As Valentine's Day approaches, all emotions tend to lean towards using the color red to express their feelings towards their beloved, not necessarily a life partner or spouse, but it could symbolize any close person like a friend or family member. But why red? What are its connotations and why is it linked to emotions and love? Here is the story.
How did red become the color of romance?
Color is associated with many emotions and feelings throughout history, it represents bravery and sacrifice, and it's also linked to anger and aggression… but how did it come to symbolize love and romance, to such an extent that fashion designers rely on it to create romantic designs, from clothing to jewelry, watches, and accessories…
The Greeks considered red to be a symbol of love. One of the most important literary works in the Middle Ages was a French poem from the 13th century called Le Roman de la Rose, divided into two sections. The first section was arranged by Guillaume de Lorris in 1230, while the second section was arranged by Jean de Meun in 1275. This lengthy poem tells of the poet's search for a red rose in a closed garden on a long journey, all of which are symbolic representations of his search for the woman he loves.
The study by A.J. Elliot and D. Niesta on the connection between red and romance
But history is not the only reason, there is another reason why the color red is associated with love and that is its effect on physical attraction. In a study conducted by psychologists A.J. Elliot and D. Niesta in 2008, men participated in evaluating a woman's attractiveness. Half of the participants saw a picture of a woman wearing a red shirt, and the other half saw a picture of the same woman wearing a blue shirt.
According to the study, those who saw the woman wearing red found her to be more attractive. In another experiment from the same study, the woman's picture was presented with different backgrounds, red, white, green, gray, and then again with a red background and the men found the woman with a red background to be more attractive.
Later, the study expanded to include another experiment that involved women, and they came to the same conclusions, linking red to high levels of attraction.
In conclusion, wearing red makes a woman bold and attractive, and it prompts men to pay attention to her and pursue her. As for the women participating in the study, they saw men who wear red as having high status. Although the concept of attraction varies between men and women, the color red still affects it.
Red is a traditional color in Chinese weddings
Red plays a crucial role in Chinese weddings, as it is associated with concepts such as happiness, good luck, and prosperity. In Chinese culture, red is also considered to ward off evil spirits and bring good fortune. On the day of the wedding, the bride typically wears a red dress, and the groom often wears a red tie or vest. Red decorations, such as lanterns and banners, are also commonly used to decorate the wedding venue.
