver dysfunction or other health issues. Yellowish complexions suggest sickness.
So yellow contains dual meanings of positivity and optimism as well as fear and deceit. Context decides whether yellow takes on more uplifting or more foreboding interpretations.
Yellow in Culture
Yellow occupies an interesting place in human culture. It has been revered in some societies and looked down upon in others. Here are some of the notable roles yellow has played:
In Religion
– In Buddhism, yellow (or saffron) robes represent humility and renunciation of the material world. Monks wear simple yellow cloth.
– In Hinduism, yellow symbolizes the third eye chakra which represents intellect, wisdom, and psychic energy. Turmeric and saffron are sacred.
– In Christianity, yellow represents betrayal. Judas was depicted in yellow robes and medieval women accused of cheating on husbands had to wear yellow.
In Art
– During the Renaissance, yellow symbolized positive attributes like light and wisdom. It was expensive to produce and reserved for the nobles.
– Impressionist painters like Monet and Renoir used yellows lavishly to capture the warm glow of sunlight on fields and sun-kissed skin.
– Modern artists like Vincent Van Gogh associated yellow with insanity or mania. His paintings featured eerie yellow skies and gaunt, yellow-tinged faces.
In Fashion
– In the 18th century, yellow dresses were in vogue as they complimented natural daylight and candlelight flatteringly. Yellow signaled high society.
– In the late 19th century, lighter yellows and pastels came into fashion. Pale lemon and cornflower blue were popular combinations.
– In the 1960s, bright, psychedelic yellows represented the optimism and energy of the youth counterculture movement.
So yellow has symbolized sanctity, wealth, hope, happiness, skepticism, and madness in different eras and cultures. Its meaning is profoundly shaped by its context.
Geographical Differences
The implications of yellow differ quite a bit around the world:
| Country | Meaning |
|---|---|
| China | Royalty, nobility, prosperity |
| Egypt | Eternal life, power of the pharaoh |
| France | Jealousy, betrayal, distrust |
| Germany | Envy, jealousy, betrayal |
| Greece | Wisdom, clarity |
| India | Commerce, welcoming |
| Japan | Courage, heroism |
| Mexico | Death and mourning |
| United States | Optimism, happiness, positivity |
In Eastern cultures, yellow often represents auspiciousness and nobility. In Egypt and China, yellow symbolized royalty because it was rare and expensive. Saffron yellow dye had to be imported and was reserved for the upper classes.
In Europe’s Medieval period, yellow acquired more negative undertones, representing jealousy, betrayal, and deceit. The color was associated with the devil, heresy, and outcasts. This still persists somewhat in modern European cultures.
So yellow encompasses opposing meanings in different geographical contexts. Location, history, and local traditions shape yellow’s varying interpretations.
Meaning of Common Yellow Idioms
The color yellow has bled into everyday expressions and idioms with symbolic meaning:
“Yellow-bellied” – This refers to someone who is cowardly or lacking courage. It suggests a trembling, jelly-like yellow belly.
“Turn yellow” – When someone is scared or nervous about something, we say they “turn yellow.” It refers to losing courage.
“Yellow streak” – Having a yellow streak means possessing an underlying trait of cowardice or fear. It refers to lack of fortitude.
“Yellow journalism” – This term originated in the 1890s to describe sensationalist newspaper reporting with exaggerated or fabricated stories.
“Yellow flag” – In auto racing, a yellow flag signals caution ahead due to a hazard or obstruction on the track. Drivers must slow down.
So in slang and figures of speech, yellow often represents treachery and gutlessness. But it can also signify optimism looking ahead to brighter days.
Yellow in Branding
In marketing and advertising, yellow grabs consumer attention. Brands leverage its positivity and energy:
| Company | Connection to Yellow |
|---|---|
| Best Buy | Yellow tag logo, optimistic color |
| DHL | Yellow and red branding |
| IKEA | Yellow and blue identity |
| Kodak | Iconic yellow film boxes |
| McDonalds | “Golden arches” logo |
| Nikon | Yellow and black cameras |
| Shell | Yellow and red logo |
| Snapchat | Yellow “ghost” icon |
| Subway | Yellow and green motif |
Vibrant yellow commands attention on package displays. It also stimulates appetite, which makes it popular in fast food. Yellow and black color schemes project clarity and modernity. Overall, yellow marketing taps into associations with happiness, liveliness, and energy.
Meaning of Yellow in Psychology
Yellow has psychological symbolism related to intellect, self-esteem, and mood:
– Intellect – In many cultures, yellow represents the mind, intellect, and mental energy. It stimulates mental clarity and logic.
– Self-Esteem – Yellow inspires confidence and self-assurance. It represents hope and optimism about the future.
– Mood – Yellow creates feelings of positivity and enthusiasm. But too much yellow can cause sensory overload.
– Depression – The absence of yellow in nature may signal depression. People stop seeing sunshine in life.
– Mania – Excessive yellow tones can indicate mania or delirium. Van Gogh used it to capture psychological turmoil.
Psychologists also associate yellow with these attributes:
| Spontaneity | Curiosity | Extroversion |
| Persuasiveness | Creativity | Communication |
Tests suggest babies respond positively to yellow, associating it with warmth and security. People also lose their tempers less in yellow rooms. Overall, yellow promotes optimism and activates mental stimulation.
Yellow Pigments and Dyes
Creating vivid yellow colors presented challenges for much of human history. Here are some of the natural sources that provided stable yellow dyes and pigments:
– Ochre – Prehistoric humans used mineral ochre, clay with iron oxide, to paint sun-like yellows on cave walls.
– Saffron – The saffron crocus provided yellow fabric dye across Asia and the Mediterranean for thousands of years.
– Turmeric – In India, turmeric root produces a golden yellow dye used for textiles and foods. It remains part of Hindu tradition.
– Lead-Tin – In the Middle Ages, yellow lead-tin compounds were used for manuscript illuminations and stained glass. But they were toxic.
– Buckthorn – Europeans extracted acidic yellow dye from buckthorn berries and stems starting in the 18th century.
– Aniline – In the 1860s, synthetic aniline dyes allowed much brighter and more colorfast yellow fabric dyeing.
So the quest for vivid yellows led people around the world to exotic plants, toxic minerals, and complex chemical engineering. Each innovation made yellow more brilliant and permanent.
Shades of Yellow
There are many subtle shades and hues in the yellow color family:
| Yellow | Gold | Lemon |
| Chartreuse | Cream | Khaki |
| Light yellow | Lemon yellow | Canary |
Some varieties of yellow:
– Yellow – Pure primary yellow, balanced between green and orange undertones. Cheerful and bright.
– Gold – Rich yellow tone inspired by the shimmer of real gold. Expensive and elite.
– Lemon – Zingy, acidic shade named after lemon rinds. Uplifting and refreshing.
– Chartreuse – Vivid yellow-green hue like the French herbal liqueur. Lively with hint of neon.
– Cream – Warm off-white named for the dairy product. Soothing, natural, and soft.
– Khaki – Dusty yellow-brown, originally used for British army uniforms. Neutral and earthy.
There are no limits to the yellow palette. Designers mix and match shades to evoke warmth, positivity, luxury, or natural vibrancy.
Conclusion
So what exactly does yellow mean? The answer depends on context. Yellow can symbolize optimism, intellect, and energy. But it can also denote deceit, cowardice, or insanity. Geographic and cultural perspectives shape yellow’s connotations considerably.
Regardless, yellow is undoubtedly a color that captures attention. It provides warning when muted but lifts spirits when saturated. The global quest for stable yellow pigments shows its importance.
With its dual capacities to unnerve or uplift, yellow runs the gamut of human emotion. Searching for one universal meaning in yellow may be impossible. But its richness and complexity make it endlessly fascinating.