YELLOW AROUND THE GLOBE

In Chinese culture, colors corresponded with the five primary elements, the directions, and the four seasons. Yellow was associated with earth and the center (in relation to direction).

The Chinese have placed a predominance upon the color yellow not seen elsewhere in the world. It was the color of emperors during both the Ming dynasty and the Qing dynasty.

Huangdi, also known as the Yellow Emperor, is thought to be the founder of Chinese civilization, due to the tremendous amount of inventions that took place during his reign.

In India, yellow is the color of the Vaisya caste, or farmers, and is the color Hindus wear to celebrate the Festival of Spring.

During the tenth century in France, the doors of traitors and criminals were painted yellow.

In the United States, taxi cabs and school buses are associated with the color yellow.

During the 1357 Japanese "War of Dynasty," warriors wore a yellow chrysanthemum as a pledge of courage.

Jews wore yellow armbands in Nazi concentration camps.

In Aztec culture, yellow symbolized food because it was the colur of corn, the primary food of the Aztec people.

Yellow signifies “sadness” in Greece’s culture and “jealousy” in France’s culture.

Kate Smith, CMG, CfYH

With special thanks to Roxana Brivent-Barnes for her kind and generous spotlight!!!