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Rich wine hued trousers at the subway, berry scarves at work, burgundy coats and totes on the city streets-- red is the trend for Fall in 2017. Collections from Alexander McQueen to Prada flaunt crimson and ruby hues at New York and Paris. Yet it's important to note that the bold color has actually been celebrated for centuries by diverse cultures around the world.
Neolithic hunters considered red to be endowed with life-giving powers, placing red ochre into graves of their deceased. They ascribed the color magic powers--many archaeologists now stipulate that cave paintings marked with red ochre were placed to enhance fertility.
Many ancient cultures believed red brought protective powers against evil. Ruby amulettes in Mesopotamia were used as charms against the "evil eye". Red was worn in Germany in the Middle Ages as protection against the "red illnesses" like fever, rashes or even miscarriages.
Today, many cultures around the world celebrate red as a powerful color that evokes strong emotions.
India
Red is a particularly powerful color in India, symbolizing fire, fertility, love and beauty. Red is also representative of a certain time and place in one’s personal life, including when a woman gets married. A married woman can be identified by the red henna on her hands and the red powder, known as sindoor, worn along her hairline.
South Africa
In South Africa, red is associated with mourning, and the section of red in the country’s flag symbolizes violence and sacrifices that were made during the struggle for independence.
Thailand
Each day of the week is assigned a specific color and is linked with a particular God. Red is the color for Sundays, and it’s associated with Surya, a solar God, who was born on this day.
China
In Chinese culture, red symbolizes celebration and is believed to bring luck, prosperity and a long life.
