Psychology Of The Lilac Color: What Does The Color Lilac Symbolize?
You can almost smell the sweet, heady scent of the lilac flowers when you read the word “lilac.” They bloom for two weeks at May’s end. This color is a light purple shade with a slight pinkish tint at the tips.
In 1775, England was the first country to use “lilac” as a color name. Pale lilac was used to signify the end stages of mourning in Europe in the nineteenth century. Black was used to signify the beginning stages. After one year, bereavement attire was accepted in white, lavender, and lilac.
Lilacs, which are used to signify the first feelings of love in the language of love, are usually given at the start of courtship. The blooming of lilacs is often a sign of spring, so lilac flowers can be given to your loved one to symbolize your blossoming feelings.
The lighter purple shade of lilacs is called “Lilac.” But lilac can also come in different shades.
There are three types of lilac shades: rich, pale, and deep. While pale lilac looks almost white, deep lilac appear closer to pure purple.
The feminine qualities of lilac are caring, nurturing, emotional, and caring. This femininity is expressed in helping others, avoiding conflict, and putting their needs first.
The slight pinkish tint at the tips is indicative of immaturity, indecisiveness, and vulnerability.
Contrarily, the uniqueness of the color can also signify a willingness and ability to stand out from the crowd. Expression of emotions and personality are more important than opinions.
Sometimes, putting one’s emotions first can lead to a loss of emotional control. This is a sign that you are immature.
The History Of The Lilac
In 1775, the name “lilac” was first used. Its name derives from the color of the lilac flower.
Lilac was associated with mourning in the past. It was one of few shades that were acceptable for women to wear at the end of their mourning period in nineteenth-century Britain.
The purple shade Lilac is, according to some, regal. Purple dye was expensive before 1856. This made it a highly sought-after shade that was associated with wealth, power, and status. According to legend, purple was forbidden for royal relatives during Queen Elizabeth I’s reign in 16 century England. Julius Caesar also decreed that only he was allowed to wear a purple tunic. Purple was also worn by Byzantine emperors, and it was even preferred by Catherine the Great, a Russian empress.
Lilac has seen a revival in fashion and design since around 2014. Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar named lilac the “color of 2018” in fashion magazines.
Description And Characteristics Of This Color
The botanical Syringa vulgaris is the source of the color lilac, which also includes flowers with this distinctive color. There are many shades available, including light lilacs, common lilacs, French lilacs, mauves, and lavender.
This is a combination of violet and white. It is also possible to obtain lilac. Other purple derivatives include purple, burgundy, and bluish-purple. Each one is different depending on how intense the violet is.
Purple is, for its part, considered one of the primary colors according to the RGB system (red, green, blue), which Isaac Newton developed through the decomposition of sunlight. This was achieved by using a glass prism at different wavelengths. It produced a chromatic circular with the colors violet and Indian as well as yellow, green, orange, and red.
The RGB system allows white light to be created by adding three colors: red-orange, blue-violet, and green. These are the primary colors, and they cannot be combined with others. This’s a method of analyzing light. It does not include the properties of each color’s pigments.
Another system, CMYK (Cyan Magenta Yellow, Key), was created to analyze the pigmentary properties of inks. This system identifies the primary colors that cannot be mixed with other colors. It also includes the base pigment black. CMYK’s secondary color is purple. It’s a combination of blue and red. The color lilac, on the other hand, is a combination of purple, white and blue. It is, therefore, one of many shades of the former.
Lovely Lilac
Lilac, a stunning variant of purple, is a pale version of this popular color and has a pink tint. Lilac, named after the beautiful flower, is often associated with nature or flora. The 18th century saw the first use of lilac. It has deep roots. This charming color has been loved by people for centuries and is now a well-known unique hue. Lilac is a cheerful, upbeat, and free-spirited color.
A Caring Color
Lilac cares deeply about the well-being of others. It can be very hurtful if it does not feel well. Lilac can be very sensitive, so it is best to use caution when dealing with it. This color doesn’t hide its emotions and doesn’t hesitate to be vulnerable. Lilac and you can share a good cry together if you’re in need of a good laugh.
A Passionate Helper
Lilac will help you with any project, no matter how big or small. It loves to get involved and wants to make everyone’s lives easier. Lilacs are very easy to get help from. It is always available. It won’t complain if it participates. Lilac, on the other hand, will make your experience more pleasant by being optimistic and energetic.
Accessible
Lilac surrounds you with a warm, friendly, and welcoming hue. Lilac is a great choice for anyone with an eccentric personality. Lilac will make you feel loved and accepted. Although some people find lilac’s friendliness disingenuous, you can be sure that it is sincere. Lilac is your friend.
A Little Bit Of Immature
It has a childlike charm thanks to its pink undertones. These traits are charming, but they can also be linked to immaturity. Lilac simply wants to keep its innocence. Many believe this makes lilac naive. Although lilac is able to rise to the occasion when necessary, it can also choose to remain naive.
Understanding
Lilacs are all too familiar with feeling misunderstood. It understands how difficult it can be to be ignored by peers. Lilac is a firm believer in empathy and does everything to show it. Lilac is a compassionate plant that takes on the problems of people in an effort to lessen their pain. Although logic may not apply, lilac will go above and beyond to alleviate emotional pain.
Attracted To The Unknown
Lilac is fascinated by the unknown. Lilac is not afraid to explore new territory. Lilac is a great example of an adventurous spirit. Many consider it to be an adrenaline junkie. Lilac will never be found lying on the couch. It finds great joy in exploring all the facets of the globe. You don’t have to be brave if you’re not confident; take inspiration from the bold spirit of the lilac.
Mindful
Although it can be difficult to stay in the moment, lilac manages to do so effortlessly. It understands the importance of living in the present. Lilacs are happy because they have a healthy outlook on life. It doesn’t worry about what might be. Instead of daydreaming all day, the lilac takes in its surroundings.
Calming
Lilac says anger and rage are useless. These emotions are destructive and unproductive. You can make your mood brighter by surrounding yourself with lilac. You’ll feel calmer and more relaxed when you surround yourself with lilacs. Lilac is a peaceful flower that wants everyone to live happily.
How Do We Perceive The Lilac?
Violet and lilac can be seen in the retina of the human eye by simultaneous excitation of blue and red cones located in the fovea, the center of the luteal Macula. These cones are trichromatic receptors that transmit color messages to the brain via the optic nerve.
The wavelength between 380 and 425 nm is generated by the chromatic stimulus. This allows us to generate red and blue lights, which allow us to see the violet and its tonalities.
This is just one example of the descriptions that physiology offers of color processing. Psychology and anthropology also explain what certain meanings of colors are at a cultural and individual level. Let’s take a look at some of these below.
Psychology: Meaning Of The Lilac
Psychology is concerned with color and emotions. This is because after recognizing the chromatic ranges via the optic nerve, the rest of our system activates various emotions that are related to our individual and socio-cultural experiences.
According to color psychology, blue and red are the most tranquil colors. Red and yellow, on the other hand, can be used to generate excitement. Eva Heller (2004) suggested that each color can have a different meaning depending on how it is combined with other colors.
The same author suggests that the color lilac is associated in Western culture with an unambiguous image of beauty, vanity, and maturity of women. Violet can also be associated with originality and frivolity in other shades.
The color lilac, which is one of the lowest shades of violet, has been associated with tranquility, sweetness, and warmth. It also has little impact. It is not associated with any negative behaviors, but it is associated with kindness, balance, empathy, kindness, and maturity.
These are all ways to strategically choose colors based on the emotions and sensations they desire to provoke. This has had a profound impact on many spheres of life, from architecture to marketing to psychotherapy. It was, for example, the color that represented the extravagant art nouveau.
Cultural Symbolism In Lilacs
Colors can not only stimulate perceptions and emotions at an individual level but also mobilize different social codes depending on how they are used culturally. The meanings of different colors and their shades may vary within a culture. In Europe, the color purple is associated with penance. However, the light-toned violet color can be interpreted as a sign of humility.
Goethe also made one of the first social classifications of color according to its meanings. He compared violet on a moral level with the useful or the profitable. He compared it to unreality and fantasy on an intellectual level. He identified it as artists in terms of social status and cultural traditions at the level of magic, spirituality, and theology.
The church has used violet and its various shades to symbolize love and truth. However, it is always in tension with passion, suffering, and death. They are also the colors associated with representative times like Lent and Advent, which are celebrated prior to Easter and Christmas, respectively. These colors are also used in the habits and ceremonies of the bishops.
South America, on the other hand, thought that the color purple was associated with joy because it was abundant in many crops and flowers throughout the year. In recent years, violet has been linked to feminist movements in various parts of the globe.
Summary: Lilac Color Meaning
Lilac is a warm, welcoming hue that is a universally loved color. It is always looking for fun and can live in the present. Lilac is a joy to be around because of these attributes. This color can be very delicate and easily offended. It can also appear babyish, making it difficult to see.
Color conversion
Lilac | |
Color coordinates | |
Hex triplet | #C8A2C8 |
sRGBB (r, g, b) | (200, 162, 200) |
HSV (h, s, v) | (300°, 19%, 78%) |
CIELChuv (L, C, h) | (71, 32, 308°) |
Source | [1] |
ISCC–NBS descriptor | Light purple |